Friday, April 22, 2011

Radhanath Swami on The Beauty of Deity Worship

Sometimes people wonder, "Why are you worshiping God in wood or stone?" The reply is, "Is God not everywhere? Anyone who believes in God must accept God everywhere. He is in everything so is He not in this wood or stone?" But the difference is we are recognizing Him here, we are worshiping Him here, we are focusing our attention in Him here. It is explained in the scriptures that when an advanced devotee invokes the presence of the Lord in a form that is particularly designed as explained then out of causeless mercy and kindness the supreme God appears in that form to accept our love. If we approach the deity as stone, the deity appears to us as stone, if we approach the deity as God, the deity will reveal Himself as God; of course, at the beginning our vision is material so we cannot see the spiritual. It is for that reason that God allows us to keep our attention on Him on a material form that we can perceive.

People say that God is spirit so how can you see Him with material vision? The fact is, we cannot; therefore out of His mercy God appears in matter so that we can see Him, we can keep our attention on Him, we can dance before Him, we can repose our affection on Him, we can cook for Him, we can serve Him, we can do so many wonderful services twenty four hours a day. And most of us can come together to glorify Him. This is the beauty and sweetness of the worship of the deity of God.

26 comments:

  1. Wonderfully explained by Radhanath Swami! And something very practical as well.

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  2. The logic given by Radhanath Swami is quite cogent. And he is stating the importance of deity form of God in very lucid way. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Thank U Maharaj for showing us the many ways
    in which v can offer our love & devotion to the Lord.

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  4. its only by the grace of a bonafide Guru that
    one begans to understand the many ways in which we can serve the lord.
    thank u Radhanath swami for cultivating this
    understanding.

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  5. Vividly explained by Maharaj How God is a sweet Personality who can accept & reciprocate emotions & service of those who love Him

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  6. Glorious explanation of the glories of deity worship by HH Radhanath Swami. Thank you very much.

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  7. Thank you for this wonderful post!

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  8. Very nicely explained by Radhanath Swamiji about deity and worship of deity in this material world where people in general has vision to see everything materially.Thank you very much.

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  9. Radhanath Swami Thank you for enlighteneing us

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  10. This article removes all misconceptions on deity worship.Wonderful article.

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  11. Deity worship is quite mysterious to uninformed bystanders.

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  12. Radhasangi Devi DasiApril 23, 2011 at 5:54 AM

    Very well said Maharaj.
    The Lord is so merciful that He is willing to help anyone who shows even a little sincerity and calls out to Him.

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  13. Thanks Maharaj for wonderfully explaining the beauty of deity worship.

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  14. Very sweet explaination

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  15. Thank you Radhanath Swami for instilling in us the values of worshiping the Lord in the form of deities.

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  16. Deity worship is a beautiful experience where yoiu can directly reciprocate with the Lord. you have to experience it to understand this.

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  17. Maharaj has explained deity worship in such an 'easy to accept' manner; that it will appeal to people from all walks of life

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  18. All Glories To H.H Radhanath Swami Maharaj

    A very beautiful narrative.

    Hare Krishna

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  19. Wonderful, how nicely radhanath maharaj has explained us to understand how to get attached with the deities and their worship with this material body.

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  20. People usually take deity worship as a ritual, but actually that is not proper understanding. Just like a government mounts post-boxes in various parts of the city, Lord also appears in His deity form for everyone to provide an opportunity to serve Him, by which we can eternally serve Him. Thank you Radhanath Swami for this great thought.

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  21. radhanath swami is expert in all subjects

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  22. Very scientific article on the process of diety worship....thanks...

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  23. acceptance and love very well high lightened by RADHANATH SWAMI.

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