http://deityworship.info/worship/home-worship/
Doma máme malá Božstva Džagannátha, Baladévy a Subhadry:
Nenásledujeme však standard, který je popsán na stránkách ISKCON Deity worship Ministry. Obrátil jsem se na Ministry se svými dotazy, ale zatím jsem nedostal odpověď.
Zároveň na PAMHO (http://www.pamho.net/) již dlouhou dobu funguje konference ohledně uctívání Božstev, kterou vede Gaura Kéšava Prabhu.
Gaura Keshava Das is a Pancharatra Agama Vidvan trained by leading Sri Vaishnava pundits. He is a Sanskritist, an expert on Hindu and Vaishnava customs and rituals, and an expert on Vaishnava tradition and theology as well as the theology and history of other sects in South India. He was also the General Manager of the Vaishnava Literature Conservation Microfilm Project (aka the “Matsya Project”) in the 1981–83.
http://samprajna.org/node/4
Uvádím zde odpověďi Gaura Kéšavy Prabhua na můj email:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Priya-kirti das
Date: 2011/6/14
Subject: home standard for Deity worship
Dear devotees,
please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
My name is Priya-kirti das. I'm living with my wife Lila Sakti dd. and
our 3 year old son Vamsi Gopal in Czech Republic.
We are both second-initiated devotees, disciples off HH Bhaktivaibhava
Swami. I joined ISKCON in 1991.
We are living in a flat in a small city 10km from ISKCON farm project
Krishna's court (www.krisnuvdvur.cz) where we are regularly
participating during temple programs, festivals etc. We are also doing
active service for this farm project.
A ten years ago I got from one senior devotee in Czech a small Deities
of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra. We have Them at our home altar
(together with a picture of Panca Tattva, Lord Nrsimhadeva...).
We don't follow a regular standard for Deity worship at home like
daily bathing, changing clothes of the Deities etc. Our standard is a
very simple. My wife is daily cooking at home and offering bhoga to
the Deities, once per month she is changing clothes. Almost daily she
is singing morning program together with Vamsi Gopal (our son) - I'm
not participating, because of my job (I'm singing morning program on
the way to the office). During weekends we as much as possibe trying
to participate on programs at farm.
When we travel, we don't take the Deities with us.
A few weeks ago Priti Vardhana Prabhu (from gurukula in Mayapur)
visited Czech farm and spoke about the minimum standard for home Deity
worship (daily bathing, changing clothes, morning puja, offering bhoga
3 times per day...).
Where do such standards come from?
The deity in the home is offered services just as any guest would be. This means that He has to adjust sometimes to the irregularities of home life.
Normally in India home worship (normal 16 article worship is performed once per day and all or any food cooked is offered when and if it is necessary) is performed in a simple way.
In performing sodasopachara (16 article) worship whenever an item is not available, substitute items can be offered. The least is that the mantras are chanted and the puja items are offered within the mind of the worshiper. Thus although physically clothes may not be changed and bath offered, etc these items can be offered at least in the mind.
Another way to deal with this is to worship small deities or salagrama or other silas murtis as the representatives of the larger deities (as we do in temples). In any case home deities are usually not very large. Maximum sizes are suggested in sastra. Small deities or silas are much easier to worship. Normally in Vaisnava society the parents will give a small deity or sila to a couple at the time of marriage for their new home worship.
He stressed the responsibility of grihasthas to
take care of the Deities at home nicely with proper standard,
otherwise they are responsible for offenses.
Certainly all deities should be cared for properly or we incur seva aparadha or offense. However the question is what does it mean properly? There are many standards which are proper. A proper standard need not be complex or difficult to perform. Those who are expert in Deity seva can be consulted as to how difficulties can be overcome.
After hearing this we
realized that we are not able to follow such standard of Deity worship
at home.
If there is some difficulty then simply adjust. There are a lot of different ways to adjust your lives and your home worship. Your goal should be to do things as authentically as you can bearing in mind the methods mentioned in sastra.
