Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship
Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed
शैली दारुमयी लौही लेप्या लेख्या च सैकती । मनोमयी मणिमयी प्रतिमाष्टविधा स्मृता ॥ १२ ॥
śailī dāru-mayī lauhī lepyā lekhyā ca saikatī mano-mayī maṇi-mayī pratimāṣṭa-vidhā smṛtā
பகவானின் திருவுரு எட்டு வகையாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது—கல்லினது, மரத்தினது, உலோகத்தினது, மண்ணினது, பூச்சு/லேபனத்தினது, வரையப்பட்ட (சித்திர) வடிவம், மணலினது, மனத்தினது அல்லது ரத்தினங்களினது।
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that certain Deity forms, such as those made of sand, are manifested for a brief time to fulfill a personal desire of the worshiper. Those, however, who desire to attain pure love of God should worship the permanent form of the Deity (made, for instance, of marble, gold or brass), and they should maintain continual worship. In Kṛṣṇa consciousness there is no scope for neglecting the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In 11.27.12, Kṛṣṇa explains that the Deity form used for worship is of eight kinds—stone, wood, metal, paste/clay, painted/drawn, sand, mental (meditated), and gems—showing that bhakti can be practiced through various authorized forms.
Kṛṣṇa is teaching Uddhava the practical system of arcana (Deity worship) as a steady method of bhakti, so devotees can fix their minds on the Lord through a tangible, scripturally recognized form.
Choose an appropriate, respectful form of worship—such as a home altar with a metal or picture form, or meditative worship when resources are limited—and offer regular attention (remembrance, prayers, simple offerings) with sincerity and discipline.