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 überaus großmütiger Herr, die Unterweisungen über diesen Vorgang der Verehrung der Gottheit in der Arca-Form gingen zuerst aus Deinem lotosgleichen Mund hervor. Dann verkündete sie der erhabene Aja, Brahmā, seinen Söhnen unter Führung Bhṛgus, und ebenso lehrte Herr Śiva sie seiner Gemahlin, der Göttin Pārvatī. Dieser Weg ist von allen varṇa und āśrama anerkannt und angemessen; darum halte ich die Verehrung Deiner Arca-Mūrti für die heilsamste aller geistlichen Übungen, selbst für Frauen und 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.