Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 33
Devapūjā-krama: Ārghya-saṃskāra, Maṇḍala–Nyāsa, Mudrā-pradarśana, Āvaraṇa-arcana, Homa, Japa, and Kṣamāpaṇa
वक्रां दग्धां खंडितां च भिन्नमूर्द्धदृशं पुनः । स्पष्टां वाप्यन्त्यजाद्यैश्च प्रतिमां नैव पूजयेत् ॥ ३३ ॥
vakrāṃ dagdhāṃ khaṃḍitāṃ ca bhinnamūrddhadṛśaṃ punaḥ | spaṣṭāṃ vāpyantyajādyaiśca pratimāṃ naiva pūjayet || 33 ||
जी प्रतिमा वाकडी, जळलेली, तुटलेली किंवा खंडित, ज्याचे मस्तक वा दृष्टी बिघडलेली, किंवा जी अस्पष्ट/अपूर्ण व डाग-दोषांनी विद्रूप—अशी प्रतिमा कधीही पूजू नये।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
FAQs
It teaches that worship must be offered to a properly formed and ritually fit pratimā; defects and defilement obstruct the intended sacred focus and the integrity of the rite.
Bhakti here is disciplined devotion: reverence is expressed by maintaining purity, correctness, and care in the external supports of worship, so the mind can rest steadily on the deity.
It reflects applied ritual-technical knowledge (kalpa/ācāra and allied śilpa considerations): identifying pratimā-doṣas (iconic defects) and knowing when an image is unfit for pūjā.