"Purpose Of Installing Deity"

21 Aug 73 , London


Prabhupada: Goloka-namni nija-dhamni. There is a planet in the spiritual world. The material world, you can see the material sky, limit of the sky, the horizon, but you are not able to reach even the moon planet, the nearest planet. But within this universe, within this horizon, there are innumerable planets. Asesa. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti kotisv asesa-vasudhadi vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. By the shining effulgence from the body of Krsna... That is called brahmajyoti. Within that brahmajyoti or effulgence there are innumerable universes. Ananta-koti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti. Koti means innumerable. One million, ten millions equal to one lakh. Such hundred lakhs makes a koti. So actually we see there are innumerable planets but beyond this creation, this is material creation, one-fourth manifestation, one-fourth manifestation of God's creation, this, this material world... This is also only one universe. There are innumerable universes clustered together and beyond this clustering of universes there is another sky which is called paravyoma or spiritual sky. If you want to go there, then you have to penetrate through the material coverings -- earth, water, fire, water, fire, air, like that. Each layer so big. And the next layer is ten times more than the first layer. In this way there are seven layers. So penetrating through that seven layers you reach the spiritual sky. And after reaching the spiritual sky, there are so many Vaikuntha planets, spiritual planets.

So that is summarized: goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya [Bs. 5.43]. The topmost planet is called Goloka or Krsna, Krsnaloka. Go means cows. Krsna is very much fond of cows. Therefore, that planet is called also Goloka, the planet full of cows. We have recited Brahma-samhita today, cintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksa-vrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]. Krsna is engaged in tending cows. He's very much fond of cows. Surabhi, they are not ordinary cows. In the spiritual world, everything is spiritual. So there is a planet, goloka-namni. So, that is the highest planet. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni. That is the personal abode. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya: [Bs. 5.43] under that planet, there are other planetary systems. They are called Devidhama, Mahesadhama, Haridhama.

Now this universe, this material world is called Devi-dhama. Devi-dhama. It is under the control of the material energy. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir-eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. This energy is also personified called Durgadevi. So above this planetary system there is Mahesa-dhama. Mahesa-dhama. In the border between spiritual sky and material sky. Above that, there are Hari-dhama, the Vaikuntha planets where Narayana, in various forms is predominating. And above all of them there is Goloka-dhama or Krsna's dhama. So picture we have given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. So goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya [Bs. 5.43], devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu, te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yena. Each planetary system has got specific atmosphere. Everything is specific. So that is done, that is created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So in this way, Krsna is there in the topmost Goloka-dhama. But still goloka-dhamni nivasati, although He is living there, akhilatma-bhuto, He is everywhere. He's everywhere. That is Krsna.

Just like we are sitting in this hall. We are not in our apartment house. Krsna is not like that. He is in the goloka-namni nija-dhamni, in His own planet, He's engaged in His occupation. Somewhere He's tending cows, somewhere He's dancing with the gopis. He is going on with His enjoying occupations. But still He's everywhere. Goloka-namni, goloka eva nivasaty [Bs. 5.37]. Nivasaty means although He's living there, akhilatma bhutah. He's everywhere. He's within your heart. Isvara sarva bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati. He's within your heart. Not only within the heart, He is within the atom also. Eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-kotim yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda caya yad-antah andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham [Bs. 5.35]. His one plenary portion has entered this material world as Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From Garbhodakasayi Visnu, there is expansion of Ksirodakasayi Visnu. That Ksirodakasayi Visnu has entered every atom. Eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-kotim yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antah. So Krsna is everywhere, and if you are devotee, then you can catch Him. This is the secret. Just like electricity is everywhere, electrons. One who can tackle the electrons, they can talk without any direct connection by electronic method, thousand thousand miles away. Just like radio message, television message. So similarly, Krsna is also everywhere. Just like the waves of sound wave is going on. As soon as you produce, I produce one sound, immediately within a second the sound goes round the earth seven times. So if a material thing has got so much power, just think how much power God has got. So He is everywhere. Simply you have to catch Him. And He's also ready for being caught. Yes. If somebody wants to catch Him... Suppose you are a devotee. If you want to catch Him, He comes forward ten times than your desire. He's so kind. Therefore, we have to simply receive Him.

