View source for Worship of the salagrama-sila

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{{terms|"Govardhana Sila"|"Narayana sila"|"Saligram Sila"|"narayana-sila"|"salagrama-sila"|worship|worshiping|worshiped"}}
{{notes|VedaBase research query: "worship* sila*"@10}}
{{compiler|Labangalatika}}
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{{first|24May11}}
{{last|10Jun11}}
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[[Category:Worshiping Salagrama-sila|1]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_1" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 1"><h3>SB Canto 1</h3>
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<div id="SB1226_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_1" book="SB" index="49" link="SB 1.2.26" link_text="SB 1.2.26">
<div class="heading">The qualified brāhmaṇas worship the viṣṇu-tattvas represented by the śālagrāma-śilā, and some of the higher castes like the kṣatriyas and vaiśyas also generally worship the viṣṇu-tattvas.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 1.2.26|SB 1.2.26, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The separated parts and parcels have different positions in the estimation of material powers, and some of them are like Kāla-bhairava, Śmaśāna-bhairava, Śani, Mahākālī and Caṇḍikā. These demigods are worshiped mostly by those who are in the lowest categories of the mode of darkness or ignorance. Other demigods, like Brahmā, Śiva, Sūrya, Gaṇeśa and many similar deities, are worshiped by men in the mode of passion, urged on by the desire for material enjoyment. But those who are actually situated in the mode of goodness (sattva-guṇa) of material nature worship only viṣṇu-tattvas. Viṣṇu-tattvas are represented by various names and forms, such as Nārāyaṇa, Dāmodara, Vāmana, Govinda and Adhokṣaja.</p>
<p>The qualified brāhmaṇas worship the viṣṇu-tattvas represented by the śālagrāma-śilā, and some of the higher castes like the kṣatriyas and vaiśyas also generally worship the viṣṇu-tattvas.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_6" class="sub_section" sec_index="6" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 6"><h3>SB Canto 6</h3>
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<div id="SB6127_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_6" book="SB" index="26" link="SB 6.1.27" link_text="SB 6.1.27">
<div class="heading">In every brāhmaṇa's house there is worship of the nārāyaṇa-śilā.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 6.1.27|SB 6.1.27, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">It may also be concluded that Ajāmila, who was the son of a brāhmaṇa, was accustomed to worshiping Nārāyaṇa in his youth because in every brāhmaṇa's house there is worship of the nārāyaṇa-śilā. This system is still present in India; in a rigid brāhmaṇa's house, there is nārāyaṇa-sevā, worship of Nārāyaṇa. Therefore, although the contaminated Ajāmila was calling for his son, by concentrating his mind on the holy name of Nārāyaṇa he remembered the Nārāyaṇa he had very faithfully worshiped in his youth.</p>
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<div id="SB_Canto_7" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3>
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<div id="SB752324_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="200" link="SB 7.5.23-24" link_text="SB 7.5.23-24">
<div class="heading">One who worships the śālagrāma-śilā can also be relieved of offenses.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23-24, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">If one commits any of the above offenses, one must read at least one chapter of Bhagavad-gītā. This is confirmed in the Skanda-Purāṇa, Avantī-khaṇḍa. Similarly, there is another injunction, stating that one who reads the thousand names of Viṣṇu can be released from all offenses. In the same Skanda-Purāṇa, Revā-khaṇḍa, it is said that one who recites prayers to tulasī or sows a tulasī seed is also freed from all offenses. Similarly, one who worships the śālagrāma-śilā can also be relieved of offenses. In the Brahmaṇḍa Purāṇa it is said that one who worships Lord Viṣṇu, whose four hands bear a conchshell, disc, lotus flower and club, can be relieved from the above offenses. In the Ādi-varāha Purāṇa it is said that a worshiper who has committed offenses may fast for one day at the holy place known as Śaukarava and then bathe in the Ganges.</p>
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<div id="SB71429_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="605" link="SB 7.14.29" link_text="SB 7.14.29">
<div class="heading">If a gṛhastha devotee worships the śālagrāma-śilā, or the form of the Deity at home, his home also becomes a very great place.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.14.29|SB 7.14.29, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"A person who is very faithfully engaged in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not know how to behave toward devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, or kaniṣṭha-adhikārī." Therefore, in the temple there must be the Deity of the Lord, and the Lord should be worshiped by the devotees. This combination of the devotees and the Deity creates a first-class transcendental place.</p>
