Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 3
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
नि:सृतं ते मुखाम्भोजाद् यदाह भगवानज: । पुत्रेभ्यो भृगुमुख्येभ्यो देव्यै च भगवान् भव: ॥ ३ ॥ एतद् वै सर्ववर्णानामाश्रमाणां च सम्मतम् । श्रेयसामुत्तमं मन्ये स्त्रीशूद्राणां च मानद ॥ ४ ॥
niḥsṛtaṁ te mukhāmbhojād yad āha bhagavān ajaḥ putrebhyo bhṛgu-mukhyebhyo devyai ca bhagavān bhavaḥ
O most magnanimous Lord, the instructions on this process of Deity worship first emanated from Your lotus mouth. Then they were spoken by the great Lord Brahmā to his sons, headed by Bhṛgu, and by Lord Śiva to his wife, Pārvatī. This process is accepted by and appropriate for all the occupational and spiritual orders of society. Therefore I consider worship of You in Your Deity form to be the most beneficial of all spiritual practices, even for women and śūdras.
FAQs
In 11.27.3, Kṛṣṇa affirms that the principles of arcana are not invented but descend through authoritative speakers like Brahmā and Śiva, establishing a recognized paramparā for deity worship.
Kṛṣṇa cites revered transmitters of Vedic wisdom to show that the arcana process is universally accepted among great progenitors and sages, and thus trustworthy for spiritual practice.
Seek guidance from authentic lineages and verified sources rather than self-made spirituality—practice devotion with methods grounded in proven tradition.