By Damaghosa dasa, Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa
“The real master commands, ‘You must do this,’ and the real servant immediately obeys the order.” (SB 7.10.6)
The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities
“… I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom? Pujari should operate entirely under the supervision of temple president and GBC, not independently. The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So, don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all.”
Srila Prabhupada letter, January 4, 1973
We should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it
“One who understands and appreciates the disciplic succession is certainly advanced, and we should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it. That is why I have always been so careful to give you only those things which I have heard from my Guru Maharaja.”
Vrndavana, India, August 1967, Letter to: Devotee & Hamsaduta
If one does not chant in the process, then gradually it degrades. The offense will increase.
Rāmeśvara: Just like this Alice Coltrane. She has done her small part. She made this record album with Govinda Jaya Jaya and Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: That is… That will be a good thing. But when he (she) does it properly it will be more effective, because there is… If one does not chant in the process, then gradually it degrades. The offense will increase. There is chance.
Brahmānanda: We want to bring them to the process.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is the ultimate. That is stated by Rūpa Gosvāmī,
yena tena prakāreṇa / manaḥ kṛṣṇe niveśayet sarve vidhi-niṣedhā syur / etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ
that “Somehow or other, bring him to chant Kṛṣṇa or to become little Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then, when he’s little purified, then the vidhi-niṣedhāḥ…” He’s not rejecting the vidhi-niṣedhāḥ. Vidhi-niṣedhāḥ means regulative principles. It is not rejected, that… But when he’s a little purified, this vidhi-niṣedhā syur etayor eva kiṅkarāḥ. Just like one… First of all, let him become rich, get some money. And then, when he has got money, he can keep some servant, some assistant, some secretaries, like that. First of all, earn money.
Rāmeśvara: So, one step at a time.
Prabhupāda: Yes. But organized business means there must be so many men, secretary, manager. That is regulated. So, in the beginning, “All right, bring some money somehow. Then I shall…” So, you cannot reject this organization because he’s chanting. Then what is the use of writing so many books, the nāma-aparādha and other discussions, if anyone can chant?
Rāmeśvara: So, it definitely has to lead them to that.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So, we must come to that point. In the beginning you may be very liberal: “All right, chant.” We do like that, and I have done it. There is no regulation. But that does not…, that it should be neglected. He should be given affirmed, “By simply, whimsically chanting this…” No, that is not.
Hari-śauri: Niyamāgraha.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Don’t make it cheap. It has got a science. It has got a form.
Rāmeśvara: I’ve seen in some articles they have written to defend our society from the attack of deprogrammers, sometimes one argument they give is that meditation and chanting are being studied by scientists, and they are finding the effects to be good. Now…
Prabhupāda: Effect will be good. And if we do it properly it will be first class.
Rāmeśvara: Now, these scientists, they are studying Hare Kṛṣṇa meditation, but they’re also studying some other processes which are not authorized. And they are…
Prabhupāda: That is the defect.
Rāmeśvara: And they’re stating that in general, to meditate, to chant mantra, this is good, this is healthy for the mind.
Prabhupāda: That’s all right. The thing is that some way or other, if you are near the fire, you’ll get some heat, but there is a process how to take heat.
Rāmeśvara: Oh, yes.
Prabhupāda: That you cannot reject. “Because I am getting little heat, it is sufficient,” that is sahajiyā.
Srila Prabhupada Māyāpura Room Conversation with Artists and About BTG. February 25, 1977
“Unless one is under the shelter of a realized spiritual master, his understanding of the Supreme is simply foolishness” quote from TLC
Srila Prabhupāda: Unless one is prepared that “I am accepting somebody as my spiritual master. I must accept whatever he says,” if there is any doubt, that “I cannot accept his words verbatim,” then one should not accept him as spiritual master. That is hypocrisy.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, California. July 13, 1971
The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer) …Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging
Yes, it is nice that you are worshiping Lord Caitanya along with Radha Krsna. That is alright. Lord Caitanya should be placed to the right side of Krsna. There is nothing special for His worship, but you may continue as you are doing now. The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer) …Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic injunction, staunch faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna makes one perfect in spiritual understanding.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Himavati, April 1, 1970
But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has appeared in your temple and He is accepting. According to the rules and regulation, if you offer, He will accept.
He is mentioning especially vegetables, grains, fruits. But not that everyone can offer Kṛṣṇa all these things. No. He says yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. He does not accept anything from the hands of a nondevotee. Therefore, the non-initiated student cannot offer Him.
