Cleanliness

Subala dasa

26-Nov-96

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I have a question about cleanliness. I can be probably wrong, but I think I read it in Pancaratra Pradip, that after taking meal one has to brush teeth (and after brushing teeth one must take a bath) and that for pujaris it may not be all the time possible and in this caseone has to wash his mouth thoroughly (something like 16 times) and this replacenecessity to brush teeth and taking bath. And because prasadam is pure, onedoes not get contaminated by eating it (as in a case of eating non-prasadam)and one is allowed to enter Deity room after fully digesting food. Is itcorrect?

And I have related question, does one's cloth get contaminated by taking prasadam without touching mouth? Like drinking carinamrita or taking maha-prasad.

Krsna Ksetra (das) ACBSP (USA)

27-Nov-96

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Brushing teeth after eating is not required (despite what our parents and the dentist told us)(where in PP did we say you must brush after eating? only after rising from bed before taking bath); after eating the rinsing of the mouth thoroughly is required (as is washing hands andfeet). Therefore taking bath after eating / before going on altar is notrequired. BUT one must not eat in cloth which you wear on the altar; typical ofpujaris is to put on a gamcha for eating if going on the alter after. BUT alsoone should not belch when on the altar! So be careful about eating too soonbefore. Theoretically one doesn't have to change cloth if one eats somethingwithout touching the mouth, but don't take advantage of this: pujaris aren'tsupposed to be snacking while doing Deity service.

Arcita (das) ACBSP

27-Nov-96

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How do we reconcile the above standard with the known fact that Srila Prabhupada discouraged even drinking water while cooking (what to speak of eating). (See Janaki/Mukunda wedding feast preparation in Lilamrta)

Krsna Ksetra (das) ACBSP (USA)

14-Dec-96

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I don't see the contradiction. Not that WHILE cooking or doing puja one can eat or drink. But between "sessions," especially if one has a lot of service, it is not expected that one take shower after eating/before going on the altar. But asidefrom rules, there should be also personal discretion: when in doubt, take ashower! Another principle: when in doubt, eat AFTER cooking/puja (example:Srila Prabhupada's father would come home late in the evening, worship thehousehold Deities, then eat his evening meal.)

Anadi (das) (Melbourne - AU)

06-Feb-95

What are the two most important items in Deity worship?

Nrsimha Kavaca (das) IDS

20-May-95

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Cleanliness and punctuality, and in that order

Letter to Sudama 28/8/73

deities in the truck, by the jarring of the vehicle there may be some damage and also I think that it is not possible to keep the top standard of worship, cleanliness, punctual offerings etc. We must be very careful about deity worship, if it is neglectful then it is veryoffensive and that will not help us, . . .

Letter to Sri Govinda das 31/1/71

I am glad to hear that you are taking up the program of deity worship very seriously. This is required. So everything should be first class as you have got full facility, just to the standard of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles I personally advised them in all the differentaspects of deity worship, so you may consult, especially with Silavati Prabhu(now in Dallas) and do the needful. One thing though, the deity worship must becompletely pure in terms of cleanliness and punctuality, otherwise there willbe some offense.