Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions
मण्डलं देवयजनं दीक्षा संस्कार आत्मन: । परिचर्या भगवत आत्मनो दुरितक्षय: ॥ १७ ॥
maṇḍalaṁ deva-yajanaṁ dīkṣā saṁskāra ātmanaḥ paricaryā bhagavata ātmano durita-kṣayaḥ
The sun globe is the place where the Supreme Lord is worshiped, spiritual initiation is the means of purification for the spirit soul, and rendering devotional service to the Personality of Godhead is the process for eradicating all one’s sinful reactions.
One should meditate on the fiery sun globe as a place where God is worshiped. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the reservoir of all effulgence, and thus it is fitting that He be properly worshiped on the glowing sun.
FAQs
This verse states that worship practices—such as establishing a sacred maṇḍala, performing devotion-centered worship, receiving dīkṣā, observing purificatory saṁskāras, and serving Bhagavān—lead to dūrīta-kṣaya, the destruction of sinful reactions.
In the Bhagavatam’s devotional framework, external rites are meant to support inner devotion; Śukadeva links initiation and refinement of life with ongoing service to Bhagavān, emphasizing that sincere bhakti is the purifying core.
Keep a clean sacred space for worship, follow a disciplined devotional routine, seek authentic initiation/training when appropriate, live with purifying habits, and make daily service to Bhagavān the center—these practices steadily cleanse harmful tendencies and past reactions.