He doesn’t accept. He says especially yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. He must be devotee. … Kṛṣṇa is giving you chance. It is very difficult to approach Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has appeared in your temple and He is accepting. According to the rules and regulation, if you offer, He will accept. This is the process of Deity worship.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Los Angeles, California. June 14, 1972
You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality
I am very glad to hear you are following my instructions by chanting 16 rounds daily. In order to chant offenselessly, so that the chanting will have the greatest effect, one must avoid the four sinful activities. You have asked “How serious would it be for me if I should miss the golden opportunity to become your initiated disciple?” You should know that the value of accepting a bona fide spiritual master is more than we can calculate. It is not a mere formality. Of course everyone is encouraged to chant Hare Krishna, but until one gives up sinful activities and becomes determined to serve Krishna through His representative then the firm fixing up of devotional service will not take hold, and there is every chance that one will fall prey to all sorts of material desires and have to come back again in the next life—and one cannot guarantee that he will be born in the form of life he may desire.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. February 12, 1974
We should not accept food, (only) prasādam. If anyone wants to give us food, then he must arrange for cooking food and offering to the Nārāyaṇa, to the Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa. Then we can take
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. So this regulation we should follow. We should not accept food, (only) prasādam. If anyone wants to give us food, then he must arrange for cooking food and offering to the Nārāyaṇa, to the Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa. Then we can take. This is the… Otherwise we… Bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpā ye pacanty ātmā that is, we are eating sin, That’s all. Therefore, we must suffer. We should be careful. … People who are cooking for eating oneself, that cooking, that eating is simply sinful. Without prasādam, whatever we eat, Bhuñjate te aghaṁ pāpā. This is parātma-niṣṭhā, that we should not accept anything which is not offered to Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Calcutta, India. January 26, 1973
“Kṛṣṇa becomes obliged to the loving spirit of the devotee and not exactly to the service rendered. No one can serve Kṛṣṇa completely. He is so complete and self-sufficient that He has no need of any service from the devotee. It is the devotee’s attitude of love and affection for Kṛṣṇa that makes Him obliged.”
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 40)
If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasāda, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasāda because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord
The word apavitra anna refers to food that is unacceptable for a Vaiṣṇava. In other words, a Vaiṣṇava cannot accept any food offered by an avaiṣṇava in the name of mahā-prasāda. This should be a principle for all Vaiṣṇavas. When asked, “What is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava?” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “A Vaiṣṇava must avoid the company of an avaiṣṇava [asat].” The word asat refers to an avaiṣṇava, that is, one who is not a Vaiṣṇava.
Asat-saṅga-tyāga,-ei vaiṣṇava-ācāra (Cc. Madhya 22.87). A Vaiṣṇava must be very strict in this respect and should not at all cooperate with an avaiṣṇava. If an avaiṣṇava offers food in the name of mahā-prasāda, it should not be accepted. Such food cannot be prasāda because an avaiṣṇava cannot offer anything to the Lord. Sometimes preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have to accept food in a home where the householder is an avaiṣṇava; however, if this food is offered to the Deity, it can be taken. Ordinary food cooked by an avaiṣṇava should not be accepted by a Vaiṣṇava. Even if an avaiṣṇava cooks food without fault, he cannot offer it to Lord Viṣṇu, and it cannot be accepted as mahā-prasāda.
Sri caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-Lila, 9.53–purport
Vidura, a cottage, so He went there. And Vidura being in ecstasy was offering Him some banana. So, he was so overpowered by ecstasy that instead of giving the fruit banana, he was giving the skin, and Kṛṣṇa was eating
You can worship Kṛṣṇa anywhere, but you have to learn how to worship. What is that learning? Bhaktyā, that is the method. Therefore, Kṛṣṇa says patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyāprayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. This patraṁ puṣpam is not important thing. The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it. He’ll not accept anything if you do not offer with your love, bhaktyā, love and serving spirit: “My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are so opulent. I have nothing to offer You because You have got everything. But I have tried to collect the things to my best power, so I am offering You. Kindly take it.” This is mantra. This is mantra.
Don’t require much mantra. That meekness, that humbleness, “Kṛṣṇa, I am most insignificant. I have nothing to give You, …Vidura invited Him, and Kṛṣṇa did not to go Arjuna’s house…, I mean to say, Duryodhana’s house, very palatial building. Vidura, a cottage, so He went there. And Vidura being in ecstasy was offering Him some banana. So, he was so overpowered by ecstasy that instead of giving the fruit banana, he was giving the skin, and Kṛṣṇa was eating. So, when he came to his senses he saw that “I have given only the skin, and Kṛṣṇa is eating.” So, this is bhakti. This is bhakti. Kṛṣṇa wants that. Kṛṣṇa can eat anything, either you give the pulp or skin, He can eat anything because He is all powerful and everything is equal to Him.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Los Angeles, California. December 13, 1973
If the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Prabhupāda: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things.
