Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 29
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
दुर्गां विनायकं व्यासं विष्वक्सेनं गुरून्सुरान् । स्वे स्वे स्थाने त्वभिमुखान् पूजयेत् प्रोक्षणादिभि: ॥ २९ ॥
durgāṁ vināyakaṁ vyāsaṁ viṣvaksenaṁ gurūn surān sve sve sthāne tv abhimukhān pūjayet prokṣaṇādibhiḥ
Com oferendas como o prokṣaṇa, deve-se venerar Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, os mestres espirituais e os diversos devas; todos devem estar em seus lugares, voltados para a Deidade do Senhor.
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the Gaṇeśa and Durgā mentioned in this verse are not the same personalities present within the material world; rather, they are eternal associates of the Lord in Vaikuṇṭha. In this world Gaṇeśa, the son of Lord Śiva, is famous for awarding financial success, and the goddess Durgā, the wife of Lord Śiva, is famous as the external, illusory potency of the Supreme Lord. The personalities mentioned here, however, are eternally liberated associates of the Lord who reside in the spiritual sky, beyond the material manifestation. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī quotes from various Vedic literatures to prove that the name Durgā may also indicate the internal potency of the Lord, who is nondifferent from Him. The external, or covering, potency of the Lord expands from this original Durgā. The Durgā of the material world, called Mahā-māyā, assumes the function of bewildering the living entities. Thus a devotee should not fear becoming polluted by worshiping the Durgā mentioned here, who has the same name as illusion, but rather the devotee must show respect to these eternal servitors of the Supreme Lord in Vaikuṇṭha.
FAQs
This verse states that Durgā, Gaṇeśa, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the gurus, and the demigods may be honored in their proper places as part of the regulated worship, using rites such as prokṣaṇa (sprinkling sanctified water).
In the arcana instructions to Uddhava, Kṛṣṇa outlines a complete, orderly worship system in which respected divine personalities and authorities are honored in their designated locations, supporting proper devotional discipline and temple etiquette.
Maintain an orderly, respectful worship routine—honor spiritual teachers and sacred authorities appropriately, and keep basic purification practices (cleanliness and sanctifying water) as part of consistent devotional discipline.