Remember the story of the yogi in Nectar of Devotion. He had nothing physically but meditated on worshiping the Lord with sweetrice. He meditated on growing the rice, milking the cow and then cooking the sweetrice. His meditation was so great that he burnt his finger when testing the hot sweetrice in his meditation.
In any worship (even in chanting kirtan/japa) the mentality of the worshiper is most important. Going through the external physical actions is also important but of the two the mental concentration is more important than any physical action. One still derives benefit from doing external worship (chanting) even if his mind is thinking of something else. However that benefit is far greater if the mind is also fully engaged. On the other hand the full benefit is still derived if the mind is fully engaged yet one has no physical objects of worship (see yogi and sweetrice example above).
We should not take this to mean that we don’t have to do anything externally. We should offer what we can according to our means. The Lord says "offer me a fruit, flower, leaf and water" in the gita. So He is suggesting that we do offer Him physical items and services. However the second part of that sloka indicates that it must be offered with devotion. And it is this devotion that the Lord is really interested in. After all He already has created, owns and controls all the fruit, flowers, etc. The only thing He craves from us is our devotion. Otherwise He is self-sastisfied (atmarama).
So, our question is should we continue the way we are doing now or
should we put Deities to sleep and have on our altar only pictures?
Of course you can ask this question to your guru also. However in my opinion you must continue. Perhaps you can adjust things in different ways. Without more information I can suggest several ways. Do manasa puja for the items you can’t physically offer. Or offer the worship at a different time of day when you are not speeding to work. Or have your wife offer the worship. There are in fact so many options.
Regarding this peculiar notion amongst (only) ISKCON devotees that we can put deities to sleep for months and years and then somehow wake them up and worship them whenever we want. This is not mentioned in sastra. The normal system of Vaisnava worship is to regularly worship a deity once that deity has been formally (or informally, by simply beginning worship) installed. The sastra also speaks of the system of calling (avahanam) and sending away (visarjanam) or valediction of deities. This is normally done with deities that are made of perishable materials such as clay or when we temporarily worship a deity called into a pot (with coconut and leaves) or other temporary substitute form. So there is a system of calling and sending the deity. Otherwise the system of putting deities to sleep normally means waking them up the very next day. (Of course Lord Visnu in one of His forms does sleep for the four months of caturmasya but I know of only one temple in India Udipi where this is actually performed) So these ideas of waking and sleeping of deities in ISKCON have really no basis in sastra, however they do seem to be similar to the idea of calling and sending the deity. In Pancaratra small movable (cala) deities are always called (avahanam) at every puja. The exception is that large stone deities that are fixed to the earth are considered permanently installed. Most temples have smaller metal deities that represent the large stone ones. In this case the small deities are invoked from the large ones. In ISKCON no such distinction is made. This is because in Northern India most deities even stone ones are movable (cala murtis). Anyway this may be largely besides the point. Your deities are of Jagannatha. Jagannatha is considered a cala deity as He is daru brahman or wooden in form.
We don't want to commit any offenses.
We perform deity worship to free us from offenses. There are many offenses in chanting and also in deity worship. They are listed in NOD, CC and SB.
Here is a section of CC Mad 24.336 that discusses offenses in deity worship and the remedy. [MY COMMENTS IN SQUARE BRACKETS]
QUOTE
TEXT 336
nama-mahima, namaparadha dure varjana
vaishnava-lakshana, sevaparadha-khandana
SYNONYMS
nama-mahima—the glories of the holy name; nama-aparadha—offenses in chanting the holy name; dure varjana—giving up very carefully; vaishnava-lakshana—the symptoms of a Vaishnava; seva-aparadha-khandana—rejecting offenses in worshiping the Deity.
TRANSLATION
“You should glorify the holy name and explain that one must carefully give up offenses when chanting the holy name. You should also describe the symptoms of a Vaishnava and explain that one must give up or nullify all kinds of seva-aparadha, offenses in Deity worship.
