Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126
Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa
रोगादियुक्तो न स्रायान्न जपेन्न च पूजयेत् । विलोक्य पूजां देवस्य मूर्तिं वा सूर्य्यमंडलम् ॥ १२६ ॥
rogādiyukto na srāyānna japenna ca pūjayet | vilokya pūjāṃ devasya mūrtiṃ vā sūryyamaṃḍalam || 126 ||
Wer von Krankheit und Ähnlichem betroffen ist, soll weder baden noch Japa rezitieren noch formelle Verehrung vollziehen. Stattdessen möge er sich damit begnügen, die Verehrung des Herrn zu schauen, oder das Bild der Gottheit, oder die Sonnenscheibe.
Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that when bodily capacity is impaired (e.g., illness), one should not force full ritual acts; simple darśana—reverent seeing of the Lord’s worship, the deity’s image, or the Sun—still sustains devotion without violating ritual propriety.
Bhakti is shown as accessible even without elaborate ritual: sincere remembrance and reverent beholding (darśana) are upheld as valid support for devotion when japa and pūjā cannot be done.
It reflects ritual eligibility and śauca (purity/fitness) principles—guidance akin to Kalpa/Dharma practice—indicating when snāna, japa, and pūjā are to be suspended and what minimal substitute (darśana) is appropriate.