Deity worship

na brāhmaṇān me dayitaṁ rūpam etac catur-bhujam

na brāhmaṇān me dayitaṁ rūpam etac catur-bhujam |
sarva-vedamayo vipraḥ sarva-devamayo hy aham ||
duṣprajñā aviditvaivam avajānanty asūyavaḥ |
guruṁ māṁ vipram ātmānam arcādāv ijya-dṛṣṭayaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.86.54–55)

“[Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa:] This four-armed form of mine is not dear [to me] more so than a brāhmaṇa since a brāhmaṇa is constituted of all the Vedas and I am constituted of all the devas. Not understanding this, detractors [of brāhmaṇas] lacking insight, who are seers of worshipability [only] in the deity and so on [i.e., not in the brāhmaṇa], disregard the brāhmaṇa—the guru, me, the Self [i.e., they disregard the brāhmaṇa, who is worshipable just by virtue of his caste, and even more worshipable because (1) he is the guru, that is, the teacher of all other castes in society, (2) he is me, that is, non-different from me by virtue of being a paramount dwelling place (adhiṣṭhāna) of mine, and (3) he is the Self, that is, a form of the Supreme Self (Paramātmā)].”

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arcādāv arcayet tāvad īśvaraṁ māṁ sva-karma-kṛt

arcādāv arcayet tāvad īśvaraṁ māṁ sva-karma-kṛt |
yāvan na veda sva-hṛdi sarva-bhūteṣv avasthitam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.25)

“Being a performer of one’s own duty (karma), one should worship [me, Īśvara] in a deity or elsewhere so long as one does not know in one’s own heart me, Īśvara, to be present in all beings [and once one does, then one should continue to worship a deity of myself, but purely as my bhakta rather than as a follower of the path of karma].”

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aham uccāvacair dravyaiḥ

aham uccāvacair dravyaiḥ kriyayotpannayānaghe |
naiva tuṣye’rcito’rcāyāṁ bhūta-grāmāvamāninaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.24; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 106)

[Kapiladeva:] “O sinless one [i.e., O mother], I am certainly not pleased when worshipped in the deity with rites performed with variegated materials by one who disrespects [i.e., engages in defamation of other] living beings.”

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yo māṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu

yo māṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu santam ātmānam īśvaram |
hitvārcāṁ bhajate mauḍhyād bhasmany eva juhoti saḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.22; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 106)

[Kapiladeva:] “One who disregards me, the Self, the Īśvara, present in all beings, and worships a deity out of ignorance only makes oblations into ashes.”

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ahaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu bhūtātmāvasthitaḥ sadā

ahaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu bhūtātmāvasthitaḥ sadā |
tam avajñāya māṁ martyaḥ kurute’rcā-viḍambanam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.29.21; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 106)

[Kapiladeva:] “I am ever present in all beings as the Self [i.e., the Inner Regulator (Antaryāmī)] of all beings. By disrespecting him, that is, me, a mortal makes a mockery of ritual worship [alt., a mockery of my deity].”

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arcādiṣu yadā yatra śraddhā māṁ tatra cārcayet

arcādiṣu yadā yatra śraddhā māṁ tatra cārcayet |
sarva-bhūteṣv ātmani ca sarvātmāham avasthitaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.27.48)

“When and where one has śraddhā in a deity or elsewhere, there specifically one should worship me. I, the Self of all, am present in all beings and in the self.”

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pāṣāṇa-dhātu-mṛd-dāru-sikatā-maṇi-lekhajā

pāṣāṇa-dhātu-mṛd-dāru-sikatā-maṇi-lekhajā |
saptadā te pratikṛtir acalā vā calā prabho ||
śālagrāma-śilā cātha yatra kutrāpy avasthitā |
yādṛśī tādṛśī vāpi bhaktair bhaktyābhipūjitā ||
bhavatādhiṣṭhitā sarvā sac-cid-ānanda-rūpiṇī |
tvam eva kathayase sadbhis tasmai tubhyaṁ namo namaḥ ||
(Kṛṣṇa-līlā-stava: 409–411 (106))

“Made of stone, metal, earth, wood, sand, jewel, or paint—your image of seven types—[which can also be] immobile or mobile—O Lord, and a Śālagrāma stone wheresoever and howsoever it may be situated, can be worshiped with bhakti by bhaktas. All of them [i.e., all of these types of deities] are said by the sat (1) to be inhabited by you, (2) to be of the nature of eternal being, consciousness, and bliss [i.e., to not be seen as being made merely of stone, wood, etc.], and (3) to be you yourself. Unto you—he [who personally manifests himself in all these forms, I offer] obeisance and obeisance.”