So this Deity worship in the temple means worshiping Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He's akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. Where you shall find Him? He's everywhere. Therefore, He has very kindly accepted to assume a form which you can handle. This form of Krsna, the atheist will say that "Here is a form made of marble. How is that they are worshiping God, Krsna?" That is atheist view. But from the sastra, we understand Krsna, if He is within the atom, why not within the marble? It is simply understanding. Not only within, the marble itself is also Krsna. Because in the Bhagavad-gita we understand: bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca [Bg. 7.4]. These material elements, earth, earth, water, fire, air, they are Krsna's energy. Krsna says bhinna me prakrtir astadha. They are My energies, separated energy. So even if you consider that here is not Krsna but a marble. No, that marble is also Krsna. Marble is also... And Krsna is, being omnipotent, even for your logical argument... Even if you say that this is a marble statue, still Krsna is so powerful, omnipotent, that He can accept your service even through this marble. Actually, it is not marble. Or from spiritual vision, everything being Krsna, so Krsna can accept your service even through the marble, even through the water, even through the fire. Why not? Energy. Just like if you come to the sunshine, energy of sun, you immediately touch the sun globe. Is it not? Because the beams are coming from the sun globe so as soon as you touch the sunshine, sunbeam, you touch the sun immediately. And there are yogis who can reach the sun planet through the beams of sun. Because the spirit soul is very, very small. Smaller than the atom. Kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca [Cc. Madhya 19.140]. And the spirit soul can go everywhere. And it is, the speed of spirit soul is greater than the mind. You have got experience of the speed of the mind. In a second you can go many thousands of miles. Mind. Suppose you are sitting here, those who are Indians, immediately, within a second, one can reach Calcutta, Bombay. Immediately, without even, less than a second's time. The mind's speed, you can imagine. And finer than the mind is the spirit soul. So how much speedy is the spirit soul, that we have to know from the sastras. Sastra yonitvat. Everything.

Therefore do not think that we have installed a marble statue. The rascals will say "They are heathens." No. We are worshiping Krsna personally. Krsna personally, Krsna has kindly assumed this form just... Because we cannot see Krsna, the gigantic Krsna, or Krsna is everywhere... Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Our imperfect senses cannot see Krsna immediately. But Krsna is so kind, as we can see... We can see stone, we can see wood, we can see earth, we can see water, we can see color. Therefore, Krsna comes before us just quite suitable for our vision. But He's Krsna. So this Deity worship, those who are in charge of Deity worship, they never should think that here is a statue. No. Here is Krsna. The honor, the respect, the samra (indistinct), means with great honor... You must always think that here is Krsna personally. Don't think that it is statue. Krsna personally. So you should honor and think also and be cautious so that you may not commit offense. Krsna worship, if you neglect the process, then it will be offensive. There are sixty-four kinds of offenses. You have seen it in The Nectar of Devotion. So not very much... You should be very much clean, first thing is. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Very much clean, rise early in the morning, take your bath and perform mangala aratrika, then chant Hare Krsna mantra, then read scriptures. In this way remain twenty-four hours engaged in Krsna's service. This is the purpose of installing Deity. Not that after few days you think it is a burden. No, then it will be great offense. It is not burden. It is a great opportunity to serve Krsna. As the gopis are serving in Goloka Vrndavana. Krsna is so kind. He has come here to accept your service in a manner in which you can handle Him. You can dress Krsna, you can offer prasada, you can chant His glory. In this way, always remain engaged in Krsna consciousness and gradually you'll find how you are advancing in spiritual life. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda Deity Installation -- London, August 21, 1973

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.