<p>Aside from this, if a gṛhastha devotee worships the śālagrāma-śilā, or the form of the Deity at home, his home also becomes a very great place. It was therefore customary for members of the three higher classes—namely the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas—to worship the śālagrāma-śilā, or a small Deity of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa or Sītā-Rāma in each and every home. This made everything auspicious. But now they have given up the Deity worship. Men have become modernized and are consequently indulging in all sorts of sinful activities, and therefore they are extremely unhappy.</p>
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<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCAdi745_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="991" link="CC Adi 7.45" link_text="CC Adi 7.45">
<div class="heading">Accepting disciples born in brāhmaṇa families, they are bona fide spiritual masters who have the facility to worship the śālagrāma-śilā, which is worshiped with the Deity.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 7.45|CC Adi 7.45, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">There are many Vaiṣṇava families in Bengal whose members, although not actually born brāhmaṇas, act as ācāryas by initiating disciples and offering the sacred thread as enjoined in the Vaiṣṇava tantras. For example, in the families of Ṭhākura Raghunandana Ācārya, Ṭhākura Kṛṣṇadāsa, Navanī Hoḍa and Rasikānanda-deva (a disciple of Śyāmānanda Prabhu), the sacred thread ceremony is performed, as it is for the caste Gosvāmīs, and this system has continued for the past three to four hundred years. Accepting disciples born in brāhmaṇa families, they are bona fide spiritual masters who have the facility to worship the śālagrāma-śilā, which is worshiped with the Deity. As of this writing, śālagrāma-śilā worship has not yet been introduced in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, but soon it will be introduced in all our temples as an essential function of arcana-mārga (Deity worship).</p>
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<div id="CCAdi1141_1" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1454" link="CC Adi 11.41" link_text="CC Adi 11.41">
<div class="heading">"It is understood that the wooden mūrti of Uddhāraṇa Ṭhākura was taken away by Śrī Madana-mohana Datta and is now being worshiped with a śālagrāma-śilā by Śrīnātha Datta."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 11.41|CC Adi 11.41, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura adds in his Anubhāṣya: "In the Bengali year 1283 (A.D. 1876) a bābājī of the name Nitāi dāsa arranged for a donation of twelve bighās of land (about four acres) for the temple where Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura worshiped. The management of the temple later deteriorated, but then in 1306 (A.D. 1899), through the cooperation of the famous Balarāma Mullik of Hugli, who was a subjudge, and many rich suvarṇa-vaṇik community members, the management of the temple improved greatly. Not more than fifty years ago, one of the family members of Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura named Jagamohana Datta established a wooden mūrti (statue) of Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura in the temple, but that mūrti is no longer there; at present, a picture of Uddhāraṇa Datta Ṭhākura is worshiped. It is understood, however, that the wooden mūrti of Uddhāraṇa Ṭhākura was taken away by Śrī Madana-mohana Datta and is now being worshiped with a śālagrāma-śilā by Śrīnātha Datta."</p>
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<div id="CCAdi1287_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1562" link="CC Adi 12.87" link_text="CC Adi 12.87">
<div class="heading">"The śālagrāma-śilā personally worshiped by Maṅgala Ṭhākura still exists in the village of Kāṅdaḍā."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 12.87|CC Adi 12.87, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">"In the family of Puruṣottama Cakravartī there are famous persons like Kuñjavihārī Cakravartī and Rādhāvallabha Cakravartī, who now live in the district of Birbhum. They professionally recite songs from Caitanya-maṅgala. It is said that when Maṅgala Ṭhākura was constructing a road from Bengal to Jagannātha Purī, he found a Deity of Rādhāvallabha while digging a lake. At that time he was living in the locality of Kāṅdaḍā, in the village named Rāṇīpura. The śālagrāma-śilā personally worshiped by Maṅgala Ṭhākura still exists in the village of Kāṅdaḍā. A temple has been constructed there for the worship of Vṛndāvana-candra. Maṅgala Ṭhākura had three sons—Rādhikāprasāda, Gopīramaṇa and Śyāmakiśora. The descendants of these three sons are still living."</p>
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<div id="CCAdi1386_3" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1656" link="CC Adi 13.86" link_text="CC Adi 13.86">
