Remembering Srila Prabhupada - On Deity Worship

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Srila Prabhupada NectarExcerpts from letters

 

"There is no question of using paper or plastic fruits

and flowers for worshipping the Deities. If no fresh

fruits or flowers are available, then you can decorate

with some fresh leaves. You have seen our temples,

nowhere do we use such things. You are experienced

devotee. Why you propose like that? We are not after

decoration; we are after devotional service for

pleasing Krsna's senses. Decoration must be there, of

course, to make the temple as opulent as possible for

pleasing Krsna. Outside the temple, you can use the

plastic ornaments. But not for worship. For daily

worship there must be fresh fruits, flowers and

leaves.

Letter of December 26, 1971

"Who is in charge of the Deity room? It must be

secured at night, every window and door must be

locked, and you must personally see to this. You have

had sufficient experience at Bury Place that the Deity

was attacked. You have already experienced that, so

you should not be negligent in this matter. Please

see that adequate security is given to the temple,

especially to the Deities, so that They will not be

exposed to any attack."

Letter of January 1, 1974

"Regarding your questions, it is not very good to put

'statues' of Radha and Krsna on a shelf. If They are

not worshipped as Deities, what is the use of such

display? Visitors will get the wrong idea that They

are merely decorative figures or idols, that we do not

take Them very seriously. why you do not worship Them

on the altar?"

Letter of December 8, 1971

"The proper method of dressing Jagannatha is as a

ksatriya king, and there is no limit to the opulence

you can give Him."

Letter of February 19, 1973

For a few years Prabhupada travelled with small

Deities of Radha-Krsna. His personal servant and

secretary were responsible for making arrangements for

the Radha-Krsna Deities as Prabhupada moved from one

location to another. On one occasion in India when

Prabhupada made a temporary stop, his servant did not

unpack the Deities. Prabhupada became and angry and

asked why the devotee had not unpacked.

"I didn't think it would be very rational," replied

his servant, "to unpack the Deities in these

conditions." Prabhupada replied with a shout, "You

are unpacked and you are very comfortable!"

- From the Nectar by HH Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

 

If we think that "Here is a stone statue," then it

will not prolong many days. It will not... Galagraha.

No more vigraha, but galagraha. Suppose I have

established this temple. Now under my direction, my

disciples are worshiping vigraha. Vigraha means the

form of the Lord, rupa. But if there is no following

of the regulative principles, then after my death it

will be galagraha, a burden, that "Our rascal Guru

Maharaja established this temple, and we have to

worship, early rise in the morning, all botheration."

This will be... That is called galagraha, a burden,

"He has left with us a burden." This is the risk. Then

this, such a big temple will be mismanaged, and you'll

find that "This is breaking" and "This is unclean,"

and there is no attention. This will be our... That is

called galagraha. "The rascal has given us a burden."

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.27 -- Vrndavana, September 24,

1976 )

 

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Please Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna

Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare

Hare And Be Happy

 

 

 

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