Dvaita Vedānta, especially as articulated in the tradition of Madhvācārya, is not merely a set of philosophical theses but a lived path structured around devotion to a personal, supreme Viṣṇu. Daily life is framed by nitya-karmas such as sandhyā-vandana, along with home and temple pūjā to Viṣṇu and his avatāras like Kṛṣṇa and Rāma. Devotees commonly employ Vaiṣṇava symbols such as the vertical tilaka (ūrdhva-puṇḍra), recite stotras and the names of Viṣṇu, and observe vows and fasts, including practices like Ekādaśī. These observances are understood as concrete expressions of the soul’s dependence on God and as means of inner purification oriented toward divine grace.

Temple-centered worship holds a prominent place, with arcana (image worship), darśana, and participation in festivals and processions, especially in centers associated with the Mādhva lineage. Devotional singing in the form of kīrtana and bhajana, as well as communal participation in rituals and festivals such as those honoring Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, deepen the affective bond between the individual soul and the Lord. Alongside this, there is a strong emphasis on ethical discipline, including adherence to dharma, a sāttvic diet, and careful observance of purity in food and conduct, all seen as supporting a life of bhakti.

Scriptural study forms another pillar of practice. Followers engage in systematic study of the Vedas, Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gītā, Brahma Sūtras, and Purāṇic texts, especially through the commentarial tradition of Madhvācārya. Regular svādhyāya, listening to discourses (pravacanas), and meditation on the eternal distinction between jīva and Brahman are encouraged, with jñāna always integrated into a devotional framework rather than pursued as an autonomous path. Formal initiation (dīkṣā), the upanayana rite for those to whom it applies, and ongoing guidance within a guru–śiṣya lineage root this study and practice in a living community.

Within this framework, bhakti is not an isolated sentiment but a comprehensive discipline that includes karma-yoga—offering the fruits of action to God—and contemplative practices that focus the mind on the attributes and presence of Viṣṇu. Life in and around the traditional maṭhas, participation in community worship, and service to the guru and deity all reinforce the central Dvaita intuition: the soul is eternally distinct from, yet utterly dependent upon, the supreme Lord, and liberation is attained through devoted, grace-filled relationship rather than identity with Brahman.