<div class="heading">Especially in every brāhmaṇa's house there must be a śālagrāma-śilā to be worshiped by the brāhmaṇa family.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 13.86|CC Adi 13.86, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Especially in every brāhmaṇa's house there must be a śālagrāma-śilā to be worshiped by the brāhmaṇa family. This system is still current. People who are brāhmaṇas by caste, who are born in a brāhmaṇa family, must worship the śālagrāma-śilā. Unfortunately, with the progress of Kali-yuga, the so-called brāhmaṇas, although very proud of taking birth in brāhmaṇa families, no longer worship the śālagrāma-śilā. But actually it has been a custom since time immemorial that a person born in a brāhmaṇa family must worship the śālagrāma-śilā in all circumstances. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society, some of the members are very anxious to introduce worship of the śālagrāma-śilā, but we have purposely refrained from introducing it because most of the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement do not originally come from families of the brāhmaṇa caste. After some time, when we find that they are actually situated strictly in the line of brahminical behavior, śālagrāma-śilā worship will be introduced.</p>
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<div id="CCAdi1386_4" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1656" link="CC Adi 13.86" link_text="CC Adi 13.86">
<div class="heading">In this age, the worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not as important as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 13.86|CC Adi 13.86, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In this age, the worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not as important as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. That is the injunction of the śāstra: harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalaṁ/ kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā ([[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.21|CC Adi 17.21]]). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s opinion is that by chanting the holy name offenselessly one becomes completely perfect. Nevertheless, just to purify the situation of the mind, worship of the Deity in the temple is also necessary. Therefore when one is advanced in spiritual consciousness or is perfectly situated on a spiritual platform, he may take to the worship of the śālagrāma-śilā.</p>
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<div id="CCAdi149_5" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1704" link="CC Adi 14.9" link_text="CC Adi 14.9">
<div class="heading">Deity worship or worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not idol worship.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 14.9|CC Adi 14.9, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">When the form of the Lord is carved from wood, stone or any other element, it is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is there. Even logically we can understand that all material elements are expansions of the energy of the Lord. Since the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is nondifferent from His personal body, the Lord is always present in His energy, and He manifests Himself on account of the ardent desire of a devotee. Since the Lord is supremely powerful, it is logical that He can manifest Himself in His energy. Deity worship or worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not idol worship. The Deity of the Lord in the house of a pure devotee can act exactly as He can in His original transcendental personality.</p>
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<div id="CCAdi17269_6" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="2204" link="CC Adi 17.269" link_text="CC Adi 17.269">
<div class="heading">Sannyāsīs generally take prasādam in the house of a brāhmaṇa because the brāhmaṇa worships the Lord Nārāyaṇa śilā, or śālagrāma-śilā, and therefore there is prasādam that the sannyāsī may take.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 17.269|CC Adi 17.269, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">According to the system of Vedic society, whenever an unknown sannyāsī comes to a village or town, someone must invite him to take prasādam in his home. Sannyāsīs generally take prasādam in the house of a brāhmaṇa because the brāhmaṇa worships the Lord Nārāyaṇa śilā, or śālagrāma-śilā, and therefore there is prasādam that the sannyāsī may take. Keśava Bhāratī accepted the invitation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Thus the Lord had a good opportunity to explain His desire to take sannyāsa from him.</p>
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<div id="CC_Madhya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Madhya-lila"><h3>CC Madhya-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCMadhya135_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="35" link="CC Madhya 1.35" link_text="CC Madhya 1.35">
<div class="heading">In the fifth vilāsa, one is instructed on how to make a place to sit for meditation, and there are descriptions of breathing exercises, meditation and worship of the śālagrāma-śilā representation of Lord Viṣṇu.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 1.35|CC Madhya 1.35, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the fifth vilāsa, one is instructed on how to make a place to sit for meditation, and there are descriptions of breathing exercises, meditation and worship of the śālagrāma-śilā representation of Lord Viṣṇu.</p>
