Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Srila Prabhupad on Deity Worship---What about standards?

Today I came across one latter of Srila Prabhupad about deity worship and found it very interesting.I feel as if Prabhupad is addressing me and somone like me.I often worry about my standards of worship and not having a first class altar.

But here is what i call, his sword of knowledge showing me some light-

"So far your deity-worship of Lord Jagannatha, don't bother with it for the time being, that is my opinion. Householders can have small altars, and Guru-Gauranga and Jagannatha may be worshiped, but you should not spend a lot of time in this way to try to make the worship "first-class" as you say. You cannot make it first-class. That requires much time and money and men, so better to leave the worshiping of deities very nicely to the temples, and you may go there and worship. A small Guru-Gauranga altar, offer incense and flowers in morning, offer all home-prepared foodstuffs there--that's enough for the time being. Better to spend time chanting and following the other regulative principles and preaching and selling books.

It is not necessary to be a Brahmin to have home altar, but better not to get too much involved in it for now, as one begun, there is no question of decrease, and for two persons to manage this is taking too much time from other important work.

Srila Prabhupada Letter, FEB-20-1972



In another letter Srila Prabhupada writes

 "So far as taking care of the Deities and your family simultaneously, you have to do both mutually, but the main importance is Deity worship. Just like a busy housewife is always busy in household affairs, yet still she is engaged in dressing herself nicely, combing her hair, etc. So both things go together. Yes, at least once daily the Deity's clothes must be changed, in the morning. If the Deities are small, as they appear to be from the photograph, then they can be layed down in a bed at night. And they can be given nightgowns to wear before taking rest. That is nice. If there is time and facility then these things can be implemented. So far as bathing is concerned, it requires two hands and one tongue. In your left hand be ringing a bell and simultaneously with your right hand pour water. Chant Hare Krishna, Cintamani, Govinda Jaya Jaya, etc., like that. . . . 
(letter from Srila Prabhupada 1 May 1971).

In another letter Srila Prabhupada writes-
“He can worship Gaura-Nitai in his home. The most important element for their worship is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. They can have at least one arati, and whatever foodstuffs are prepared can be offered" 
(letter from Srila Prabhupada 15 February 1975).

I have found my answer.


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