Hare Krsna dear devotees
I have been taking a little care of Krsna, Balarama and Subhadra for less than a month. They are in teddy bear form. 🧸They are very pleasing to look at. So far I make them lie down at bedtime and they rise early with me and they are pleased the whole time. It's like as if it doesn't matter whether I take care of them or not. But, I have to take care or their cloth will get dirty. There is one independent bed in my room and that is where they are resting.Â
Then there is the Syamasundara-murat that mysteriously appeared in an exhibition from where my mother got it a few years ago. The Lord Krsna in His threefold bending form, holding a flute is the Syamasundara form. In this deity, He is also coiled by a single hooded yet deadly looking serpent.Â
At Last there is the svarupa (framed picture large size) of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava whom I love and adore.Â
My favorite service to all three is offering incense.
Anything else that can be done?
Â
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
In Srimad Bhagawatam, there is in Canto 11, Chapter 27, where the lord describes deity worship. In that it is mentioned that deities can be of 8 forms:Â
1) Metal; 2) Stone; 3) Mud/ Clay; 4) Wood; 5) Picture; 6) in the mind; 7) sand and 8) jewels.Â
Stuff toys do not fall in this category. So Jagannath deities are for playing/ practise. You didnt mention, is there Sudarshan soft toy in that set as well?
Regarding Shyamsundara deity, you have not mentioned the composition - any of the above?
Regarding picture of Radha Madhav, certainly can be put up on altar. How to set up altar, please visit local ISKCON temple and observe. You could buy Beginner's Guide to Krsna Consciousness by HH Bhakti Vikas Maharaj. Very nicely explained. Another option is to check with senior vaishnava grihastas known to you.
How to do deity worship is also mentioned in Beginner's Guide. Try to follow as much as you are comfortable, with the condition that you will maintain whatever level you follow consistently.
Haribol and best of luck,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna Mataji
Another thing, I'm in the habit of sometimes speaking with Krsna, Balarama, Prabhupada etc. when I come across Their deity or picture. The talk is both casual and scriptural. Today's message from Prabhupada has confirmed it.
"Krishna is ready to talk to you. He has come. He has descended in arca-murti to talk with you, to be visible to you. Now you make yourself ready and fit to talk with Krishna. Then He will exchange conversation. This is possible."
Srila Prabhupada, Bombay, December 04, 1974
Hare Krishna Mataji
I will try to get this book by Bhakti Vikas maharaj ji today from the Chandigarh ISKCON temple. I already have one of his books called Brahmacarya and he writes straight forward which is something I admire. I'm a beginner in deity worship but whatever knowledge I have is due to His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I also want to learn how to worship Prabhupada at home. There is a statue of Prabhupada sitting on the wooden asana as we see in the temple, smaller ofcourse available in the gift shop. I was very interested in worshipping that three times a day, yasas tri-sandhyam. Thanks for the encouragement by the way.
Hari Bol
Hare Krishna Mataji
The extended arms of Lord Jagganatha (toy Jagganatha) are marked with the Sudarshan-cakra and the sankha. There is very nice embroidery and small jewelry. I can send you the picture.Â
Personally I rely only on the Bhagavad marga beginning with sravanam and kirtanam but I have found that deity worship in temple with proper paraphernalia is very nice. I cannot replicate that at home. I'm aware of it.
Hari Bol
Nice to see that prabhu is developing some attachment for the soft toy deities. Deity seva is really wonderful. Â
As soon as that feeling comes to serve Lord in deity form.. I wish I could do that seva which temple priest is doing.. I wish I had some deities with me. I could also make beautiful clothes for Lord... make some sweets and offer him or put Tulsi on the feet do some seva.. small seva also.. like even fanning deities. Taking care of them like babies. That attachment to Deity means you have gone a step ahead in bhakti.
One time.. there was a devotee of Lord Jagannatha a poor little girl ( age 8-10 yrs old) I don't remember her name. She used to go to temple and think I wish I could make a crown for this Lord. Daily used to think so. So Lord listened to her inner voice. Lord Jagannatha arranged her a job so that she could make some money and get the materials to make the crown. So, what happened is she was called by a tailor who needed a helper. The tailor asked would give you job and you could get some materials for stitching the crown. But then you must get daily for me vegetables from your garden. So that sort of barter arrangement happened between the Tailor and the little girl. So, the little girl grew some vegetables in the garden and take to the tailor and tailor gave her some peices of silk cloth and machine for her to stich the crown. This took like 2-3 months and then she went to Lord with the crown one day and offered to Lord Jagannath ji. Jagannath ji was extremely pleased that the girl wanted to serve him by offering a crown and so Lord personally used to go serve her in plucking vegetables in the garden and help her in the farm. Even Lord's clothes caught in the thorns and bushes and were torn which was noticed by temple priests ..they were surprised why the clothes of the Lord are dirty and torn everyday morning when we opened the gates of the temple. They were amazed one day when they found the main deity's yellow pitamber was torn which was caught by the thorn and was left there in the garden.. they found out the peice of the cloth there at that little girl's house struck to a thorn in her garden. That is how the Lord Jagannath ji is.
Even if you are doing in mind some desire to serve HIS deities or feeling that to serve even for soft toys also that also is noted by Lord.Â
sadhana bhakti is different and prema raganuga bhakti is different.
Sadhana bhakti is nice until you attain the stage of nishta and then bhava and then comes prema and in prema bhakti only we start getting these symptoms of serving the deity.
Hare Krishna Mataji
Actually they look very real inspite of being in toy form. I feel apprehensive while approaching them especially after neglect. The Syamasundara deity is made of some dark heavy metal. I take the dust of the lotus feet on my forehead sometimes besides offering incense regularly nowadays. You are right, the emotion, the bhava is more important when it comes to deity worship or something that reminds us of the Lord. Technically the soft toys may not be real deities or even the Syamasundara deity because I have not read or heard of such a deity. They are however, more than simply 'Udipanna' which means something that reminds us of the Lord according to the nectar of Devotion. Since when I look at any of these different features of the Lord I perceive the Lord directly.
Hari Bol
Well, Prabhu ji .. I guess it is time to get NITAAI GAURANGA DEITIES REAL CLAY ONE OR THE METAL One., and start worshipping them. As you got this desire to serve the deities.
Because for a starter who just started to worship deities it is always recommended to start with nitaai gauanga. Because they make our worship for Krishna stronger and more regularized.
Â
Haribol!
Hare Krsna Mataji
Yes Mataji, it all started with Balarama but it was through the mercy of Prabhupada that I learnt of the glories of Nityananda-Balarama. I have Balarama already now and I am so glad. I have seen Golden metallic deities of Gaura-Nitai in the temple gift shop. I will go again today since it is Sunday and the Sunday fest will also be there. I will ask the devotees there as well as they are most eager to help.
Hari Bol
Hare Krsna Mataji
I went to the temple today and when I asked for Gaura-Nitai deities, they were out of stock. I got a framed photo of the Panca-tattva leading a kirtana procession on the street. Then I got a medium sized photo frame of Prabhupada and an extra large size of Lord Nrsimha tearing apart Hiranyakasipu's body with His nails on His lap, Lord Sesa also looks terribly fearsome and Prahlada Maharaja is standing on His right with a flower garland.Â
I therefore. offer my humble obeisances to Gaura-Nitai mentally.
Hari Bol