PURPORT
The devotee should always be very careful not to commit the ten offenses when chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. If a devotee very strictly follows the methods of Deity worship, he will naturally and quickly become a pure Vaishnava. A pure Vaishnava has unflinching faith in the Lord, and he does not deviate at all. He is always engaged in perfect Deity worship.
One should also note the specific offenses against Deity worship. These are mentioned in the Skanda Purana (Avanti-khanda), spoken by Vyasadeva himself. One should liquidate all kinds of offenses.
The salagrama-sila should be worshiped with tulasi where a sufficient quantity of tulasi leaves are available. Worship of salagrama-sila should be introduced in all ISKCON temples. Salagrama-sila is the form of the Lord’s mercy. To worship the Deity with the sixty-four items mentioned may be a difficult job, but the Lord has become so small that anyone in any temple can carefully handle Deity worship simply by performing the same activities with the salagrama-sila.
[Notice above how Srila Prabhupada suggests that deity worship is very important for clearing away offenses. He suggests that salagrama is the form of the Lord’s mercy because being small it is easier to worship with many items or services. This is true not only for temple worship but also for home worship.]
There are thirty-two offenses to the Deity that should be avoided. (1) One should not enter the temple in a vehicle. Shoes and slippers should be removed before entering the temple. (2) One should offer obeisances as soon as he sees the Deity. (3) One should enter the temple after taking a bath. In other words, one should be very clean. (4) One should not offer obeisances to the Lord with one hand. (5) One should not circumambulate demigods before the Deities. (6) One should not spread his legs before the Deity. (7) One should not sit down before the Deity with his legs crossed, nor should one touch his legs with his hands. (8) One should not lie down before the Deity. (9) One should not eat before the Deity. (10) One should not speak lies before the Deity. (11) One should not speak very loudly before the Deity. (12) One should not talk nonsense before the Deity. (13) One should not cry before the Deity. (14) One should not deal with others before the Deity. (15) One should not utter harsh words before the Deity. (16) One should not cover himself with a blanket. (17) One should not talk enviously of others before the Deity. (18) One should not praise others before the Deity. (19) One should not use slang before the Deity. (20) One should not pass air before the Deity. (21) One should not neglect the sixty-four items of Deity worship. (22) One should not eat anything not offered to the Deity. (23) One should not neglect offering seasonal fruits as soon as they are available. (24) One should always offer fresh, untouched fruit to the Deity. (25) One should not sit with his back toward the Deity. (26) One should not offer obeisances to others before the Deity. (27) One should not sit near the Deity without taking the spiritual master’s permission. (28) One should not be proud to hear himself praised before the Deity. (29) One should not blaspheme the demigods. (30) One should not be unkind to others before the Deities. (31) One should observe all festivals in the temple. (32) One should not fight or quarrel before the Deity.
[Above in home worship replace the word temple with puja room or altar area. Regarding not neglecting the 64 items of deity worship this is specifically for temples. Observing festivals at the temple does not mean that one may not observe them at home also if one wants. However it is better to observe them at the temple if one cannot observe them in both places.]
In CC Mad 24.334 Srila Prabhupada describes the process of deity worship in detail as follows: [MY COMMENTS IN SQUARE BRACKETS]
QUOTE
TEXT 334
panca, shodasa, pancasat upacare arcana
panca-kala puja arati, krishnera bhojana-sayana
SYNONYMS
panca—five; shodasa—sixteen; pancasat—fifty; upacare—with ingredients; arcana—offering worship; panca-kala—five times; puja—worshiping; arati—offering arati; krishnera bhojana-sayana—in this way offering eatables to Krishna and laying Him down to rest.
TRANSLATION
“Also describe Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Krishna at least five times daily and in due time place Him on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering arati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen or fifty ingredients.
