Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 53
The Greatness of the Gaṅgā
Gaṅgāmāhātmya
धातुमृद्दारपाषाणलेख्याद्या मूर्तयोऽमलाः । शिवस्य वाच्युतस्यापि तासु संनिहितो हरिः ॥ ५३ ॥
dhātumṛddārapāṣāṇalekhyādyā mūrtayo'malāḥ | śivasya vācyutasyāpi tāsu saṃnihito hariḥ || 53 ||
धातू, माती, लाकूड, दगड किंवा रेखाटलेल्या इत्यादी मूर्ती निर्मळ आहेत; त्या शिवाच्या असोत वा अच्युताच्या—त्यांत हरि सन्निहित असतो।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It affirms that properly regarded sacred images—made from common materials like metal, clay, wood, stone, or even drawn—are spiritually pure, because the Divine presence (Hari) can dwell in them, supporting authentic devotional worship.
Bhakti is made accessible through concrete supports for devotion (mūrti). By recognizing Hari’s indwelling presence even in images of Śiva or Acyuta, the devotee cultivates reverence, steadiness in worship, and non-sectarian devotion rooted in the One Divine.
It primarily reinforces ritual-practice principles (kalpa/ācāra): the acceptability of different icon-media for worship and the doctrinal basis for treating them as pure supports for upāsanā, rather than focusing on grammar or astrology.