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<div id="CCMadhya15204_1" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="3398" link="CC Madhya 15.204" link_text="CC Madhya 15.204">
<div class="heading">Among the followers of the Vedic way, the śālagrāma-śilā, the vigraha of Nārāyaṇa, is worshiped in the form of a stone ball.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 15.204|CC Madhya 15.204, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">Among the followers of the Vedic way, the śālagrāma-śilā, the vigraha of Nārāyaṇa, is worshiped in the form of a stone ball. In India, every brāhmaṇa still worships the śālagrāma-śilā in his home. The vaiśyas and kṣatriyas may also engage in this worship, but it is compulsory in the house of a brāhmaṇa.</p>
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<div id="CCMadhya24336_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Madhya-lila" book="CC" index="5652" link="CC Madhya 24.336" link_text="CC Madhya 24.336">
<div class="heading">The śālagrāma-śilā should be worshiped with tulasī where a sufficient quantity of tulasī leaves are available. Worship of śālagrāma-śilā should be introduced in all ISKCON temples.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Madhya 24.336|CC Madhya 24.336, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">The śālagrāma-śilā should be worshiped with tulasī where a sufficient quantity of tulasī leaves are available. Worship of śālagrāma-śilā should be introduced in all ISKCON temples. Śālagrāma-śilā 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 śālagrāma-śilā.</p>
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<div id="CC_Antya-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="3" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Antya-lila"><h3>CC Antya-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCAntya3101_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Antya-lila" book="CC" index="490" link="CC Antya 3.101" link_text="CC Antya 3.101">
<div class="heading">In the days of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the brāhmaṇas worshiped Nārāyaṇa in the form of the śālagrāma-śilā.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Antya 3.101|CC Antya 3.101, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">In the days of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, all the brāhmaṇas worshiped Nārāyaṇa in the form of the śālagrāma-śilā. Therefore begging from a brāhmaṇa's house meant taking kṛṣṇa-prasādam, which is transcendental (nirguṇa). If we take food from the houses of others, such as karmīs, we shall have to share the qualities of those from whom we take alms. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took prasādam in the houses of Vaiṣṇavas. This is the general process.</p>
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<div id="CCAntya6298_2" class="quote" parent="CC_Antya-lila" book="CC" index="1354" link="CC Antya 6.298" link_text="CC Antya 6.298">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Antya 6.298|CC Antya 6.298, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">After thus advising him how to worship, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally offered Raghunātha dāsa the govardhana-śilā with His transcendental hand. As advised by the Lord, Raghunātha dāsa worshiped the śilā in great transcendental jubilation.</p>
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<div id="CCAntya6303_3" class="quote" parent="CC_Antya-lila" book="CC" index="1359" link="CC Antya 6.303" link_text="CC Antya 6.303">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Antya 6.303|CC Antya 6.303, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">After Raghunātha dāsa had thus worshiped the govardhana-śilā for some time, Svarūpa Dāmodara one day spoke to him as follows.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB127HyderabadApril211974_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="48" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Hyderabad, April 21, 1974" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Hyderabad, April 21, 1974">
<div class="heading">At least, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, they had Deity, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, or Nārāyaṇa śilā. Every house, it was being worshiped.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Hyderabad, April 21, 1974|Lecture on SB 1.2.7 -- Hyderabad, April 21, 1974]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So everyone can bhakti-yoga practice, simply under the guidance of proper spiritual master who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa. From him you take lesson. And it is not difficult, this bhakti-yoga practice. Actually, this was the practice in India in every home. There was Deity. At least, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, they had Deity, Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Sītā-Rāma, or Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa, or Nārāyaṇa śilā. Every house, it was being worshiped. But we have lost our culture. Vāsudeve bhakti-yogaḥ..., bhakti-prayojitaḥ. We have lost this culture. Revive it. Don't lose this opportunity of human life. Practice bhakti-yoga and be Kṛṣṇa conscious, and make your life successful.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB5512StockholmSeptember71973_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="521" link="Lecture on SB 5.5.1-2 -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 5.5.1-2 -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973">