Devotee (3): In regard to worshiping arcā-vigraha form, you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So, I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Srila Prabhupāda: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide?
Srila Prabhupāda: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Srila Prabhupāda: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things. If you are not… Just like here is a young medical man. If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what is the value of his medical, being… That is… What is called? What is the technical name?
Devotee (4): Quack.
Srila Prabhupāda: Quack! (laughter) (pronounces like “quark”)
Devotees: Quack.
Srila Prabhupāda: A quack is not a medical man; however he may show all red bottles, white bottles.
Srila Prabhupada Conversation. Surat, India. December 23, 1970
Dear Balai dasi
My Dear Balai dasi,
Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your letter of Jan. 8, 1968, and I have noted the contents carefully.
Regarding your questions: Yes, leave Krishna’s plate for 15-20 minutes or more, not more than half an hour. After offering the plate, the balance in the pots should be distributed immediately. The plate can remain on the altar while the rest is being distributed.
Any initiated girl can take part in preparation of prasadam, and even a boy who is not initiated cannot take part.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. January 25, 1968
Yes, you may say the prayer to the Spiritual Master 3 times, and also the Namo Brahmanya . . . prayer 3 times, when offering Prasadam. That is very nice to say the mantra 3 times. Also, you may, after offering to the Spiritual Master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer, Namo Maha Badanyaya . . . 3 times, and then offer to Krishna thrice.
Letter to Balai
San Francisco
22 March, 1968
68-03-22
New York
My Dear Balai dasi,
Please accept my blessings. …
Yes, Sri Tulasi is the eternal consort of Krishna, and the most pure devotee, and therefore, the Tulasi plant is worshiped by Vaisnavas.
Yes, you may say the prayer to the Spiritual Master 3 times, and also the Namo Brahmanya . . . prayer 3 times, when offering Prasadam. That is very nice to say the mantra 3 times. Also, you may, after offering to the Spiritual Master, offer to Lord Caitanya by saying the prayer, Namo Maha Badanyaya . . . 3 times, and then offer to Krishna thrice.
So far the singing of the prayers to the Spiritual Master is concerned, there is no limitation on how many times it is sung. But it should be done three times daily, and morning it is required. Yes, you may say this prayer at noon Prasadam if it is possible, and sing again in the evening. And you may sing other prayers as you learn them also.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Balai devi dasi. March 22, 1968
Whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers to Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krishna. Then Radha Krishna eats, or Jagannatha eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam.
“Regarding your question about offering Prasadam, whatever is offered to the Deity actually it goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers to Lord Caitanya, and Lord Caitanya offers it to Krishna. Then Radha Krishna eats, or Jagannatha eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam. So, when you offer something, you think like that and chant the Gayatri mantra, and then everything is complete. At last, ring the bell, take out the plate and wipe the place where the plate was kept.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter. June 16, 1969
The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer).
Prabhupada’s system for offering arati
Regarding taking Lord Jagannatha to your next center, that will not be very good because you already do not have enough devotees to engage in Arcana. Unless there is a Deity worshipper available, we may worship Panca-tattva and Guru. That can be done by all initiated students whether they are once or twice initiated. Before an altar with pictures of Lord Caitanya, Pancatattva and Acaryas, everyone can offer Aratrik and Bhoga.
Yes, it is nice that you are worshiping Lord Caitanya along with Radha Krsna. That is alright. Lord Caitanya should be placed to the right side of Krsna. There is nothing special for His worship, but you may continue as you are doing now. The order of worshiping is first Spiritual Master, and then Lord Caitanya, then Radha Krsna (as in the mantras or Bunde aham prayer). Your confidence to do whatever you are instructed by the Spiritual Master is very encouraging. Yes, this is the method of the Vedic injunction, staunch faith in Spiritual Master and Krsna makes one perfect in spiritual understanding.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. April 1, 1970
Therefore, our first duty is to worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We keep the Deity. In the first we offer our obeisances to Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with His associate, and then, Guru-Gauranga, then we offer Radha-Krishna or Jagannatha.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture [Sb. 6.1.10], Los Angeles, California. June 23, 1975
Regarding the means of worship, our Vaisnava process is first offer respects to the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Lord Krsna
So Krsna when He is with His brother and sister, He is Jagannatha, and when He is with His village girl-friends that is Radha-Krsna with Gopis. So, whomever you worship, it is the same, but if you like to worship Jagannanth you can continue it and it is as good as worshiping Radha-Krsna. Krsna has so many forms, and which ever form you worship it is all the same, but you should worship that form which you like most.
