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 ||
由金属、泥土、木材、石料所造，乃至绘画刻写等诸般圣像，皆为清净。无论是湿婆之像，或是不堕者阿周陀（毗湿奴）之像，哈利皆内住其中。
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.