Hare Krishna Dandwat pranam to all. I want to know who started this worship of Laddu Gopal. Because I don't think any of our Gaudiya acharya nor Sad Goswamis had worshipped Laddu Gopal. Today sadly I see even many Iskcon devotees worshipping this. Even Raghunandan Acharya had worshipped Radha Gopinath not Laddu Gopal. So I want to know where all this worship of Laddu Gopal started in our vaisnava history and if this is recommended by acharyas and scriptures.
I heard this was recommended by Vallav sampraday but that too was because people don't misinterpret Radha Krishna as ordinary boy girl and gradually develop to the stage of worshipping Radha Krishna. But now a days I see this sentimentally followed even by our sampradaya devotees. Even Iskcon temples even mayapur selling paraphernalia for Laddu Gopal and devotees insisting to keep even Bal Radha with Bal Krishna. Has Srila Prabhupada ever recommended this? I don't know what are all these going on.
Kindly forgive me if any offences. But I wanted to know the exact mood of our vaisnava acharyas and proper worship procedure according to parampara. Because we know our sentiments should always be backed by scriptural recommendation and acharyas. Please help if anyone can clarify me on these things properly.
Replies
Hare Krsna
I would humbly state that its not an offence to ask questions
True. But deriding worship of a bonafide form of Sri Krsna as a manufactured process (merely because one does not know history or which vaishnava acarya established) could be a serious offence.
The deity of laddu Gopala is bonafide form of Sri Krsna. The worship is authorised by Vaishnava acarayas (though not Gaudiya acaryas)
There is no restriction or enforcement on any follower of Iskcon by Iskcon to worship a particular Form of Sri Krsna at their home. The only person who may advise on such topic would be the guru who gives Brahmana diksha. Mood cannot be institutionalized.
Moreover as Srila Prabhupada says even Radha Krsna deities are worshipped in bhava of Lakshmi Narayana.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna
Is it an offense to worship laddu Gopal? Does one get afflicted by sin or Vaishnava Aparadha or any other Aparadha?
What are the consequences of worshipping laddu Gopal?
Hare Krishna Prabhuji Dandawat Pranam.
It is not a point of offence or Aparadha but question is what is correct inline with the standards set by parampara acharyas or are we deviating from the teachings of acharyas. Even the Sahijyas can argue they are not commiting any offence by imitating the mood of Gopis. Deviting from the parampara was the main point of fight for our acharyas and even Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati and our Srila Prabhupada dedicated their whole life fighiting against the misconceptions of those time. So we should know what is correct as per the teachings of Parampara or the consequences can be many even direct or indirect deviation from the teachings of sampradaya.
Hare Krsna
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati and our Srila Prabhupada dedicated their whole life fighiting against the misconceptions of those time. So we should know what is correct as per the teachings of Parampara or the consequences can be many even direct or indirect deviation from the teachings of sampradaya.
I am quite confident that none of past acaryas of Brahma -Madhwa -Gaudiya Guru Shishya Parampara would fight against worship of Laddu Gopala by general people.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna Prabhuji, But I am quite confident that Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati and Prabhupada would not be very pleased when they see devotees just drowning in their sentiments not following the teachings of parampara. Therefore our being confident or not doesn't matter. We can go on discussing on our own views but we need to see the mood of acharyas also by their personal teachings and scriptures. In fact prabhupada not instructing worship of Laddu Gopal to any of his disciples clarifies this. Nor do we see any of his disciple asking permission from him to do so. Maybe this kind of sentiment were not exhibitted during the time of previous acharyas towards worship of Laddu Gopal becasue of which they have not felt a need to question this. Even I have not seen such situation few years back which is very prominent now a days.
Hare Krsna
Not following the teachings of parampara
Deity worship is one of the main teaching of Gaudiya Parampara.
Is there any specific instruction prohibiting worship of laddu Gopala or another deity by any past Gaudiya vaishnava acarya ? Please provide references than opinion or observations.
The following is Srila Prabhupada's Purport about deity worship
Generally the worship of the Lord begins with the worship of Nārāyaṇa, or Viṣṇu, whereas the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā is most confidential. Lord Nārāyaṇa is worshipable by the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or regulative principles, whereas Lord Kṛṣṇa is worshipable by the bhāgavata-vidhi. No one can worship the Lord in the bhāgavata-vidhi without going through the regulations of the pāñcarātrika-vidhi. Actually, neophyte devotees worship the Lord according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi, or the regulative principles enjoined in the Nārada-pañcarātra. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa cannot be approached by the neophyte devotees; therefore temple worship according to regulative principles is offered to Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa. Although there may be a Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa vigraha, or form, the worship of the neophyte devotees is acceptable as Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa worship. Worship according to the pāñcarātrika-vidhi is called vidhi-mārga, and worship according to the bhāgavata-vidhi principles is called rāga-mārga. The principles of rāga-mārga are especially meant for devotees who are elevated to the Vṛndāvana platform. Purport SB 4.24.45-46
As per Srila Prabhupada even Sri Radha Krsna deities are worshipped, the worship is accepted as Lakshmi Narayana worship
Srila Prabhupada accepts worship of other bonafide deities
Anyone, whether a gṛhastha or a sannyāsī, can keep small Deities of the Lord suitably packed or, if possible, installed, and thus worship the Deities of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, Lord Jagannātha or Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by offering food prepared in ghee and then offering the sanctified prasāda to the forefathers, demigods and other living entities as a matter of routine daily work. Purport SB 7.15.11
Thus Vaiṣṇavas all worship such Deities as Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and Rukmiṇī-Dvārakādhīśa, Purport SB 10.2.11-12
Note none of the references are specific about Laddu Gopala, but they are applicable to Sri Laddu Gopala as well.
this kind of sentiment were not exhibitted
Worship of laddu Gopala need not be seen as sentiment. It could be seen as practice of one of the nine processes of bhakti as described by Prahlad Maharaj.
Hare Krsna
Note none of the references are specific about Laddu Gopala, but they are applicable to Sri Laddu Gopala as well.
So who are we to justify that this applies to laddu gopal as well? - Does Laddu Gopal appear in any of the 24 incarnations?
Maybe - But why not follow the acharyas and why are we eager to manufacture our own process by speculation? Cant we leave aside our sentiments and cultivate the mood given by acharyas?
And regarding your question "Is there any specific instruction prohibiting worship of laddu Gopala or another deity by any past Gaudiya vaishnava acarya ?" - There is neither any specific instruction prohibiting worship of laddu Gopala nor there is any specific instruction recommending worship of laddu Gopala. So just because there is no specific instruction prohibiting worship of laddu Gopala we cannot manufacture our own process. Just as Krishna didn't give any specific instruction to Arjuna to not eat meat doesnt mean we will start eating meat. Hope you are understanding my point. I have nothing to say beyond this.
Lastly I feel I am not that qualified to reach the stage of the mood of these devotees. Kindly pray for me so that some day I can reach the stage of having love for lord and can understand the mood of the associates of lord.
Ok
Hare Krsna
Today sadly I see even many Iskcon devotees worshipping this.
Why do you feel sad when some (Iskcon) devotee worships Laddu Gopal ?
I want to know this before I may answer your question.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krishna Prabhuji Dandawat Pranam. Sorry for my offences but as I have mentioned because I don't think any of our Gaudiya acharya nor Sad Goswamis had worshipped Laddu Gopal. Maybe my understanding is not right therefore I brought up my thoughts for correction. Can you kindly throw some light on this.
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