Regarding the means of worship, our Vaisnava process is first offer respects to the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Lord Krsna. Vyasa is the Spiritual Master, therefore the Spiritual Master is the representative of Vyasa. Therefore, the Spiritual Master’s seat is called “Vyasasana.”
Srila Prabhupada Letter May 15, 1970
Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krsna. That is the process
Srila Prabhupada: Not a special plate. The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krsna. We don’t directly offer to Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither he accepts in that way.
The pictures of the acaryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krsna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krsna or other subordinates to Krsna. That is not possible.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system
Regarding your 2 questions: For offering prasadam simply prayers to the Spiritual Master is sufficient. The process is that everything is offered to the Spiritual Master, and the Spiritual Master is supposed to offer the same foodstuff to the Lord. When a thing is offered to the Spiritual Master, he immediately offers to the Lord. That is the system, and as we come by parampara system, it is our duty to go through the right channel—namely, first the Spiritual Master, then Lord Caitanya, and then Krishna. So, when we chant prayers, we do this, Bande ham Sri Guru . . . and gradually to the Goswamis, then to Lord Caitanya, and then to Radha Krishna. That is the praying system. But offering the prasadam to present everything before the Spiritual Master whose picture is also in the altar, means that the Spiritual Master will take care of offering the foodstuff to the Lord. Therefore, simply by chanting the prayer to the Spiritual Master, everything will be complete.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. May 28, 1968
Therefore, we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krsna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani
… please Radharani…” Radharani is presented, the original pleasure potency, always absorbed in thought of Krsna. So, anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krsna, oh, She becomes so pleased, “Oh, here is a devotee of Krsna.” She immediately recommends, “Krsna, oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me.” This is Radharani. I may be a, not devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to reach Krsna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore, we should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly one flower to Krsna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani: “My mother Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to Krsna.” “Oh,” Radharani says, “Oh, you have brought a flower?” Krsna said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo m ebhaktya prayacchati, but don’t offer Krsna directly. Just offer through Radharani. It will be very much appreciated by Radharani.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture, London, England. September 5, 1973
The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krishna. We don’t directly offer Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why there are.
Tamala Krishna: Then we serve prasadam. And how many men would you say we should prepare for? One hundred?
Prabhupada: That you make arrangement. You know how many people are coming. Why you are asking me?
Tamala Krishna: So ordinary prasadam at noontime and feasting prasadam…
Prabhupada: Feasting means puri and halava and a vegetable and a chutney. That’s all. Four things. Make simple.
Tamala Krishna: And Prabhupada? Do you want us to offer feast to your Guru Maharaja at noontime? A special plate of feast?
Prabhupada: Not a special plate. The process is that whatever we offer to the deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way, goes to Krishna. We don’t directly offer Radha Krsna. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the acaryas, why there are.
Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Krishna. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Krishna or other subordinates to Krishna. That is not possible.
Tamala Krishna: So, may we offer you a special feasting?
Prabhupada: As you do, that is all right. The process is this. Not you or you. That is the process. Then, all right
Srila Prabhupada lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
We begin from our first disciplic succession
We begin from our first disciplic succession. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam. “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my guru, spiritual master.” Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. And then, his guru, his guru, his guru, they’re all Vaishnavas. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha. Sri-rupam. Then we offer respect to Sri Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. All the Gosvamis, six Gosvamins. Vande rupa-sanatana… Sagraja. Sa agraja. Agraja means elder brother. Sanatana Gosvami was the elder brother of Rupa Gosvami, and Rupa Gosvami accepted him as his spiritual master. Sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam. Associated by Raghunatha. There are two Raghunathas: Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. Sa-jivam, with Jiva Gosvami. This is the process. Vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaishnavamsh cha sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam. Then we go to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s status: sadvaitam savadhutam. That is also…
First of all, Advaita Gosañi, then Nityananda Mahaprabhu, Prabhu. Mahaprabhu is applicable only to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Others, all prabhus. Ekale ishvara krishna ara saba bhritya [Chaitanya-charitamrita Adi 5..142]. Krishna, and He has got innumerable servants. Krishna is Mahaprabhu, and all others, they are prabhus. And the spiritual master who has got many prabhus to abide by his order, he is addressed as Prabhupada. This is the system. So sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krishna-chaitanya-devam. After offering all these obeisances to Gosvamis, to guru, and Advaita, Nityananda, then you come to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Then Sri Radha. Not Krishna directly. Sri-radha-krishna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-vishakhanvitamsh cha. Radha-Krishna means they are always associated by the gopis, of whom Lalita-Vishakha are the chief out of the ashta-sakhis.
