Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
कृतन्यास: कृतन्यासां मदर्चां पाणिना मृजेत् । कलशं प्रोक्षणीयं च यथावदुपसाधयेत् ॥ २० ॥
kṛta-nyāsaḥ kṛta-nyāsāṁ mad-arcāṁ pāṇināmṛjet kalaśaṁ prokṣaṇīyaṁ ca yathāvad upasādhayet
The devotee should sanctify the various parts of his body by touching them and chanting mantras. He should do the same for My Deity form, and then with his hands he should clean the Deity of old flowers and the remnants of previous offerings. He should properly prepare the sacred pot and the vessel containing water for sprinkling.
Before beginning the process of worship mentioned here, one should offer obeisances to one’s spiritual master, the Deity and other worshipable personalities.
FAQs
This verse says that after nyāsa, a devotee should cleanse the Lord’s Deity form by hand and then properly prepare the kalaśa (water-pot) and the prokṣaṇīya (sprinkling vessel) according to prescribed rules.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical bhakti—especially Deity worship—so devotion is expressed through disciplined, reverent service and purified daily practice.
Approach worship and spiritual routines with cleanliness, preparation, and mindfulness—setting up a simple, orderly space and following a consistent method to cultivate steadiness and devotion.