Category:Engaging in Worshiping
Theme Analysis
Worship, in its many expressions throughout human society, reflects the soul's innate longing to connect with a higher power. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that all genuine religious worship ultimately reaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Supersoul of all living entities and the true object of all religious activity. Yet not all forms of worship are equal in their capacity to deliver the worshiper. The worship of demigods yields only temporary material results and reflects a lack of deep intelligence, while the transcendental worship of Lord Viṣṇu and His arcā-vigraha form purifies the devotee of all material contamination and qualifies him for direct attraction to Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda also corrects the widespread misconception of "idol worship," clarifying that the devotee who worships the arcā-vigraha does not see a stone figure but perceives the Lord Himself directly, in His personal presence within the Deity form.
- The Arcā-vigraha - The Lord's Merciful Presence in Deity Form: The worship of the Lord's arcā-vigraha form is not idol worship, as atheists mistakenly suppose, but a direct and personal engagement with the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. The devotee who has eyes of devotion perceives not stone or metal but sākṣād Brajendranandana Hari, the very son of the king of Vraja, personally present and accepting the devotee's loving service.
- Demigod Worship - Indirect, Temporary, and Lacking Intelligence: The worship of demigods, though it indirectly reaches Lord Viṣṇu as the Supersoul of all, is characterized by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā as the engagement of those who are not very intelligent. Such worship is motivated by the desire for temporary material benefits and leads only to the temporary enjoyment of those benefits, not to liberation or genuine Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Transcendental Worship of Lord Viṣṇu - Purification and Knowledge: Those engaged in the worship of the Lord's arcā form or in meditation upon the Lord for liberation receive, by the Lord's grace, genuine transcendental knowledge of Brahman and the higher principles of existence. Temple worship of the Lord is specifically recommended as a swift and powerful means of purification from material contamination accumulated through previous births.
- Perfect Human Society - All Activities as Worship of Lord Viṣṇu: The ideal of Vedic civilization, as Śrīla Prabhupāda presents it, is a society in which every member, situated in his appropriate varna and āśrama, engages in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu through his respective activities. This comprehensive vision transforms all occupational duty into an act of transcendental worship and makes the entire fabric of society an offering at the lotus feet of the Supreme.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Engaging in Worshiping - Arcā-vigraha, Demigod Worship, and the Path to Kṛṣṇa.
Pages in category "Engaging in Worshiping"
The following 16 pages are in this category, out of 16 total.
A
- Akrura continued, "After being properly initiated in the method of Pancaratra, they decorate their bodies with tilaka and engage in worshiping Your different forms of visnu-murti"
- All the mystic powers of Brahma, Siva, all the demigods and the twenty-four elements of cosmic manifestation were fully represented in the person of Visnu. By the influence of Lord Visnu, all subordinate mystic powers were engaged in His worship
- Although the atheist class of men may think that they are engaged in idol worship, it is not idol. Those who are atheist, they may see idol, stone. But those who are devotees, they see saksad brajendranandana hari
- Although the impersonalists are always engaged in the worship of Lord Siva, they are unable to understand the prayers offered by Lord Siva to the bodily features of Lord Visnu
- Although they (the inhabitants of the five islands) engage in the worship of these five demigods (the sun-god, the moon-god, the fire-god, the air-god and Lord Brahma), however, they actually worship Lord Visnu, the Supersoul of all living entities
- As the Bhagavad-gita (BG 18.65) confirms, one should engage in transcendental worship in order to be fit for being attracted by Krsna, the all-attractive
- Atheists may think that the devotees are engaged in idol worship, but the fact is different
T
- Those who are engaged in worshiping the form or arca of the Lord or who are engaged in meditation on the Lord simply for liberation from material bondage, also know, by the grace of the Lord, the purports of Brahman, adhibhuta, etc. BG 1972 purports
- Those who are engaged in worshiping the form or arca of the Lord, or who are engaged in meditation on the Lord simply for liberation from material bondage, also know, by the grace of the Lord, the purports of Brahman, adhibhuta, etc