Srila Prabhupada lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.2, London, England. August 10, 1971
The Importance of Bhakti in Offering to Krishna
The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it.
This patraṁ puṣpam is not important thing. The important thing is bhakti, devotion. That is wanted. Without bhakti, if you offer Kṛṣṇa very big plate, Kṛṣṇa is not hungry to take your food. He’ll not accept it. He’ll not accept anything if you do not offer with your love, bhaktyā, love and serving spirit: “My dear Kṛṣṇa, you are so opulent. I have nothing to offer You because You have got everything. But I have tried to collect the things to my best power, so I am offering You. Kindly take it.” This is mantra. This is mantra. Don’t require much mantra. That meekness, that humbleness.
Srila Prabhupada lecture. December, 13 1973
… You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept
He is self-satisfied, pūrṇa. But if His devotee offers Him something with love and affection, then He accepts. So, do not think that “We have made such nice, sumptuous plate for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa must eat.” No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept. Otherwise He’ll reject. Therefore, it is forbidden, those who are nondevotee, those who are not initiated, those who are not chanting regularly, their offering to Kṛṣṇa will not be accepted. We must be very careful. We must know our position, whether I am sincerely following the principles of devotional service. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. The real thing is bhakti. So, either you offer Kṛṣṇa prayers or you offer foodstuff, everything must be along with bhakti, devotion, love. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. May 6 1973
By offering our foodstuffs to Krishna with love and devotion, Krishna says he will accept and it becomes spiritually purified because He is the supreme pure. So love and devotion to Krishna is the purifying agent and nullifies all the bad effects of this age of Kali yuga. Simply let us offer to Krishna with love and devotion and chant the Hare Krishna Mantra, and our very existence will become purified.
Srila Prabhupada letter. January 28, 1971
And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don’t think like that.
Now, this is the most important work, bhaktyā. Because without bhakti… The real process is bhakti. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg. 18.55], Bhagavad-gītā says. Here also, it is said that “Don’t read just like a academic scholar.” No. That will not benefit you. It will benefit you, but it will take long, long time. Because without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Without bhakti, God cannot be captured. Everywhere you will find that. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patram [Bg. 9.26], a little flower, little leaf. Suppose I am very poor man. I cannot arrange for puri and rasagullā for Kṛṣṇa. Then what my offering will be? No, there is no opportunity for offering Kṛṣṇa? No. Kṛṣṇa says, “You can offer Me a little flower, a little leaf, a little water.” That’s all. Who cannot secure it. Any part of the world, anywhere a person can offer to Kṛṣṇa, “Sir, I have no means. I have secured these things.” Now, Kṛṣṇa says, “Yes, that’s all right.” Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. “This bhakta, one who offers Me in devotion and love.” That is the main ingredient. And a nondevotee cannot offer anything Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is not poor. Kṛṣṇa has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagullā. No. (laughter) (laughs) Don’t think like that. But Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has come before you to accept whatever you can offer with devotion. That is the point. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati, tad aham aśnāmi. “I eat.” Kṛṣṇa says. Kṛṣṇa is a liar? He’s God, He says that “I eat.” You cannot say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat. Kṛṣṇa says “I eat.” Who are you to say that Kṛṣṇa does not eat? Sometimes this atheist class, the rascal class, they say that “You are offering food. Why? Kṛṣṇa is not eating. It is there.” No. Kṛṣṇa eats. But His eating is not like your eating. That is the difference. Pūrṇam, pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya pūrṇam evāvaśiṣ… [Īśo Invocation]. He will eat everything and it will keep everything. If I give, I am given a plate, I eat everything, then remains nothing. But when Kṛṣṇa eats, He eats everything and remains everything. Therefore, it is prasādam. Therefore, it is prasādam.
