Giving The Gifts Of Worship
By Victor Epand
Within the India culture, there are a wide variety of gifts that can be given for the use of worshiping for any individual, which include deities, shilas, and tulasi.
Soon after beginning the Krishna consciousness movement, Srila Prabhupada, established the process of deity worship as an integral aspect of his fledgling society. As he delivered the message of Krishna, he also began presenttng the process of deity worship. In all practical meaning, deity worship means the applying of the most basic principle of the Krishna consciousness by offering everything we have to Krishna.
We are spirit souls and are meant to be eternal servants. When we forget the essential part of our nature,then we are putting into the material conditions within our life. Out of His causeless mercy, the Lord descends as different incarnations, avataras, to remind us about our real identity. We may feel a lack of spiritual vision in directly perceiving the Lord, but the worship of the deity is an easy way to approach and serve Him. The deity is also called archa-avatara or archa-vigraha.
It is Krishna who appears before us in spirit, so that we can serve and worship Him. When he appears in His avatara forms, He enjoys most wonderful pastimes. Similarly, the deity, has His pastimes. People may think that He is simply standing there, but the deity may be an idol for those who lack spiritual vision and devotion.
When you look at the right side of an altar, you will notice smiling stones, then wonder what they are. These are our dear shalagrama-shilas and the one govardhana-shila. The Sanskrit word shila means stone. The shila appears in the Kali-gandaki River, in the Himalayas of present day Nepal, and they may be identified by markings in a particular form of Vishnu. It is encouraged the worship of the shila by devotees that can perform careful and steady service.
The shila is a rock from the Govardhana Hill in Vrndavan, India. Tradition accepts both shilas as being indifferent from the body of the godhead. These are no ordinary stones, because He is personally present in them, which is why the devotees worship both shilas exactly as they worship the deity of Krishna in the temple.
Krishna’s favorite plant is tulasi, because the plant and their leaves are important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the tulasi tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Krishna. They offer the tulasi leaves with each and every food preparation, they make tulasi garlands for Krishna and decorate His feet with the tulasi leaves and manjaris, and they wear tulasi neck beads and chant Hare Krishna mantra on the tulasi beads.
Srila Prabhupada often gives worship of Srimati Tulasi-devi as an example of simple devotional service. One can sow tulasi and pour water on the plant. However, even the poorest man can engage in the service of Krishna. Tulasi Maharani easily grants devotion to Him; therefore we worship her and pray for her mercy.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for Krishna art, religious gifts from India, and Hare Krishna books. Please visit these sites for Krishna art, worship gifts, and Hare Krishna books.
