INTRODUCTION

Deity Worship at Home

Deity worship in one's home is expected to be a level of services that the household
residents can realistically maintain. This book gives guidelines for worship of deities at
home.

In traditional Vedic society, almost all brähmaëas worshiped the deity in some capacity.
Most householders would have a çälagräma-çilä at home, to whom they would offer their
food and worship. Often they would also perform services in one of the large public temples
as part of their brahminical duties, which included such activities as teaching and
performing fire sacrifices (yajïa). In the Gauòéya Vaiñëava tradition, many householder
associates of Lord Caitanya had deities at home and worshiped Them regularly.1 Similarly,
many devotees in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness worship a deity at
home.

Preliminary Considerations Before Beginning Deity Worship at Home

Çréla Prabhupäda writes:

I think it best if everyone centers his attention on the deity in the temple and in
that way the temple worship will pull on nicely. Of course, if the temple is
unapproachable, or too far … that is different thing, but if the temple is easily
accessible then this is the best program.i

Just as the blessings of the spiritual master are necessary before a devotee can perform
deity worship in the temple, his blessings are also needed before one can worship the deity
at home. In the traditional päïcarätrika process of initiation, the spiritual master gives the
disciple a deity to worship, together with the necessary päïcarätrika mantras. The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness follows this principle, and thus Çréla
Prabhupäda, the Founder-Äcärya of ISKCON, gives all the devotees the temple deities to
worship. The Lord is so kind that He agrees to appear in the devotee’s own home, and He
accepts the family’s worship, making the home into a temple. However, the householder
should be careful not to abuse the spiritual master’s and the Lord’s mercy by being
neglectful in his service to the public temple and its presiding deities, on the plea that he is
serving the same Lord at home.

Whether one worships the deity in a temple or at home—or even underneath a tree—one
should understand that the deity is identical with the Lord. Fixed in this understanding, the
devotee should strive to follow the directions of the spiritual master, avoid offenses, and
please the Lord. Çréla Prabhupäda writes:

We must know that Krishna is present, and as such we must be careful in our
dealings, talking and behavior, as we are present before Krishna directly.ii

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Such worship was passed on from generation to generation; thus all family members worshiped
the family deities with great care. If you are planning to establish a household deity, you should
consider whether you can insure that future generations will continue the worship! Do not expect a
temple to assume responsibility for deities your descendants or other entrusted persons cannot
properly maintain.
 The Guru-Gauräìga Altar and Tulasé-sevä: Worship Simple and Sublime
Çréla Prabhupäda very often had his disciples worship a picture of the Païca-tattva (Lord
Caitanya with His four chief associates), along with pictures of the spiritual masters. In
relation to opening new temples, Çréla Prabhupäda writes:

New temples may be opened by placing Panca-tattva and acharya pictures.

Unless we have got sufficient experienced devotees we shall not install Radha-
Krishna or Jagannath deities.iii

In another letter he writes:

If there is scarcity of such qualified pujaris, each center should be satisfied only
by worshiping Panca-tattva of Lord Caitanya by performance of sankirtan.iv

Anyone can maintain a simple but sublime standard of worship at home with pictures of the
Païca-tattva and the spiritual masters. With some adjustments, one can follow the same
guidelines given in this manual for worshiping three-dimensional deities. Although one
cannot physically dress and decorate the forms of the Lord in a picture, one can offer food,
ärati and perform kértana, and offer obeisances just as one does for the Lord in His three-
dimensional mürti.

Also, if one can care for them nicely, one may keep and worship tulasé plants at home,
growing them from seeds usually available from a local temple. The presence of Tulasé-devé
in the home is very auspicious, a fact known to millions of householders in India. If one
simply offers her incense, a lamp, and a flower daily in the morning while singing the tulasé-
püjä-kértana, Kåñëa becomes most pleased, and thus one makes great spiritual
advancement.

Householders Should Perform Arcana

Arcana is especially recommended for the householder, as Çrémad-Bhägavatam instructs:

This is the most auspicious path for a religious householder of the twice-born
orders—to selflessly worship the Personality of Godhead with wealth honestly
obtained.v

If a householder cannot maintain such worship, he should donate materials to a person

who is executing such worship, and in this way the householder will gain half the results of
that worship. If the householder cannot give donations for the worship, then he should take
darçana of the deity during ärati, and in that way he will accrue the benefits of deity
worship.

Çréla Prabhupäda outlined a high standard of deity worship for the householder:

Especially for the householder devotees, the path of deity worship is strongly
recommended. As far as possible, every householder, by the direction of the
spiritual master, must install the deity of Viñëu, forms like Rädhä-Kåñëa,
Lakñmé-Näräyaëa or Sétä-Räma especially, or any other form of the Lord, like
Nåsiàha, Varäha, Gaura-Nitäi, Matsya, Kürma, çälagräma-çilä and many other

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 forms of Viñëu, like Trivikrama, Keçava, Acyuta, Väsudeva, Näräyaëa and
Dämodara, as recommended in the Vaiñëava-tantras or Puräëas, and one’s
family should worship strictly following the directions and regulations of arcana-
vidhi. Any member of the family who is above twelve years of age should be
initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, and all the members of the household
should be engaged in the daily service of the Lord, beginning from morning (4
a.m.) till night (10 p.m.) by performing maìgala-ärätrika, néräjana, arcana, püjä,
kértana, çåìgära, bhoga-vaikäli, sandhyä-ärätrika, päöha, bhoga (at night),
çayana-ärätrika, etc. Engagement in such worship of the deity, under the
direction of the bona fide spiritual master, will greatly help the householders to
purify their very existence and make rapid progress in spiritual knowledge.vi