Srila Prabhupada Lecture. Srimad-Bhagavatam [Sb.1.3.29] Los Angeles, California. October 4, 1972
Pure Devotion Required
So, the importance is stressed on the bhakti, the devotion. Krishna does not accept anything unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna
Please accept my best wishes. I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil with enclosed drawings, and I thank you very much. Regarding prasadam, Krishna does not accept any foodstuff offered by a person who is not a devotee. In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated: patram puspam phalam toyam.yo me bhaktya prayacchati (9:26) So the importance is stressed on the bhakti, the devotion. Krishna does not accept anything unless one is a pure devotee of Krishna. How to become a pure devotee of Krishna, you have to chant Hare Krishna and follow the four regulative principles of no meat eating, intoxication, illicit sex, or gambling, and you have to follow a guru who is expert in the science of devotional service. If you are serious about understanding Krishna consciousness, you can live with us for some time in one of our centers with your father’s permission and learn the science and do the needful.
Srila Prabhupada Letter. October 14, 1974
Krishna Accepts Through Love
No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept
That’s the fact. That is the fact. Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā: yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. Kṛṣṇa says that “A little flower, little water, little fruit, that’s all, if somebody offers Me with devotion and love, then I eat.” Kṛṣṇa is not hungry. Kṛṣṇa is not hungry. He is self-satisfied, pūrṇa. But if His devotee offers Him something with love and affection, then He accepts. So do not think that “We have made such nice, sumptuous plate for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa must eat.” No. There is no such thing, “must.” You cannot make Kṛṣṇa must. That is not possible. So Kṛṣṇa will see how much you have love for Him. Then He will accept. Otherwise He’ll reject. Therefore, it is forbidden, those who are nondevotee, those who are not initiated, those who are not chanting regularly, their offering to Kṛṣṇa will not be accepted. We must be very careful. We must know our position, whether I am sincerely following the principles of devotional service. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept. Yo me bhaktyā prayacchati. The real thing is bhakti. So, either you offer Kṛṣṇa prayers or you offer foodstuff, everything must be along with bhakti, devotion, love. Then Kṛṣṇa will accept.
Srila Prabhupada lectures. Srimad-Bhagavatam [Sb. 1.8.44] Los Angeles, California. May 6, 1973
Preserving the Disciplic Succession
We should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it
Vrndavana, India
August 1967
Letter to: Devotee & Hamsaduta
“One who understands and appreciates the disciplic succession is certainly advanced, and we should always be very careful to give full respect to those who have so carefully handled this Divine Fruit of transcendental knowledge before us. Even a slight change will spoil it. That is why I have always been so careful to give you only those things which I have heard from my Guru Maharaja.”
On Bona Fide Spiritual Master
Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide?
Devotee (3): In regard to worshiping arca-vigraha form, you have explained that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master who is not bona fide, that mantra has no effect. So, I would like to ask if one is worshiping a Deity and his spiritual master is not bona fide, so that Deity cannot be considered the Supreme Lord?
Prabhupada: Well, first of all, thing is if the spiritual master is not bona fide, how his mantra can be bona fide? Your statement is contradictory. If you say the spiritual master is not bona fide, then how his mantra becomes bona fide? If he is bona fide, then his mantra is bona fide.
Devotee (3): Then why is he giving instruction to worship the Deity? If the spiritual master is not bona fide, then is the Deity also not bona fide?
Prabhupada: I do not follow. What does he say?
Tamala Krsna: His idea is that if one receives a mantra from a spiritual master, if the spiritual master is not bona fide…
Prabhupada: Then there is no question of mantra. There is no question of worshiping Deity. These are all bogus things. If you are not… Just like here is a young medical man. If he has not received instruction from a bona fide medical college, so what is the value of his medical, being… That is… What is called? What is the technical name?
Devotee (4): Quack.
Prabhupada: Quack! (laughter) (pronounces like “quark”)
701223SB.SUR Lectures
The Order of Making Offerings
In a message dated 3/29/2009 2:34:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, jay.greg@gmail.com writes: (Gaura Keshava das)
In ISKCON Srila Prabhupada instituted another order offering the items to the guru first. In this case the item cannot technically be offered afterwards to the Lord having first been enjoyed by the guru. This is technically not correct. Therefore, we must in this case follow sastra and adapt our worship method to the one followed by all Vaisnava sampradayas. The doctrine or principle of worshiping the guru first is correct but the technicality of HOW that is to be done is incorrect……By the way this system is followed in most temples in Europe where I standardized the deity worship in the 1980’s. It is not followed in some temples like LA because some Prabhupada disciples find it difficult to accept and they have no experience of the correct technical details as practiced in India
Note: So, in this letter above to some of us, Gaura Keshava explains why he and others took it upon themselves to change the order of making offerings he admits that Srila Prabhupada himself instituted in his organization. Below is the actual proof of how to make offerings by the organizations actual Acarya himself, Srila Prabhupada!
