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 Krishna prabhuji
I think if this was something which should not be done then surely senior devotees would address this issue even if srila Prabhupada didn't explicitly mention it.
To be fair I have seen that people are nowadays more inclined to it. Unfortunately for many people it has became a "fashion" rather than a spiritual practice based on feelings and scriptures. But for those who are doing to actually serve the lord then this can be seen as bhakti.
It was said by HG amrendra prabhu in a lecture about how narad Muni saw multiple krishna in different palaces in dwarka, he said that God doesn't age he just exists in all ages as devotees may worship him in different moods. So he also exist in his bal goppal form for those devotees who want to serve him in this way. In the light of the above, we can conclude that there MUST exist this bhaav still too so worshiping laddu gopal is exactly fine. this is my stance .
If you disagree or want to argue/discuss on any want please go ahead and do so. I am all ears.
Hare Krishna,
"we know our sentiments should always be backed by scriptural recommendation and acharyas."
True. You are indeed true follower of the parampara. These days people are buying laddu gopal and keeping at homes and making many videos and posting all over the internet. They are buying paraphernalia just like as a child buys paraphernalia to a Barbie doll.
Barbie house, Barbie dinning table, Barbie fan, Barbie doll jwellery, Barbie doll's AC, Barbie doll's boy friend Ken, Barbie doll's friends.... Barbie doll's fridge, plates, glasses, spoons, cookware... bathrobe, shower curtain.. bed.. sofa..omg Barbie doll gets so many stuff these days kids play with Barbie doll's as if they are their own friend. They are in their own dreamy world. ( material world).
Now Krishna laddu gopal replaced by Barbie doll... laddu gopal fan, table, chair, AC, laddu gopals. home ( mandir) Ladu gopal's friends.. ( cows, gopis' gopas).......laddu gopal. spoon, plate, bathrobe, night dress, laddu gopal bed, sofa,... offo many things..(Krishna's world mini vrindavan replica). So nice,.. This is all sentiments?? or or just play play ??
or having bhakti In it at all??
whatever done whether it is play play or real real .. also.. if anything done to a barbie... Barbie wont react.. because barbie is lifeless. But our laddu gopal is not barbie. Laddu gopal will react to it. (
)
Anything done to Lord with even 1% love shown in any form... the bond or attachement formed towards Lord Krishna in any form.. Our Lord is not insentient like that Barbie. He will also reciprocate (
) YES OR NO?
Yes. So, instead of arguing it is not there in books.. It is not followed in Parmpara .. Let us say...It is just someone's strong sentiments towards that form.
Secondly, I HEARD NOT SURE but I heard that.
When Devaki and Vasudeva ji were in the Prison and Kamsa was torturing them by killing all their sons. Devaki mata ji one day made a Pratima of laddu gopal form while remembering Little Krishna. She felt sad that I am missing my son He must be crawling now in Nand bhawan.. and Mother yashoda must be giving him Butter and with a butter in hand he must be crawling like this. and She in that mood made this laddu gopal form with laddu material. ( the sweet).
These days none of them have that motherly bhaav for that form.. but they are buying.. so many laddu gopal and creating laddu gopal's mini Vrindavan at homes and posting videos as if they are enjoying playing with a barbie doll. ..Well, I don't find it offensive..
All I know is Barbie doll is insentient.. It will never reciprociate.. But anything done with love without love.... our Lord Krishna will surely reciprocate.
ONE STROY to highlight this fact:-
There was one time a certain person by name Dhanna Jhatt. this person when he was a kid .. he saw some saint a Vaishnava saint doing all paraphernalia to a stone ( Shaligram) and performing devotional service. This kid dhanna also wanted to do the same and asked the saint how to do this service and asked to give him that stone.. Saint understood that the boy is curious but he is not initiated and having no background knowledge of all the rituals ..The saint gave Dhanna a stone ( ordinary stone) and said take this and worship this way get flowers, fruit etc etc.
Now this dhanna jhat was a simpleton a kid he was praying to that stone daily just as told by the saint. This person prayed as if it was real Lord Krishna sitting there. He offered fruits, flowers, roti, applied chandan dhoopa deepa.. etc. and then only he would eat everyday. One day he felt the Lord wont eat..but the stone was eating with the sage? how?? maybe I must put a Pardah then the Lord would not feel shy to eat food and turned his back and sat.. and shouted .. oh Krishna did you eat now. Don't feel shy I am not watching you.. come eat it now. don't do dramas now.. I know you like that saint YOU did eat with him. You should eat when I offer too. That day Lord really came and ate whole plate... Dhanna was happy. This was repeatedly daily and Lord would partake whatever Dhanna offered with Lord even from that stone.
