Hare Krishna,
1. I have seen one of my close relative keep ladoo gopal. She i mean her family follows cleanliness, offering food 3 times. Changing gopal dresses 3 times a day. waking him up and letting him sleep.But they do not do aarti worship or deity worship procedures . Is it Ok and recommended in case of ladoo gopal ?
2. I have seen another family does these ativities for 2 times a day as they are bound to get out for office at 7.30 AM and is back at 8.30 PM and no one is at home between this time. Is it not sinful ? They try to follow the 4 regulative principles.
3. Is it Ok for one like me if he is attached to Iskcon principles but is attached to start worship laddo gopal instead of Gour Nitai and Radha Krishna in early stage of devotional life? is it recommended ?
Please give me answers to these 3 questions based only on scriptural principles. I have asked this questions outside IDT but did not get perfect answers. Hope to get it here.
Replies
Hare Krishna Rahul Prabhu, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
In our country Devotees never dared to worship to Shri Shri Radha Krishna. Because standards are very high. With humility they invited Shri Shri Gaura Nitay Deities and worshiping Them with devotion.
In order to worship Shri Shri Radha Krishna one must chant minimum 16 rounds, 4 regulative principles. Also have brahmin initiation also permission of a Guru.
These above are minimum requirements.
It is better to act according to our capacity in the mode of goodness. Why permission of a Guru? Because he knows us better than we ourselves and he knows whether our consciousness is ready for that type of worship.
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To Gopal one can worship considering as if He is their Child. Which means never keep Him hungry, without cloth, ....
The same thing is with Shri Shri Gaura Nitay. Shri Shri Gaura Nitay mostly are pleased when one chants the Holy Names and preaches about the glories of the Holy Names.
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About vaidhi bhakti: no matter in what stage we are better to serve to our Deities in the mood of servant and Master. Because if we are not ready yet, if our heart is still dirty those thoughts of vaidhi bhakti will grow our anarthas not devotion. Better to consider oneself a servant and serve.
When time comes and when we please the Lord He will give us chance to serve to Him in vaidhi bhakti.
Your servant,
Your servant,
Mata Ji, u r great
i heard in Radhanath Swami Maharaja's lecture that it is applicable to even Gaura Nitay. But i do not know about Radha Krishna.
Anyways Laddu Gopal is also Krishna. Gouranga Mahaprabhu is also Krishna...
Your servant,
Hare Krishna Rahul Prabhu, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Temple is a University-Institution where everyone can come and study and apply that knowledge in their homes as good as possible. Or truly to try to make our home a Temple.
When we want to serve to Deities we have to tell to Them that we vow to do these and these things regularly. For example, "i will offer minimum one incense daily, food once in a day minimum, clothes will change according to my capacity..." And to maintain that standard.
But if we vow to feed them once in a day but when we go for a trip for 4-5 days and leave the Deity without food and care than that will be an offense. If You go out for several days You have to give Them to others to feed or take Them with Yourself and take care of Them on the trip.
It means the given standard should not be decreased. Or else it will disturb our spiritual life.
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In the other hand we should not give very high vows like to serve to Them in Temple standards. Because if we won't be able to continue that it will a great offense. Better to start with minimum.
You can worship Gopal and vow some responsibilities before Him. At least to offer food, once in a week cloth...flowers...
Sing for Him, chant for Him...read Bhagavatam for Him...these are also offerings-arati.
But in Deity worship cleanliness is very needed according to Vaishnava etiquette (it was not needful to say but anyway).
Many Devotees worship Gopal in ISKCON it is very nice.
Your servant,