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 ||
രോഗാദികളാൽ പീഡിതനായവൻ സ്നാനം ചെയ്യരുത്, ജപം ചെയ്യരുത്, വിധിപൂജയും നടത്തരുത്; പകരം ദേവപൂജയെയോ, മൂർത്തിയെയോ, സൂര്യമണ്ഡലത്തെയോ ദർശിച്ച് തൃപ്തനാകണം।
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.