Deity worship

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!PAMHODear brothers, I have a little question for you: I have a little Krishna deities, which are less the size of a pinkie finger, and i was wondering: how can I dress Him? I dont have deity clothes, I just buy a large yellow cloth, cut it into little tiny pieces and wrap it around Krishnas body like a shawl and a turbant, and make little collars for Him. Is it good? I know that in certain pujas Hindus offer a cloth simbolizing clothing, and in ISKCON temples the devotees dress the murtis.ALSO, some days before my murti fall down.and have broken, what can I do? I glue it and is very good, but i wanna dress Him and i dont know how. Any suggestions? Thank you! Hare krishna

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  • E-Counselor

    Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

    PAMHO.

    Your deity is very beautiful, very happy to see the photo.

    Normally, a deity which has broken is not prayed to in deity worship. It would be advisable if you get another one. This deity, you could put in any water body (lake, river, sea) or put in a showcase without doing deity worship of this deity. Ideally bring another deity if you are keen to do deity worship.

    If you ask me, it would be a burden on you right now. You are too young, struggling with school syllabus and sadhana. Dont add on to it by doing deity worship also. Better to keep photos of deities and do daily puja. The rules of maintaining photos in altar are simpler.

    Whatever standard of worship you set in your house, you have to follow. If you have deities, then it is expected that you do abhishek atleast once in a fortnight, arati atleast once a day, bhoga atleast once a day. Special days special puja or more opulent than normal.

    Not forcing you for anything, just giving you my views.

    Haribol,

    YOur servant,

    Rashmi

    • All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
      PAMHO
      Dear Mataji: 
      I deeply appreciate your helpful replies and I am very happy to have association with a devotee like you.
      I have a deity of Balaji venkateswara and a deity of Sri Krishna and a Shivalinga that my family gave me, which lay in a corner of the altar to symbolize Lord Shiva.
      For me it's not hard to serve these deities, but appreciate your comment, because if I got a ladoo gopal would be a little difficult for me to bathe and dress every day, not to mention an offering aarti is hard because where I live  there are not flowers available.

      I fixed  my little murti well, and I would ask, I can put it in the pocket of my japa bead bag, so always bring me close to my heart, or I can put it on a table or desk as decoration?

      It is so tiny that y can hold it with my pinkie finger.
      Thank you very much! Hare krishna

      • E-Counselor

        Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

        PAMHO.

        Yes, you can put that deity in your japa beads or on a table for decoration purposes. Whenever you remove that deity from your altar, please speak to Him in your mind, stating you are now stopping deity worship of that broken (and repaired) murti, please give me permission. I cannot part with Your beautiful form, therefore want to keep you on desk/ bead bag with Your permission.

        Do not bring a laddu gopal deity. You can put whatever pictures of Krsna you want on your altar and pray as per routine. Since you have Shivalinga, you should also have the presiding deity photographs in your altar, otherwise it would appear that Shiva is the presiding deity, which is not the case with you.

        Thank you for your kind comments to me. I am simply trying to help sincere devotees like you. I consider it a service that Krsna has given me.

        Haribol,

        Your servant,

        Rashmi

        • hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

          hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

          jai sri krishna rashmi khaitan mataji, 

          please forgive me i asm just wondering, why did u ask mario not to bring a ladoo gopal diety...as ladoo gopal ji is at our home as well....and he lives with us nicely, 

          is there any specific thing that i need to know about which i am unaware.... please give ur valuable opinion.

          hare krishna

          • E-Counselor

            Hare KRsna Mataji,

            PAMHO.

            I gave my opinion to Mario prabhu. It is not binding on him - its just what I feel about his situation. He is 14 years old, stays in New Mexico (I think) and is already facing problems from his school for sporting tilak and shikha. I thought until he completes his studies, he neednt add on deity worship to his sadhana.

            When we have deities, the seva required is slightly more than if we have only photograhs in our altar. For deities, abhiskekh atleast once a fortnight is recommended. Then dresses, jewellery, whole lot of things that can bother a young boy like him. Better he concentrates on his sadhana - japa, reading philosophy. Thats what I thought and thats how I advised him.

            Haribol,

            Your servant,

            Rashmi  

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