Madhudvisa dasa’s Response
Madhudvisa dasa says:
October 18th, 2011 at 6:00 am (Edit)
Hare Krishna Gaura Kesava Prabhu
You are mistaken Prabhu. I know a great deal about ISKCON history and I know what Srila Prabhupada has taught us about Deity Worship. The changes you have made to the ISKCON Deity Worship system COMPLETELY DESTROY the whole principle Srila Prabhupada teaches us for making offerings to the Deities. This destruction of the Deity Worship system is one of the greatest problems in ISKCON and it is essential that this issue be resolved otherwise we cannot even eat the bhoga that is offered to the Deities in the ISKCON temples in this bogus way you have concocted.
You know Prabhu that Prabhupada teaches us that all offerings are to be made to the spiritual master as it is the position of the spiritual master to accept the offerings from the disciples and in turn he will offer the same to his spiritual master and in this way the offerings go from the disciples to Krishna via the disciplic succession. This is the fundamental principle that ISKCON is built on and you have completely destroyed this fundamental principle in the Deity Worship process.
What makes you think that you are more intelligent than Srila Prabhupada? You have tried to “standardize” the Deity Worship in ISKCON and bring it in line with what they do in the Gaudiya Matha. But Prabhu we are not the Gaudiya Matha, we are Prabhupada’s movement and he has forbidden us from even visiting the Gaudiya Matha temples and from reading their books and has declared that they have disconnected themselves from the disciplic succession and called them ‘asara’, useless, even in writing in his purports to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta… And you have gone to the Gaudiya Matha to learn about Deity Worship and you are so bold as to throw Srila Prabhupada’s Deity Worship system out the window and install the Gaudiya Matha Deity Worship system in ISKCON.
We are servants of Srila Prabhupada and we accept his orders and his instructions on how to worship the Deities. You think you are so intelligent and know so much more than Srila Prabhupada and you think the he gets it completely wrong when he teaches us about Deity Worship so you “fixed it.”
And whoever in ISKCON approved of this is just as much to blame.
You believe that you have the power to directly offer the bhoga to Krishna and Krishna will accept it directly from you and then you will offer that “Krishna prasadam” to Srila Prabhupada. Even though Srila Prabhupada repetitively explains that Krishna does not accept like this. We offer to our spiritual master and he offers through the disciplic succession and then everything goes to Krishna. Not that you can directly offer to Krishna.
You have no idea about the history yourself Prabhu. Prabhupada wanted Pradumnya to make a ‘short cut’ version of Arcana Paddhati before 1977 and a number of letters about this. So, he wanted this book in his physical presence, but a very short-cut version. Somehow it seems Pradyumna did not do it, or at least did not complete it, and the service was later done by Jaya Tirtha and that ‘Arcana Paddhati’ was accepted as the standard deity worship manual in ISKCON from that point on. So, this original ISKCON ‘Arcana Paddhati’ describes the Deity Worship process as Srila Prabhupada teaches it.
You openly admit that your teachings oppose the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. You are effectively claiming that you have corrected Prabhupada’s mistakes and brought the ISKCON Deity Worship System in line with the Gaudiya Matha. In your mind the Gaudiya Matha is right and Prabhupada is wrong. I am also sure that you do not agree with Srila Prabhupada when he says the Gaudiya Matha is disconnected from the parampara and is useless… Srila Prabhupada informs us that the Gaudiya Matha changed Bhaktsiddhanta’s books after his departure and I am sure they also encountered this ‘problem’ with offering bhoga to so many bogus gurus so they changed the Deity Worship system also. You can be sure that what Srila Prabhupada is teaching is bona fide and in line with the actual teachings of Srila Bhaktsiddhanta and what the Gaudiya Math is teaching is not.
You clearly disagree with Srila Prabhupada’s direct instructions in regard to Deity Worship and you have replaced them with something else. This is your ticket to Hell and you will take the other ISKCON devotes with you who follow your bogus Deity Worship instructions.
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.”
We have to follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. You are claiming Prabhupada’s instructions–when it comes to Deity Worship– are wrong. So where does that put you?
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
Madhudvisa dasa
Prayers for Offering Food to Krishna
Say three times
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-paschatya-desa-tarine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Chaitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Say three times
namo maha-vadanyaya
krishna-prema-pradaya te
krishnaya krishna-chaitanya
namne gaura-tvishe namah
O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.
