Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 36
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
विधिना विहिते कुण्डे मेखलागर्तवेदिभि: । अग्निमाधाय परित: समूहेत् पाणिनोदितम् ॥ ३६ ॥
vidhinā vihite kuṇḍe mekhalā-garta-vedibhiḥ agnim ādhāya paritaḥ samūhet pāṇinoditam
In an arena constructed according to scriptural injunctions, the devotee should perform a fire sacrifice, utilizing the sacred belt, the sacrificial pit and the altar mound. When igniting the sacrificial fire, the devotee should bring it to a blaze with wood piled up by his own hands.
FAQs
This verse instructs that the fire-pit should be constructed according to scriptural rules (with proper boundaries, trenches, and altar), the sacred fire established, and the prescribed offering items gathered and arranged around it.
In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches Uddhava practical devotional disciplines, including arcana (Deity worship) and associated rites like homa, showing how devotion is expressed through orderly, scripture-guided worship.
Approach spiritual practice with cleanliness, preparation, and fidelity to authentic guidance—set up a proper sacred space, follow a trustworthy tradition, and offer worship attentively rather than casually.