<div class="heading">Brāhmaṇa family, still, not all, a few families still in India, they worship regularly Nārāyaṇa-śilā, śalagrāma-śilā.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 5.5.1-2 -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973|Lecture on SB 5.5.1-2 -- Stockholm, September 7, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">If you take foodstuff from impious men, then that means you are taking share of his impious activities. But a saintly person, they can digest, but if (they) cannot digest, then you have to suffer. This is the process. Then he has to suffer. Therefore the safety principle is to accept luncheon in a pious family, where there is Vaiṣṇava family or brāhmaṇa family. Not that anywhere we can accept cooked food. Sometimes we have to do it, but that is against principle. We should not accept food anywhere and everywhere, unless he is pious. The brāhmaṇas are supposed to be pious; therefore, a sannyāsī is advised to accept food, luncheon in the brāhmaṇa family. And brāhmaṇa family, still, not all, a few families still in India, they worship regularly Nārāyaṇa-śilā, śalagrāma-śilā.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB615657BombayAugust141975_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="692" link="Lecture on SB 6.1.56-57 -- Bombay, August 14, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 6.1.56-57 -- Bombay, August 14, 1975">
<div class="heading">Still in all brāhmaṇa's family, ancestral śālagrāma-śilā is worshiped in a brāhmaṇa family. So also in kṣatriya family also.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 6.1.56-57 -- Bombay, August 14, 1975|Lecture on SB 6.1.56-57 -- Bombay, August 14, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">So the sannyāsīs especially, they are begging from door to door. So they have no fixed up program in which door he will go on which date. No. Anywhere they approach. Therefore atithi means generally the brahmacārī and the sannyāsa. Brahmacārī is also begging alms from door to door, and a sannyāsī also allowed, but door to door does not mean that he would collect more than is necessity. But he does not cook. A sannyāsī goes to a pure householder's life, er, home, because generally in a brāhmaṇa's house or kṣatriya or vaiśya... But not to a śūdra. This is restriction. Why? Because the three upper classes, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, especially the brāhmaṇa—they are considered the topmost—they have got Viṣṇu worship at home. Still in all brāhmaṇa's family, ancestral śālagrāma-śilā is worshiped in a brāhmaṇa family. So also in kṣatriya family also. So these sannyāsīs go to a brāhmaṇa family because it is known fact the brāhmaṇas are engaged in worshiping Viṣṇu.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Initiation_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Lectures" text="Initiation Lectures"><h3>Initiation Lectures</h3>
</div>
<div id="SannyasaInitiationLectureCalcuttaJanuary261973_0" class="quote" parent="Initiation_Lectures" book="Lec" index="51" link="Sannyasa Initiation Lecture -- Calcutta, January 26, 1973" link_text="Sannyasa Initiation Lecture -- Calcutta, January 26, 1973">
<div class="heading">In every house of a brāhmaṇa there was Nārāyaṇa-śilā. Still some rigid brāhmaṇas, they worship.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Sannyasa Initiation Lecture -- Calcutta, January 26, 1973|Sannyasa Initiation Lecture -- Calcutta, January 26, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Just like in marriage ceremony and other ceremonies we do. That, that bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpā, they're simply eating pāpā. Therefore we are prohibited to take prasādam anywhere and everywhere. Because if there is no Deity worship, if we take food from their house, then we partake the sin, resultant action of their sinful activities. We should be careful. Unless it is prasādam, if we accept invitation from anywhere and everywhere, that means we are accepting the sinful activities, resultant action of the sin, person. Therefore a sannyāsī... And it was, formerly, this was the regulation, that sannyāsī would take prasādam in the house of a brāhmaṇa, because a brāhmaṇa is supposed to worshiper of Nārāyaṇa. In every house of a brāhmaṇa there was Nārāyaṇa-śilā. Still some rigid brāhmaṇas, they worship. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu even, He did not accept prasādam from a non-Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa. He must be brāhmaṇa, at the same time, Vaiṣṇava. Then He would accept.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
</div>
