What is significance of small Deities with the big Deities?

[Guest guest]

On 27 Apr 1999, Virender Dayal wrote:

 

> Hare Krsna.

>

> I was just looking through the photos of some Deities around the world and I

> noticed that some do not have small Deities but just big Deities, whereas

> other altars had big and small Deities. What's the purpose or significance

of

> the small Deities if the big Deities are already present to accept our

> offerings?

>

> Sincerely,

>

 

>From what i can recall, from previous conversations on this topic, the small

deity is the "vijaya-vigraha" or the deity which can be moved around.

 

the deity comes in two forms: cala (moveable)- usually made of brass or metal,

and acala (non-moveable)usually made of stone. So on special days like

appearance days or other festivals, like Jhulan yatra, when the deity is

invited for abhiseka or to be swung, or to go on a boat ride, the

vijaya-vigraha is there - since we cannot move the original deity.

 

i think also from the point of daily deity worship, the vijaya vigraha is

worshipped with all the different upacaras and is bathed daily, while the big

deity is only cleaned and dressed everyday.

 

there is no difference between big deity and small deity.

 

I hope the senior devotees can also comment on this...

 

 

ys,

pragnesh