PURPORT
The five ingredients for Deity worship are (1) very good scents, (2) very good flowers, (3) incense, (4) a lamp and (5) something edible. As for shodasopacara, the sixteen ingredients, one should (1) provide a sitting place (asana), (2) ask Krishna to sit down, (3) offer arghya, (4) offer water to wash the legs, (5) wash the mouth, (6) offer madhu-parka, (7) offer water for washing the mouth, (8) bathe the Lord, (9) offer garments, (10) decorate the Lord’s body with ornaments, (11) offer sweet scents, (12) offer flowers with good fragrance, like the rose or campaka, (13) offer incense, (14) offer a lamp, (15) give good food, and (16) offer prayers.
[Above the 5 and 16 item systems are described. Below Srila Prabhupada says that in the temple AS FAR AS POSSIBLE 64 items or services should be provided. So there is no need to try for 64 items or services in the house. Better you stick to 5 or 16 items or services in the house. All these three systems (5, 16, and 64) are all bona fide standards. NO WHERE is it mentioned that these have to be offered multiple times per day in the house. So I have no idea where this idea that one must offer food three times a day in the house comes from. Above 5 items means a flower (puspa), (dhupa) incense, (dipa) lamp, (naivedya) something to eat, and (gandha) good scents (which is usually translated as sandal paste) is a very simple but bona fide standard. Please note that in that simple standard there is no mention of bath, clothes, waking or sleeping, etc. Those items/services only come in with the 16 item system. All these systems are bona fide. If you need more information on exactly how to implement them let me know]
In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (11.127–140) there is a vivid description of what is required in Deity worship. There are sixty-four items mentioned. In the temple, worship should be so gorgeous that all sixty-four items should be available for the satisfaction of the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes it is impossible to get all sixty-four items; therefore we recommend that at least on the first day of installation all sixty-four items should be available. When the Lord is established, worship with all sixty-four items should continue as far as possible. The sixty-four items are as follows: (1) There must be a big bell hanging in front of the temple room so that whoever comes into the room can ring the bell. This item is called prabodhana, or offering oneself submissively to the Lord. This is the first item. (2) The visitor must chant “Jaya Sri Radha-Govinda!” or “Jaya Sri Radha-Madhava!” when he rings the bell. In either case, the word jaya must be uttered. (3) One should immediately offer obeisances to the Lord, falling down like a stick. (4) There must be regular mangala-arati in the temple during the early morning, an hour and a half before the sun rises. (5) There must be an asana, a sitting place before the altar. This asana is for the spiritual master. The disciple brings everything before the spiritual master, and the spiritual master offers everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (6) After mangala-arati, the Deity is supposed to wash His teeth by using a twig; therefore a twig must be offered. (7) Water must be offered for washing the Deity’s feet. (8) Arghya should be offered. (9) Water for acamana should be offered. (10) Madhu-parka, a small bowl containing madhu (honey, a little ghee, a little water, a little sugar, yogurt and milk) should be offered. This is called madhu-parka-acamana. (11) One should place wooden slippers before the Lord. (12) One should massage the body of the Lord. (13) One should massage the body of the Lord with oil. (14) With a soft, wet sponge one should remove all the oil smeared over the Lord’s body. (15) One should bathe the Lord with water in which nicely scented flowers have been soaking for some time. (16) After bathing the body of the Lord with water, one should bathe Him with milk. (17) Then one should bathe Him with yogurt. (18) Then one should bathe Him with ghee. (19) Then one should bathe Him with honey. (20) Then one should bathe Him with water in which sugar has been dissolved. (21) Then one should wash the Deity with water and chant this mantra:
cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vriksha-
lakshavriteshu surabhir abhipalayantam
lakshmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.29]