<div id="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1968 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1968 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationOctober271968MontrealWithFirstDevoteesGoingtoLondonOnEveningofTheirDeparture_0" class="quote" parent="1968_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="21" link="Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure" link_text="Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure">
<div class="heading">Every Hindu family, especially the high class, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, they must have Nārāyaṇa-śilā.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure|Room Conversation -- October 27, 1968, Montreal, With First Devotees Going to London On Evening of Their Departure]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: ...India still, amongst the Hindu family, whenever they use some new thing, household, they'll offer first of all to the Deity. Every family has got Deity. Every Hindu family, especially the high class, brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, they must have Nārāyaṇa-śilā. You know Nārāyaṇa-śilā? Śālagrāma.</p>
<p>Janārdana: Stone.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. That is worshiped in every family. Arcye śilā-dhīḥ. Śilā means stone. So arcye, the worshipable... I think this is correct.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1974 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1974 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkApril181974Bombay_0" class="quote" parent="1974_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="66" link="Morning Walk -- April 18, 1974, Bombay" link_text="Morning Walk -- April 18, 1974, Bombay">
<div class="heading">According to Vedic culture, the higher class, in every home there is nārāyaṇa-śilā for worship, especially of the brāhmaṇas.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- April 18, 1974, Bombay|Morning Walk -- April 18, 1974, Bombay]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: (Sanskrit) From our childhood, if there was a rice grain on the floor, my father, er, my mother would ask me, "Take it and touch it on your head."</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: We were advised not to tread on the grains. (break)</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Because by chance, if the grain is struck with the leg, she asked, "Take it and you touch it on the head."</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: That is the culture. That is real culture.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Means from the very beginning he understands anna-brahma.</p>
<p>Dr. Patel: Even it is not spoken, you practice it.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, practice it. According to Vedic culture, the higher class, in every home there is nārāyaṇa-śilā for worship, especially of the brāhmaṇas.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="8" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1975 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1975 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkMay191975Melbourne_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="80" link="Morning Walk -- May 19, 1975, Melbourne" link_text="Morning Walk -- May 19, 1975, Melbourne">
<div class="heading">That is Vedic culture, and everywhere Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa-śilā is worshiped. At least the higher castes, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya—not the śūdras.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- May 19, 1975, Melbourne|Morning Walk -- May 19, 1975, Melbourne]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: We do not say that don't enjoy, but enjoy so that you may not be implicated. There is no harm having big house, comfortable life, but keep Kṛṣṇa, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. What is the wrong there? Hm? Madhudviṣa Mahārāja, if they chant Hare Kṛṣṇa in these big, big skyscraper buildings, what is their loss?</p>
<p>Madhudviṣa: Hm.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Huh? There is no loss, still they will not do it. We don't say that don't live in the... We are living in nice building; you also live in nice building. But see, do, see what we are doing there. Everyone can do it. Everyone can... That is Vedic culture, and everywhere Viṣṇu, Nārāyaṇa-śilā is worshiped. At least the higher castes, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya—not the śūdras. Don't eat meat, don't have intoxication, no illicit sex, have Kṛṣṇa's picture, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, make nice preparation, where is the difficulty? Take this civilization.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
</div>
<div id="MorningWalkJanuary81976Nellore_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="7" link="Morning Walk -- January 8, 1976, Nellore" link_text="Morning Walk -- January 8, 1976, Nellore">
