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
Wahai Tuhan yang maha pemurah, ajaran tentang cara pemujaan Arca (wujud Dewa) mula-mula terpancar dari mulut-Mu yang laksana teratai. Kemudian Bhagavan Aja, Brahmā, menyampaikannya kepada putera-puteranya yang diketuai Bhṛgu, dan Bhagavan Śiva mengajarkannya kepada Dewi Pārvatī. Cara ini diterima dan sesuai bagi semua varṇa dan āśrama; maka aku menganggap pemujaan kepada-Mu dalam rupa Arca sebagai amalan rohani paling utama, bahkan bagi wanita dan śūdra.
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.