Say three times
namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krishnaya
govindaya namo namah
My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world.
You can also chant the Pancha Tattva and Hare Krsna mantras
sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu-nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda
“I offer my obeisances to Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and all others in the line of devotion”
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Prayer to say before eating prasadam.
sarira avidya-jal, jadendriya tahe kal
jive phele vishaya-sagare
ta’ra madhye jihva ati-, lobhamay sudurmati,
ta’ke jeta kathina samsare
krishna bada dayamay, karibare jihva jay,
sva-prasadanna dila bhai
sei annamrita pao, radha-krishna-guna gao,
preme dako chaitanya-nitai
O Lord, this material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths to death. Somehow, we have fallen into this ocean of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is most voracious and uncontrollable; it is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world. But You, dear Krishna, are very kind to us and have given us such nice prasadam, just to control the tongue. Now we take this prasadam to our full satisfaction and glorify Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, and in love call for the help of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda.
The Proper Process for Offering to the Deities
From Krishna.org:
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.”
This is the system Srila Prabhupada teaches us for offering bhoga to the Deities. We are to first offer it to Srila Prabhupada and he will offer it to his spiritual master and in this way, it will go to Krishna through the disciplic succession. When Srila Prabhupada disappeared ISKCON changed the system and started offering to the new 11 zonal acharyas instead of to Srila Prabhupada. This system was still in place in ISKCON up till the mid 90’s but after so many of the “acharyas” fell down the ISKCON devotees no longer wanted to accept “prasadam” that was offered to ISKCON gurus as it was obvious many were not pure devotees and also the guru of the pujari was not the guru of many of the devotees in the temple and they did not like the idea of accepting prasadam offered to someone else’s guru. So, the GBC came up with a new system for offering prasadam to the Deities. And this new system is described in this book on page 30 which reads:
“Note: It should be understood that by the mercy of the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, we are able to engage in the service of the Lord in His arch-vigraha, like offering bhoga and therefore we ask his permission first in order to be able to serve. Then at the end, after the offering, we meditate that Srila Prabhupada and your spiritual master, where appropriate, are taking taking the remnants both in Krishna-lila and Gaura-lila after all the associates have taken.”
This is unfortunately completely bogus, a complete concoction. Srila Prabhupada warned us in a 1973 letter to Dhruvananda:
“The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. So, don’t ask any more new questions, whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that’s all.”
The most essential part of worshiping the Deities is the process of making offerings to Them and unfortunately this change by ISKCON turns the whole Deity Worship process Srila Prabhupada gave us on its head. It is very unlikely that the bhoga is being accepted by the Deities when offered in this concocted way.
So please replace the last paragraph on page 30 of the Deity Worship Manual with:
“The process is that whatever we offer to the Deity, that is offered to guru. And guru offers to his guru. In this way goes to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t directly offer Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. No. We have no right. Neither He accepts in that way. The pictures of the ācāryas, why there are? Actually, one has to offer the plate to his guru, and he’ll offer his guru, he offers his guru, his guru. In this way it will go to Kṛṣṇa. That is the process. You cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa or other subordinates to Kṛṣṇa. That is not possible.” Srila Prabhupada lecture. Gorakhpur, India. February 15, 1971
ISKCON’s System for Offering Aratik
Offering Procedure for arotik
While standing on an asana and ringing a bell, present the incense first to your spiritual master by waving it in three or four graceful circles, and then present it to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya in the same manner.
Then, with the consciousness that you are offering it on behalf of your spiritual master and with the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, offer it with the full number of circles (listed below) to the main deity.
After offering the incense to the main deity, offer it as prasada to the Lord’s associates in descending order, and to the guru-param-para—senior to junior. This may be done with seven or three circles for each personality, depending on time allowance.
Some Conclusions
So in the two procedures of offering bhoga and Aratik- Iskcon differs (basically) only in the way they offer aratik to the Deities. And as shown above this aratik procedure is incorrect and actually offensive to the guru param para and the Lord Himself.
If you accept their guru system (which we don’t) then that is also incorrect, putting conditioned souls’ pictures on an altar filled with bona fide pure devotees which on that account of both systems of offering bhoga and aratik is wrong in Iskcon. Why they do this?? Who knows why they do what they do anymore. I don’t think even they know anymore there are so many contradictions they come up with.
Here is one answer from Srimad Bhagavatam:
When one deviates from his original consciousness, he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars consider that the soul is lost. Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.31
