Category:Establishing Deities
Theme Analysis
The establishment of Deities (vigraha) is a central element of Vaisnava culture, historically demonstrated by great acaryas. Śrīla Prabhupāda recounts how Sanātana Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and Mādhavendra Purī rediscovered and installed prominent Deities in Vṛndāvana to revive the holy dhama. However, he cautions that this process is not a formality or a plaything. Establishing a Deity requires strict adherence to the rules of worship (arcana). For modern householders, especially those living in small apartments or unable to maintain high standards, Śrīla Prabhupāda often advises against formal installation, suggesting instead the establishment of preaching centers or the distribution of transcendental literature. The ultimate goal of establishing a Deity is to keep the mind fixed on Kṛṣṇa, but this must be done without offense.
- Historical Legacy: Sanātana Gosvāmī established the Madana-mohana Deity, and Rūpa Gosvāmī established Govindajī.
- Strict Standards: One should not establish a Deity to make a farce; it requires strict worship and training.
- Modern Context: In cities with small apartments, it is often better to open a preaching center than to attempt elaborate Deity worship.
- The Alternative: Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that distributing literature and sankirtana can be more effective than simply opening temples.
- The Purpose: The Deity is established so that one may constantly think of Kṛṣṇa and serve Him.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Principles of Establishing Deities.
Pages in category "Establishing Deities"
The following 30 pages are in this category, out of 30 total.
A
- A gentleman named Bhramaravara from Kendrapada, in the province of Orissa, contributed funds to establish these Deities (of Nityananda, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Advaita) in the temple. The management of the temple was under the Tota-gopinatha gosvamis
- After returning from Jagannatha Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannatha Jagadisa Pandita established Deities of Jagannatha in the village of Yasada-grama
- After some time, he (Pandita Dhananjaya) left the responsibility for worship with a disciple and went back to Vrndavana. After returning from Vrndavana to Sitala-grama, he established a Deity of Gaurasundara in the temple
- At the present day, especially in big, big cities, people live in small apartments and are not able to establish a Deity or temple
H
- He (Sri Madhusudana Mullik) also arranged for the worship of a Deity named Sri Radhakanta. His son Balaicanda Mullik established Gaura-Nitai Deities there in the Bengali year 1312 - A.D. 1905
- His (Laksmi-narayana's) son was Navakisora, and Navakisora’s second son was Ramamohana, whose eldest son was Jagabandhu and whose third son, Viracandra, accepted the sannyasa order and established a Deity of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Katwa
I
- I understand that some of our householder devotees are ordering for Deities. The point is that they worship strictly. Don't make a play. If you follow strictly the Deity worship method, then you establish; otherwise, don't establish. It will be offense
- If you establish Deity, you must worship to the best capacity of your possession. That is Deity worship. But if one hasn't got to offer anything, he can offer everything within the mind
- In Jagannatha Puri Lord Caitanya lived at the house of Kasi Misra, who was the priest of the King. Later this house was inherited by Vakresvara Pandita and then by his disciple Gopalaguru Gosvami, who established a Deity of Radhakanta there
- In the eighteenth vilasa (of Hari-bhakti-vilasa) the different forms of Sri Visnu are described. The nineteenth vilasa discusses the establishment of the Deity and the rituals observed in bathing the Deity before installation
- It is said that in the beginning Lord Jagannatha was worshiped by the sabaras and was known as the Deity Nila Madhava. Later, when the Deity was established in the temple, the Lord became known as Jagannatha
S
- Sanatana Gosvami compiled many, many books, all with the aim of describing how to serve the principal Deities of Vrndavana - Govinda and Madana-gopala. Later, other Deities were gradually established, and the importance of Vrndavana increased
- Sanatana Gosvami was enjoined to establish the Vrndavana method of temple worship and install Deities in temples (Sri Sanatana Gosvami established the Madana-mohana temple, and Rupa Gosvami established the Govindaji temple)
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu set a practical example in that He did not establish any temples or Deities, but He profusely introduced the sankirtana movement
T
- That chapter also describes how Svarupa Damodara Gosvami rejected the drama of a poet from Bengal and established the glories of the Deity
- The Madana-mohana Deities simply establish that "I am Your eternal servant." With Govinda, however, there is actual acceptance of service, and therefore He is called the functional Deity
- There is no need of establishing a deity for the time being in these places you have mentioned. Simply make a nice preaching center
- This Jagannatha Deity was established by one King Indradyumna about more than three thousand years ago. This temple is very old. Even in some literatures of your Christian religion I find that Lord Jesus Christ also went to this Jagannatha temple
W
- We have also established worship of the Deity in our temple so that all day long one will automatically think of Krishna, He is so kind
- Whatever you say about Vaisnava behavior, the establishment of Vaisnava temples and Deities, and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Puranas
- When he (Vallabha Bhattacarya) was thirty years old, he married Mahalaksmi, who belonged to the same brahmana community as his (the Bella-nati community from Andhra Pradesh). Near Govardhana Hill he established a Deity in the valley
- When there was a Maharashtrian invasion of Bengal, the family of Kanu Thakura was scattered, and after the invasion one Harikrsna Gosvami of that family came back to their original home, Bodhakhana, and re-established the Pranavallabha Deity
- When we established the Bury Place Deity, on the three days before, the Deity which I ordered from India, it did not arrive. Three days before. And I was so much full of anxiety
- Whenever there is a possibility to worship the Deity, we may establish many centers, but generally we should give more stress to the distribution of transcendental literature, for this will be more effective in converting people to Krsna consciousness
- Within the temple (of Ekacakra-grama) there is a Deity of Sri Krsna established by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The name of the Deity is Bankima Raya or Banka Raya