Çréla Prabhupäda frequently stressed how important it is for householder devotees to

worship the Lord as opulently and as sincerely as possible. He writes:

Especially for householder devotees who are opulent in material possessions,

the path of deity worship is strongly recommended. An opulent householder
devotee who does not engage his hard-earned money in the service of the Lord
is called a miser. One should not engage paid brähmaëas to worship the deity.
Deity worship in the temple should be performed especially by the
householders.… Gåhastha devotees are generally engaged in material
activities, and therefore if they do not take to deity worship, their falling down is
positively assured. Any householder devotee circumstantially unable to worship
the deity must at least see the deity worship, and in this way he may achieve
success also. The special purpose of deity worship is to keep oneself always
pure and clean. Gåhastha devotees should be actual examples of cleanliness.vii

The Difference between Temple Worship and Home Worship

In his Introduction to the Arcana-Paddhati published by Devänanda Gauòéya Maöha,
Keçava Mahäräja, Çréla Prabhupäda’s Godbrother and sannyäsa-guru, explains the two
varieties of deity worship—home deity worship and temple deity worship. He writes:

Bhakty-aìga-arcana, or worship of the Supreme Lord in the realm of devotional

service, is of two varieties. The worship of çälagräma-çilä, govardhana-çilä, or
other forms of the Lord which is performed by householders within their homes
is one variety, and that found in the temples of formally installed deities of the
Lord is the second. The first kind is performed with ingredients according to the
means of the householder, and is therefore reduced or shortened service. The
second type is the worship of the Supreme Lord as a king, in awe and
reverence. In such kingly service, regular worship is a necessity; if it is
otherwise, sinful reaction is incurred.… Householders, and those who have
given up their homes but are carrying on simple deity worship, are able to offer
foodstuffs to the Lord more or less according to the needs of their own families,
of associate Vaiñëavas, or of guests who come to them. But in kingly service of
the deity everything must be regulated.viii

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 Minimum Standards for Home Deity Worship
In a letter Çréla Prabhupäda gives simple instructions for the worship of Gaura-Nitäi:

He can worship Gaura-Nitai in his home. The most important element for their
worship is the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. They can have at least one
aratrika, and whatever foodstuffs are prepared can be offered.ix

In another letter Çréla Prabhupäda writes:

So far as taking care of the deities and your family simultaneously, you have to
do both mutually, but the main importance is deity worship. Just like a busy
housewife is always busy in household affairs, yet still she is engaged in
dressing herself nicely, combing her hair, etc. So both things go together. Yes,
at least once daily the deity’s clothes must be changed, in the morning. If the
deities are small, as they appear to be from the photograph, then they can be
laid down in a bed at night. And they can be given nightgowns to wear before
taking rest. That is nice. If there is time and facility then these things can be
implemented. So far as bathing is concerned, it requires two hands and one
tongue. In your left hand be ringing a bell and simultaneously with your right
hand pour water. Chant Hare Krishna, Cintamani, Govinda Jaya Jaya, etc., like
that.x

Cleanliness and Regulation

A devotee can perform deity worship in the home simply, according to his capacity.
However, he should maintain a high standard of cleanliness in his worship, following as far
as possible the rules given in this manual.

If devotional worship of the household deities is conducted with all these considerations in
mind, the reward will be peace and happiness in the home, and spiritual progress for the
whole family.

Children and Deity Worship

Householders who worship deities at home have a great opportunity to bring up their
children in an atmosphere of practical devotional service to the Lord. Children should be
encouraged to take shelter of the deities by bowing down, chanting, dancing, and
performing various services. One may also encourage them to offer the Lord whatever they
receive, such as new clothes. If a child draws a picture or produces some other artwork,
the parent may have the child show it to the deities. This will help the child develop a
natural attraction and attachment to the Lord in His deity form.

Children should be taught reverence for the deities. Çréla Prabhupäda writes:

You should not give Jagannätha to small children because they will not take
proper care and make offenses.xi

Deity worship can be learned at not less than ten years of age. Before that they
can assist. They can learn how to bow down, how to dance and chant, how to

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 make garlands, clean aratrika utensils, etc.… These are also different parts of
deity worship.xii

Young devotees who are properly trained and encouraged may become excellent püjärés
because of the attachment they develop for Kåñëa through regular association with deities
of the Lord from early childhood.

Travel and Deity Worship

A devotee who undertakes deity worship at home should have a similar commitment as he
would have in caring for a baby. Although difficulties may arise that impede regular service,
one should feel the same sense of duty to make the necessary arrangements for the deity
as one would for one’s own children. If a devotee performing deity worship at home must
travel, he must arrange for the deity worship to continue, either by leaving them under
suitable care at home or elsewhere. If no family members remain at home who can worship
the deities during his absence, he may arrange for another qualified person to do it, but in
general a householder or his own family members should do the worship. A householder
should not expect the public temple he is affiliated with to help maintain the worship of his
household deities. Also, if he is traveling with his deities and staying at a temple, he should
take care that his worship does not inconvenience the devotees living there.

i
Letter, 30 May 1969
ii
Letter, 6 May 1968
iii
Letter, 22 June 1970
iv
Letter, 1 July 1970
v
Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 84, text 37
vi
Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Canto 2, Chapter 3, text 22, purport
vii
Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Canto 7, Chapter 5, text 24, purport
viii
Introduction to Arcanä-Paddhati, B.P. Keçava Mahäräja
ix
Letter, 15 February 1975
x
Letter, 1 May 1971
xi
Letter, 30 March 1969
xii
Letter, 1 May 1971