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yo yo viśeṣo’pekṣyaḥ syād anyo’pi likhiteṣv iha

athopasaṁhāraḥ |
yo yo viśeṣo’pekṣyaḥ syād anyo’pi likhiteṣv iha |
tat-tac-chāstrāt sa sa jñeyo nitarāṁ ca guror mukhāt ||
santy anye’pi sadācārā bahavaḥ śāstra-darśitāḥ |
na likhyante’tra te sarve grāhakābhāvato’dhunā ||
kṛtyāny etāni tu prāyo gṛhiṇāṁ dhanināṁ satām |
likhitāni na tu tyakta-parigraha-mahātmanām ||
avaśyaṁ tāni sarvāṇi teṣāṁ tādṛktva-siddhaye |
prāg apekṣyāṇi bhaktir hi sadācāraika-sādhanā ||
teṣāṁ ca pūrva-likhitāt kṛtyāny ekānti-lakṣaṇāt |
vyaktiṁ yātāny athāpy ante likhyante’lpāni kānicit ||
athaikānti-kṛtyam
prāk prema-bhakti-sampatteś cihnāni likhitāni hi |
tāny evaikāntināṁ prāyo jñāpakāni vidur budhāḥ ||
sarva-tyāge’py aheyāyāḥ sarvānartha-bhuvaś ca te |
kuryuḥ pratiṣṭhā-viṣṭhāyā yatnam asparśane varam ||
ata evoktam ekādaśe śrī-bhagavatā—
jñāna-niṣṭho virakto vā mad-bhakto vānapekṣakaḥ |
sa-liṅgān āśramāṁs tyaktvā cared avidhi-gocaraḥ ||
ekāntināṁ gatānāṁ tu śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇābjayoḥ |
bhaktiḥ svataḥ pravarteta tad-vighnaiḥ kiṁ vratādibhiḥ ||
tathā brahma-vaivarte—
yathā katham api śrīmān śrīkāntaṁ samupāśritaḥ |
kurute’khila-pāpānāṁ pralayaṁ kiṁ punar vrataiḥ ||
viṣṇu-rahasye brahma-nārada-saṁvāde māsopavāsa-kathanānte—
indriyārtheṣv asaktānāṁ sadaiva vimalā matiḥ |
paritoṣayate viṣṇuṁ nopavāso’jitātmanaḥ ||375||
kiṁ tasya bahubhis tīrthaiḥ snāna-homa-japa-vrataiḥ |
yenendriya-gaṇo ghoro nirjito’duṣṭa-cetasā ||376||
jitendriyaḥ sadā śāntaḥ sarva-bhūta-hite rataḥ |
vāsudeva-paro nityaṁ na kleśaṁ kartum arhati ||377||
ye smaranti sadā viṣṇuṁ viśuddhenāntarātmanā |
te prayānti bhayaṁ tyaktvā viṣṇu-lokam anāmayam ||378||
prabhāte cārdha-rātre ce madhyāhne diva-saṅkṣaye |
kīrtayanti hariṁ ye vai na te taranti bhavārṇavam ||379||
ānandito’thavā cārtaḥ kruddhaḥ śānto’thavā harim |
yo’nukīrtayate bhaktyā sa gacched vaiṣṇavīṁ purīm ||380||
garbha-janma-jarā-roga-duḥkha-saṁsāra-bandhanaiḥ |
na bādhyate naro nityaṁ vāsudevam anusmaran ||381||
evam ekāntināṁ prāyaḥ kīrtanaṁ smaraṇaṁ prabhoḥ |
kurvatāṁ parama-prītyā kṛtyam anyan na rocate ||382||
bhāvena kenacit preṣṭha-śrī-mūrter aṅghri-sevane |
syād icchaiṣāṁ sva-mantreṇa sva-rasenaiva tad-vidhiḥ ||383||
vihiteṣv eva nityeṣu pravartante svayaṁ hi te |
ity ādy ekāntināṁ bhāti māhātmyaṁ likhitaṁ hi tat ||384||
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 20.364–383; 371 cited from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.18.28, 373 cited from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.20.36; 374 cited from Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa; 375–381 cited from Viṣṇu-rahasya)

