While one enters KC we follow Viddhi marg and Lakshmi Narayan are the presiding deity of Viddhi Marg . Even actually one worship them in Radha Krishna deity in Viddhi marg stage. One actually worship Radha Krishna when he attains Raga Marg by lord's grace.
if it is true
Then why we Gaudiya Vaishnava don't worship Lakshmi Narayana Picture then in Vaidhi Bhakti stage.
Note: The question is directed only to Gaudiya Vaishnavas not followers of Sri Sampradaya.
Replies
The whole Vaisnava philosophy is based on Ekanti Bhakti. Person performing ekanti Bhakti means worshipping one form of Lord see that form of Lord in everything and everywhere in mature stage.
BG 6.29: A true yogī observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere.
BG 6.30: For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.
BG 6.47: And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me — he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.
In fact the whole Bhagavad gita propounds Ekanti Bhakti to Lord Krishna. Krishna Says in the 18th chapter
BG 18.66: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
Ekanti Bhakti means to take exclusive shelter and execute devotional service unto the personal form of God.
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Another instance of Ekanti Bhakti we see in Chaitanya Charitramrta where Mahaprabhu insisted Murari Gupta to worship the form of Lord Rama, but Murari Gupta not able to gave up his service to the form of Lord Rama because of his eternal attachment to the form of Lord Rama
Here is that narration from Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita concerning the testing of Murari Gupta:
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Murari Gupta and began to speak about his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the devotees.
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Previously I induced Murari Gupta again and again to be allured by Lord Krsna. I said to him, ‘My dear Gupta, Lord Sri Krsna, Vrajendra-kumara, is the supreme sweetness. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of all incarnations and the source of everything. He is pure transcendental love itself, and He is the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. He is like a mine of gems. He is expert at everything, very intelligent and sober, and He is the summit of all transcendental humors. His character is very sweet, and His pastimes are melodious. He is expert in intelligence, and thus He enjoys all His pastimes and mellows.’”
"I then requested Murari Gupta, ‘Worship Krsna and take shelter of Him. But for His service, nothing appeals to the mind.' In this way, he heard from Me again and again. By My influence, his mind was a little converted.
"Murari Gupta then replied, ‘I am Your servant and Your order-carrier. I have no independent existence.'
"After this, Murari Gupta went home and spent the whole night thinking how he would have to give up the association of Raghunatha, Lord Ramacandra. Thus he was overwhelmed. Murari Gupta then began to pray at the lotus feet of Lord Ramacandra. He prayed that death would come that night because it was not possible for him to give up the service of the lotus feet of Raghunatha. Thus Murari Gupta cried the entire night. There was no rest for his mind; therefore he could not sleep but stayed awake the entire night. In the morning Murari Gupta came to see Me. Catching hold of My feet and crying, he submitted an appeal.”
"Murari Gupta said, ‘I have sold my head unto the lotus feet of Raghunatha. I cannot withdraw my head, for that would give me too much pain. It is not possible for me to give up the service of Raghunatha's lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not do so I shall break Your order. What can I do?”
"In this way Murari Gupta appealed to Me, saying, ‘You are all-merciful, so kindly grant me this mercy: Let me die before You so that all my doubts will be finished.'
"Hearing this, I became very happy. I then raised Murari Gupta and embraced him. I said to him, ‘All glories to you, Murari Gupta! Your method of worship is very firmly fixed -- so much so that even upon My request your mind did not turn. The servitor must have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His lotus feet. Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I requested you again and again to change your worship from Lord Ramacandra to Krsna.'
"In this way, I congratulated Murari Gupta, saying, ‘Indeed, you are the incarnation of Hanuman. Consequently you are the eternal servant of Lord Ramacandra. Why should you give up the worship of Lord Ramacandra and His lotus feet?' Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "I accept this Murari Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it perturbs My very life."
Ulitimate goal is to be attached to Radha-Krishna, so from the begining when we cultivate vidhi bhakti unto the form of Radha-Krishna gradually we become attached to it. when attachment further devolops we progress further and finally to prema stage. But through all the stage deity of concentration remains same , thus we remain focused to one form which is basic requirement of yoga. This is called ekanti bhakti, devotional service to one form of Lord , else concentration not happens. Object of meditation should remain same else uninterrupted flow of thoughts dosen't occur hence yoga not accomplished.
Hope this will help
Your aspiring Servant
Hari Bol
Hare Krishna Rahul Prabhu. Danadavat Pranam. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
The answer is given in Srila Prabhupada's letter Montreal, August 30, 1968
So Radha-Krishna philosophy is a very great philosophy. It is to be understood in the liberated stage. Radha-Krishna philosophy is not to be understood in the conditioned stage. But when we worship Radha-Krishna in our conditioned stage, actually we worship Laksmi-Narayana. You have seen that picture, this viddhi-marga and raga-marga. Radha-Krishna worship is on the platform of pure love, and Laksmi-Narayana worship is on the regulative principles. So long we do not develop our pure love, we have to worship on the regulative principles. One has to become a brahmachari, one has to become a sannyasi, one has to perform the worship in this way, in the morning he has to rise, he has to offer. So many rules and regulations. So we shall introduce them gradually as you develop. So in the viddhi-marga, when you have no love for God or Krishna, we have to follow the regulative principles and automatically…, there is practice. When practicing. Just like you practice this mrdanga playing. In the beginning it is not in order, but when you become well versed in the practice, the sound will come so nice. Similarly, when we are engaged by regulative principles in the worship of Radha-Krishna, that is called viddhi-marga. And actually when you are on the love platform, then that is called raga-marga. So without viddhi-marga, if anyone wants to learn the raga-marga immediately, that is foolishness. That is foolishness. Nobody can pass M.A. examination without going through the regulative principles of primary schools and colleges. So therefore I do not, I mean to say, indulge in the discussions of Radha and Krishna so easily. Rather go on with the regulative principle at the present moment. Gradually, as you become purified, as you become on the transcendental platform, you’ll understand what is Radha-Krishna. Don’t try to understand Radha-Krishna very quickly. It is a very big subject. If we want to understnad Radha-Krishna very quickely, then there will be so many prakrita-sahajiyas [pretenders]. In India there are prakrita-sahajiya. Just like Radha-Krishna dancing. Radha-Krishna hs become a plaything. The painting Radha-Krishna, Krishna is kissing Radha, Radha is kissing. These are all nonsense. Radha-Krishna philosophy has to be understood by the liberated person, not by the conditioned soul. So we shall await for the fortunate moment when we are liberated, then we shall understand radha-krishna-pranaya-vikritir. Because Krishna and Radha, They are not on the material field. Try to understand. This is Jiva Gosvami’s analysis, that Krishna is the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman cannot accept anything material. So Radha is not in the material field. (Lecture at festival of Radhastami, Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day, Montreal, August 30, 1968)
Your aspiring Servant
Hari Bol
Hare Krishna, PAMHO,
Thank u so much for sharing.