(22) One should dry the entire body of the Lord with a towel. (23) A new dress should be put on the Lord’s body. (24) A sacred thread should be placed on His body. (25) Water should be offered for cleansing His mouth (acamana). (26) Nicely scented oils like liquid sandalwood pulp should be smeared over the Lord’s body. (27) All kinds of ornaments and crowns should be placed on His body. (28) Then one should offer flower garlands and decorative flowers. (29) One should burn incense. (30) Lamps should be offered. (31) Precautions should always be taken so that demons and atheists cannot harm the body of the Lord. (32) Food offerings should be placed before the Lord. (33) Spices for chewing should be offered. (34) Betel nuts should be offered. (35) At the proper time, there should be arrangements so that the Lord may take rest in bed. (36) The Lord’s hair should be combed and decorated. (37) First-class garments should be offered. (38) A first-class helmet should be offered. (39) The garments should be scented. (40) There should be Kaustubha jewels and other ornaments offered. (41) A variety of flowers should be offered. (42) Another mangala-arati should be offered. (43) A mirror should be offered. (44) The Lord should be carried on a nice palanquin to the altar. (45) The Lord should be seated on the throne. (46) Again water should be given for the washing of His feet. (47) Something again should be offered for eating. (48) Evening arati should be offered. (49) The Lord should be fanned with a camara fan, and an umbrella should be placed over His head. (50) The Hare Krishna mantra and approved songs should be sung. (51) Musical instruments should be played. (52) One should dance before the Deity. (53) One should circumambulate the Deity. (54) One should again offer obeisances. (55) One should offer different types of prayers and hymns at the Lord’s lotus feet. (56) One should touch the lotus feet of the Lord with one’s head. This may not be possible for everyone, but at least the pujari should do this. (57) The flowers offered on the previous day should touch one’s head. (58) One should take the remnants of the Lord’s food. (59) One should sit before the Lord and think that he is massaging the Lord’s legs. (60) One should decorate the Lord’s bed with flowers before the Lord takes His rest. (61) One should offer one’s hand to the Lord. (62) One should take the Deity to His bed. (63) One should wash the feet of the Lord and then sit Him on the bed. (64) One should place the Lord on the bed and then massage His feet.
Arati should be offered to the Deities five times daily—early in the morning before sunrise, later in the morning, at noon, in the evening and at night. This means that there should be worship and a change of dress and flowers. As far as the eatables are concerned, all items should be first-class preparations. There should be first-class rice, dhal, fruit, sweet rice, vegetables and a variety of foods to be sucked, drunk and chewed. All the eatables offered to the Deities should be extraordinarily excellent. In Europe and America there is presently no monetary scarcity. People are not poor, and if they follow these principles of Deity worship, they will advance in spiritual life. As far as placing the Deity in the bed is concerned, if the Deity is large and heavy, it is not possible to move Him daily. It is better that a small Deity, which is also worshiped, be taken to the bed. This mantra should be chanted: agaccha sayana-sthanam priyabhih saha kesava. “O Kesava, kindly come to Your bed along with Srimati Radharani.” (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 11.40)
The Deity should be placed in bed with Srimati Radharani, and this should be indicated by bringing the wooden slippers from the altar to the bedside. When the Deity is laid down, His legs should be massaged. Before laying the Deity down, a pot of milk and sugar should be offered to Him. After taking this thick milk, the Deity should lie down and should be offered betel nuts and spices to chew.
END QUOTE
We heard an opinion that if grihasthas have the Deities at home, the
Deities are very merciful and accept the status like guest at their
home
See my comments above. Worship in the temple is specifically called Rajopachara or kingly service.
and They are satisfied with whatever standard and offerings
grihasthas can offer and there are no offenses involved (of course not
speaking about not following 4 regs etc.).
We cannot say that no offenses are involved. There is always the possibility for offenses, both in house and temple worship. Even without house or temple worship there are offenses in chanting and in other aspects of life. We do deity worship to help clear offenses. We cannot say that home deities MUST accept anything and everything they are offered or any standard. The standards come from sastra (we always follow guru, sadhu and sastra). So educate yourself on the actual standards and try to follow them. As shown above a 5 or even 16 item standard is very simple. Especially when we understand that substitute items can be used as well as mental offering of items that cannot be obtained or performed.
Actually this is one of the most common questions that I get asked. "Prabhu, what is the minimum I can do?" Instead of thinking in this way we should instead think of what is the maximum we can do. At the same time we have to be practical and consistency is more important than the ability to offer elaborate puja.
Home situations are very different. If you need more detailed information please let me know.
sincerely
Gaura Keshava das