<div class="heading">That's all right, but we have no such instruction.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Morning Walk -- January 8, 1976, Nellore|Morning Walk -- January 8, 1976, Nellore]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Yaśodānandana: ...temples they are worshiping this Dvārakā-śilā with the śalagrāma-śilā.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: That's all right, but we have no such instruction.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationAugust201976Hyderabad_1" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="274" link="Room Conversation -- August 20, 1976, Hyderabad" link_text="Room Conversation -- August 20, 1976, Hyderabad">
<div class="heading">I will give you one śālagrāma-śilā. So as it is being worshiped in Māyāpura, it should be worshiped in Bombay also.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation -- August 20, 1976, Hyderabad|Room Conversation -- August 20, 1976, Hyderabad]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: I will give you one śālagrāma-śilā. So as it is being worshiped in Māyāpura, it should be worshiped in Bombay also.</p>
<p>Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: You want to start it now or in the new temple?</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: No, now. Śālagrāma-śilā. It is not difficult. You have seen śālagrāma-śilā?</p>
<p>Saurabha: I have seen.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So you'll take it and...</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="RoomConversationAboutBlitzNewsClippingAugust211976Hyderabad_2" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="275" link="Room Conversation About Blitz News Clipping -- August 21, 1976, Hyderabad" link_text="Room Conversation About Blitz News Clipping -- August 21, 1976, Hyderabad">
<div class="heading">We have got this śālagrāma-śilā. So if you like to personally worship, we can keep it. Otherwise I am sending to Bombay. Do you like to worship?
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation About Blitz News Clipping -- August 21, 1976, Hyderabad|Room Conversation About Blitz News Clipping -- August 21, 1976, Hyderabad]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Prabhupāda: So go and pick up and make arrangement immediately show them. One thing, that we have got this śālagrāma-śilā. So if you like to personally worship, we can keep it. Otherwise I am sending to Bombay. Do you like to worship?</p>
<p>Pradyumna: We can take with us? Yes.</p>
<p>Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: That is good to take with you.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Pradyumna: We can make small thing like you used to have, small Deities? We can do that.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes. Make a small box.</p>
<p>Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Here there are carpenters. We can get it made before you leave.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: So we can carry and every morning just put in a siṁhāsana and tulasī and water and flower and little fruit. That's all. He has got tendency to worship.</p>
<p>Gargamuni: He is brāhmaṇa. Paṇḍita.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Paṇḍitjī.</p>
<p>Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: He and Nitāi are both considered the paṇḍitjīs.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes, they are paṇḍita.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
</div>
<div id="1975_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Correspondence" text="1975 Correspondence"><h3>1975 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoBatuGopalaHonolulu12June1975_0" class="quote" parent="1975_Correspondence" book="Let" index="331" link="Letter to Batu Gopala -- Honolulu 12 June, 1975" link_text="Letter to Batu Gopala -- Honolulu 12 June, 1975">
<div class="heading">Regarding naming your Cleveland center, New Govardhana Hill is a very nice name. But as far as worshiping a Govardhana Sila from Govardhana hill, that we shall see later on.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Batu Gopala -- Honolulu 12 June, 1975|Letter to Batu Gopala -- Honolulu 12 June, 1975]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Thank you very much for selling so many books there. This is very much wanted. Try to sell again more and more each day. Regarding naming your Cleveland center, New Govardhana Hill is a very nice name. But as far as worshiping a Govardhana Sila from Govardhana hill, that we shall see later on.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="1976_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="11" parent="Correspondence" text="1976 Correspondence"><h3>1976 Correspondence</h3>
</div>
<div id="LettertoHrsikesanandaVrindaban3November1976_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Correspondence" book="Let" index="621" link="Letter to Hrsikesananda -- Vrindaban 3 November, 1976" link_text="Letter to Hrsikesananda -- Vrindaban 3 November, 1976">
<div class="heading">Worship Saligram Sila nicely, husband and wife.
</div>
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hrsikesananda -- Vrindaban 3 November, 1976|Letter to Hrsikesananda -- Vrindaban 3 November, 1976]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Worship Saligram Sila nicely, husband and wife. Do not forget to follow strictly the four regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds minimum daily.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>