Home Deity Worship

 It is obligatory for the neophyte devotees 

to be engaged in deity worship.  

Even if he has no love of God, 

by following the regulative principles and worshiping the deity 

he will awaken that dormant love.

                                                                                                              ~Srila Prabhupada  

We went to Richmond, Virginia on Sunday to attend a Deity installation in the home of some devotees there. HH Hanumat Preshaka Swami was there, and gave a talk on Deity worship.  He said that the most important principle is to serve our Deities with love.  If our love for the Lord is still very much covered over, we should at least serve Them with cleanliness and punctuality.

He also said that if we just can't follow all the rules for deity worship listed in the Pancaratrika Vidhi, we should pray about it.  We should talk to our Deities and ask Them to help us understand how to serve Them in the most pleasing way, considering our schedules and the limitations and obstacles we suffer from in this Kali-yuga.  He stressed that Krsna is a person and that He understands.

Maharaja also explained that Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai are 100% merciful, so They do not accept any offense. They are happy if we just offer Them some fruit, some flowers, and some Harinama--chanting of the Holy Names.

He also explained that Their Lordships Jagannath, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra devi are 80% merciful. Someone in the audience asked what this means.  Maharaja told a story to illustrate how we can understand this.  He said that in the San Diego Temple, there was a pujari who was supposed to cook a certain offering everyday.  He had been late with the offering for four days in a row.  On the fifth day, he was again late.  He was freaking out in the kitchen, trying to get everything ready, when a loud sound came from the altar room. He ran to see what had caused the loud noise.  Lady Subhadra had jumped from Her sitting place onto the next step down and was turned toward the kitchen, as if to say, "What's taking you so long to bring my Brothers' offering?"  Everyone laughed in amazement to hear how Srimati Subhadra devi had chastised Her beloved Brothers' servant!

The Deities that were being installed in Richmond were Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, and the installation was simple. Maharaja explained that this is householder standard.  Simple.  Not so elaborate as the formal installation in the temples.  He said we householders should offer what we can, even if it's very simple, but as far as possible, be steady in our service to our Deity.  He also explained that if we are unable to perform puja to our Deities, at least we should see the Deity worship in the temple.  Just by seeing the arati performed in the temple, we are benefited.

Finally, he emphasized that kirtan is the most important way to serve the Lord in this Kali-yuga.

Today, while serving my Deities, I remembered and felt inspired by Maharaja's class.  I tried very sincerely to understand how to serve my Deities according to Their desire.  I prayed to Them to help me understand how I could serve Them in the most pleasing way, considering my limitations.  Because I took a more personal approach, I experienced Their mercy and felt that They were pleased with my small, simple service.