What to say of these people who are having simple sentiments who are not in parampara and not even chanting who are simply doing something.. Ofcourse they are few.. who are show off bhakts they make reels that oh .........my laddu gopal is drinking milk.. I laddu gopal is wearing night dress and ready to go to bed.. daily upadate of laddu gopal...videos.. this is quite funny but still.. Lord Krishna likes all this drama. ye bahut bada dramebaaz hai.
drama logon ko drama mein hi jawab denge. Whatever it is they are doing something for Lord. even if it for getting subscribes or getting money or becomig famous.. Lord will Help.
As we know People come to Lord for 4 things as per BG:-
O best among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional service unto Me—the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute ( 7.16 BG)
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna, I agree with you Mataji. Thank you for the detailed reply. This reply clarifies most of the misconceptions. If you can kindly elaborate also on what is the recommended process of worship set by Srila Prabhupada and Parampara acharyas becasue I can see the mood of people worshipping Laddu Gopal is quite different. No doubt their devotion is very high on a personal level with the lord. I am not questioning that. Nor I am againt them worshipping Laddu Gopal becasue lord can always reciprocate according to their mood. My doubt is what should be the exact mood of worship for us in ISKCON as followers of Srila Prabhupada (Brahma Madhwa Gaudiya Sampradaya). As every Sampradaya has a specific mood of worship which differenciates them from the other. Mixing this moods is not a healthy environment. Also my doubt is becasue I don't think prabhupada mentioning worshipper of Laddu Gopal in any of his conversations or books nor recommending anyone to do so.
Hare Krishna Prabhu ji,
You cannot copy other's mood.
Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu was always in the mood of Sri Radharani. His bhava is Madhurya bhava. Superlative highest. Can you copy Lord's mood?
We can follow the footsteps of the goswami's who are none other than Manjari's of Pradhaan Gopi's
Srila Prabhupada's followed the foot steps of Rupa Goswami who is none other than Rupa Manjari. So, all ISKCON devotees or followers of Srila Prabhupada are Rupanugas.
But yes, we cannot always become sakhi or have madhurya bhava which is too high. Not all of us attain these qualifications but it is not impossible also because you are following Srila Prabhupada and final destination of Srila Prabhuapada is the foot dust of Rupa Goswami pada.
Basically you are going to be maid servant of servant of servant of Shri Rupa Manjari.
Depending on your mood you can take different pathways also.
Not a problem.
Just like in Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu's leela also as mentioned by Bharat Prabhu there was a devotee by name Murari Gupta he a staunch devotee of Lord Sri Rama. he was not able to recognize Lord Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu and he didn't understand Krishna. His faith was fixed on one form that is Lord Rama. He was none other than Hunuman. Hanuman will only praise Lord Rama. He cannot understand or recognise Lord in any other form. Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu shows him Lord Rama form to make him understand that HE is only Rama and He is only Krishna and He is only now Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Each one of us has a affinity for one form of Lord. so. also the moods.
Braj wasi's feel that Krishna as a child. playful and naughty. The main temple of Shri Vrindavan is Shri Banke Bihari laal ji and here the main deity is a child form of Lord. Like a 4-5 yr old kid. They don't even wake the Lord early in the morning. The Braj wasi's get up early clean the temple do all the parapehrnalia ready without making noise. they feel that the child Lord Sri Banke Bihari ji will get disturbed.
If you want to stick to mood of the parampara. Then ISKCON devotees are Rupanugas.
Rupa Goswami ji's deity is there in Rajasthan now. Shree Shree Radha Govind Dev ji .. Look at the darshan
Radha Govind dev ji is the original deity of Shri Rupa Goswami ji now presently located in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
I like HIS sharp nose.
Do you have Sakhi bhava?
Hare Krishna
Hare Krsna
In addition to what Mataji has added. There are other deities in Iskcon as well
1. Sri Sita Rama Lakshmana Anjaneya deities in Iskcon Juhu , Mumbai
2. Ugra Narasimha deity in Iskcon Mayapur
3. Srinathji deity in Iskcon Chowpatty, Mumbait
4. Sri Venkateshwara Balaji deity in Iskcon NVCC Pune
No past acarya in any vaishnava Sampraday will become sad or fight against worship of any bonafide deity which is different from their deity.
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
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