“Now, the conclusion [of this text, viz., Hari-bhakti-vilāsa:] Should particular matters of consideration arise in addition even to those described here [in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa], those are to be learned from the appropriate śāstra [that addresses those matters] and expressly from the mouth of guru. ||364|| There are many additional forms of sadācāra shown in the śāstra. Not all of these are described here [in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa] because of the absence of [suitable] recipients at present. ||365|| These activities (kṛtyas) [i.e., the activities described in this text], however, for the most part, have been described for wealthy and virtuous householders, and not rather for great souls who have forsaken acquisition [i.e., for those who have renounced household life]. ||366|| All of those [activities] are certainly to be observed beforehand [i.e., before one becomes a renunciant] in order to attain that state of theirs [i.e., to attain the position of a renunciant, meaning, the qualifications required to live a life of renunciation], since bhakti is that the only means of attainment of which is sadācāra (sadācāraika-sādhanā) [i.e., bhakti is attained only by observance of sadācāra in the sense that it is attained only by means of a purified mind and sādācāra is a primary means of bringing that about]. ||367|| Their [i.e., renunciants’] activities were also made evident by the aforementioned characteristics of the one-pointed [i.e., of the ekānti-bhaktas, as discussed in HBV 10.59–76 and elsewhere]. Now as well at the end [of this text], a few of them will be described. ||368||
“Now, the activities of the one-pointed (ekāntis)—the wise know the signs of the attainment of prema-bhakti aforementioned [in HBV 11.633–645] to be, for the most part, indications [i.e., characteristics] of the one-pointed. ||369|| It is best that they shall try to be untouched by the stool of pratiṣṭhā, which is the cause of all anarthas and difficult to abandon even after the renunciation of all else. ||370|| Therefore, it is said in the Eleventh Canto [i.e., SB 11.18.28] by Śrī Bhagavān: ‘One who is detached and fixed in jñāna, or, one who is disinterested and my bhakta, shall relinquish the duties of one’s āśrama along with their paraphernalia and proceed outside the scope of injunctions.’ ||371|| The bhakti of those who have attained one-pointedness (ekāntitā) upon the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa shall proceed [i.e., be continuously conducted] of its own accord [i.e., it shall remain continuously engaged in without the need of any external impetus in the form of injunctions or otherwise]. What [is the use] of rites (vratas) and so forth that are [simply] obstructions to it? [i.e., There is no necessity of one-pointed bhaktas observing many of the various types of rites (vratas), codes of conduct (sadācāra), and so on aforementioned in this text because the purpose of these things is prompting engagement in bhakti and one-pointed bhaktas are already automatically engaged in bhakti by the bhakti ever-present in their hearts; observation of rites and so on is thus redundant for them and furthermore shall even be an obstruction to the flow of their expression of bhakti]. ||372|| [Thus Śrī Bhagavān further states in SB 11.20.26:] ‘Bhaktas who are one-pointed upon me have no qualities [i.e., merits, sins, or otherwise] produced by qualities and faults [i.e., by observance of injunctions and neglect of prohibitions].’ ||373||
“Similarly, [it is stated] in Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa: ‘One who is fully sheltered howsoever in Śrīkānta becomes fortunate and causes the dissolution of all [their] sins. [So,] What further [is the use] of vratas [for such a person]? [There is no need for them at all.]’ ||374||
“At the end of the discussion of fasts related to months [throughout the year] in the conversation of Brahmā and Nārada in Viṣṇu-rahasya [it is also stated]: ‘The ever-pure mind [alt., desire, understanding, perception, or devotion] of those who are unattached to the objects of the senses is pleasing to Viṣṇu, and not the fasting of those of uncontrolled mind. ||375|| What [is the use] of so many tīrthas, or baths, fire sacrifices, japa, and rites (vratas), for one of unpolluted mind by whom the fearsome senses have been completely conquered? ||376|| One who has controlled the senses is always tranquil and given to the welfare of all beings. One who is dedicated to Vāsudeva is never required [alt., fit] to suffer. ||377|| Those who always remember Visṇu with a pure inner self leave behind fear and attain the plane of Viṣṇu free from suffering. ||378|| Those who praise Hari in the morning, at midnight, at midday, and at the end of the day certainly cross over the ocean of material existence. ||379|| [Whether] Blissful or distressed, angry or peaceful, one who continuously praises Hari with bhakti shall attain the abode of Viṣṇu. ||380|| A person who always continuously remembers Vāsudeva is not disturbed by the fetters of saṁsāra in the form of the sufferings of the womb, birth, old age, and disease.’ ||381||
“In this way, the one-pointed, who engage for the most part in praising (kīrtana) and remembrance (smaraṇa) of Prabhu with paramount prīti, have no taste for other activities. ||382|| Should they, because of some bhāva, have a desire for [engaging in] worship of the feet of the Śrī-mūrti [i.e., Deity] of their Beloved [i.e., their Iṣṭa-devatā], that act [i.e., their acting upon that desire to render such worship] is only because of their own mantra and their own rasa [i.e., that desire and the action based upon it are not motivated by any injunction but rather are inspired by the influence of their mantra, that is, the influence of the Iṣṭa-devatā of their mantra, and their own taste (rasa) for serving him]. ||383|| They proceed of their own accord in their regular prescribed activities [i.e., they perform their regular activities out of natural inclination and liking, and not merely out of any sense of obedience to injunction]. Such greatness of the one-pointed as this [i.e., as has been thus discussed, along with numerous other additional exalted characteristics not mentioned here] shines, and that indeed has been described [here in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa]. ||384||”

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pada-kāntyā jita-madano

pada-kāntyā jita-madano
mukha-kāntyā khaṇḍita-kamala-maṇi-garvaḥ |
śrī-rūpāśrita-caraṇaḥ
kṛpayatu mayi gaura-govindaḥ ||
(Unknown source; cited in Sādhana-dīpikā: 2)

“May Gaura Govinda—
He by the splendor of whose feet
Madana [i.e., Kāma] is vanquished,
He by the splendor of whose face
The pride of lotuses and jewels is crushed,
He at whose feet Śrī Rūpa has taken shelter—
Bestow grace upon me.”

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arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate

arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate |
na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.2.47; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.26, 10.76; Bhakti Sandarbha: 190; Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: 2.22.74)

“One who for Hari performs pūjā with śraddhā only [of his presence] in a deity and not in his bhaktas or in others is considered a beginning bhakta.”

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