“How great are the Sanskrit Literature. They teach us that in order to facilitate our meditation on the Lord, our service to the Lord, and especially our creating communities of cooperative efforts for the pleasure of the Lord, the Lord can manifest within his own material energy, not just symbolically, but factually.” – Radhanath Swami
When the Lord self-manifests in a deity or when according to proper devotional principles is called upon through prana pratishta, Krishna with Sri Radha assumes the form of the deity.
Krishna, in the form of the deity, is accepting our love and is willing to put himself under our care. Krishna didn’t need mother Yashoda to feed him, but Krishna actually became hungry to inspire and facilitate love and service from Yashoda. And isn’t that wonderful, that Krishna does that even for us? He is here for us in the form of the deity, the Arca Murti. And when we understand the nature of the Arca Murti, we become so grateful. It’s out of mercy, causeless mercy, that Krishna appears within his name within this world, and that same name appears as the murti, the deity, to attract our hearts, and to attract our service, and ultimately to awaken our love. Krishna does not need anything from anyone, but by his own sweet will he assumes a role where he does need us. As the deity, he needs our protection, he needs our food, he needs us to dress him and to bathe him; he is atmarama, self sufficient, but this is the most glorious attribute of God—he assumes this relationship with his devotee just to facilitate loving relationships.
– Radhanath Swami
The Supreme Personality Godhead Lord Sri Krishna is “Bhavgrahi”,it means that He sees the Love and Devotion in our offerings.He is so kind that to reciprocate with His devotees,He appears in the form of His Archa-Vigraha and in this form He accepts our services offered with Love and Devotion.He is not interested in seeing some one’s material positions such as high class or low class.In Mahabharata times He accepted vidura’s simple offering and rejected opulent offerings offered by wicked duryodhana.That’s how He reciprocates.
Lord Krsna appears as the murti, the deity, to attract our hearts, and to attract our service, and ultimately to awaken our love – wonderful eye-opening words!
Krishna actually became hungry to inspire and facilitate love and service from Yashoda. And isn’t that wonderful, that Krishna does that even for us? He is here for us in the form of the deity, the Arca Murt – so nicely said inspiring us to do more dev service.
here Radhanath Swami explains the science of Deity worship which has been followed in India since thousands of years.
Very instructive article….
Wonderful explanation of how Lord Krsna is present in his deity form and he appears there out of his compassion and love for us and to accept our service.
Thank you HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj for explaining us
In this article, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj so beautifully points out the mercy of Lord Krishna in His deity form!
Radhanath swami shares such insightful information & bring back the consciousness to Krsna which is lost sometimes. Thanks to Radhanath Swami
HH Radhanath Swami nicely guides us through this article how merciful God is who can appear in the deity form to receive reciprocation from all of us.
Thank You Radhanath Swami maharaj for your mercy
It’s out of mercy, causeless mercy, that Krishna appears within his name within this world, and that same name appears as the murti, the deity, to attract our hearts, and to attract our service, and ultimately to awaken our love.
The depth of understanding of deity worship is so vast.
Such an inspiring and insightful description.
HH Radhanath Swami gives a clear understanding on the deity worship.
Thank you Radhanath Swami for explaining us how lord appears in the diety form to reciprocate loving exchanges with us.
Various so called mordern people in the society are now propagating the view that Diety worship is not scietific. More and more people are being influenced through various media to accept this. But great souls like HH Radhanath Swami are speaking the truth in such a convincing way that confusion caused because of these ignorant people is being removed like fog goes away when sun comes. Thank you to such souls for being the sun in our life.
Thank you so much Radhanath Swami!!
We can understand about the Lord only from the mouth of pure devotees like HH Radhanath Swami.
Thank you very much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Thank you Radhanath Swami Maharaj for bringing out the importance of deity worship.
Krishna manifests his mercy through various forms . one of them is his arca murti form. we should be grateful to Him for giving us so many opportunities for us to Access His mercy
Krishna does not need anything from anyone, but by his own sweet will he assumes a role where he does need us.Thank you Radhanath swami maharaj
The Lord manifesting in the matter for the benefit of all of us is such a wonderful thing to know. That’s really mercy and by the words of genuine saints like Radhanath Swami we can understand it even in this age of faithlessness.
HH Radhanath Swami nicely explains in this article how to reestablish our lost relationships with God by worshiping the deity form.
“This is the most glorious attribute of God—he assumes this relationship with his devotee just to facilitate loving relationships.” God is so kind.
It’s out of mercy, causeless mercy, that Krishna appears within his name within this world, and that same name appears as the murti, the deity, to attract our hearts, and to attract our service, and ultimately to awaken our love.
Thank you Radhanath Swami.
great article, HARE KRISHNA
Yes so true, its because of false ego and material desires we cannot see lord and lord is so merciful that descends for our benefits in the form of his holy name and his archa vigra form so that we can chant and utilize our other senses for serving him…We always say Lord is great..BUt never understand how Great he is …
It’s out of mercy, causeless mercy, that Krishna appears within his name within this world.
How Krishna appears in deity form in this world and engages us in His loving relationships is nicely explained by HH Radhanath Swami which is very hope giving.
Thanks for revealing that Deity form is a mercy incarnation of the Lord.
Amazing explanation of the mood behind deity worship.
Wonderful description of Deity worship by Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Lord Krishna in the form of His deity form shows how merciful He is.
so wonderfully explained!!
We are fortunate if we accept the mercy of Krsna in His Arca Murti. All glories to HH Radhanatha Svami Maharaja.
Wonderful! However krishna is AtmaRam still he assumes this relationship with his devotee just to facilitate loving relationships.
It’s out of causeless mercy, that Krishna (God) appears within his name within this world, and that same name appears as the murti, the deity, to attract our hearts, our service, and ultimately to awaken our love. – How grateful must we be !
The mercy of Lord is really amazing by which he manifests Himself in murti form.
“Krishna, in the form of the deity, is accepting our love and is willing to put himself under our care. ” Krishna is providing all facilities to reciprocate with Him.
wonderful article. General people say that we should not believe in idol worship but here Radhanath swami has so nicely explained the significance and greatness of diety and the lord
Wonderful article by HH Radhanath Swami. We can see Krishna in the temples established by great acaryas in parampara as love of Godhead is the main knowledge being distributed there.
Wonderful explanation of Deity..Krishna does not need anything from anyone, but by his own sweet will he assumes a role where he does need us.Thank you Radhanath swami maharaj
Yes, the Lord is so merciful that he manifests himself in the form of a deity so that we can reciprocate with him even though he does not need anything from us except our love.
Often devotees are confronted by impersonalists about the authenticity of deity worship which is often misunderstood as idol worship. This short and sweet article if properly studied, empowers one to profess the authenticity of deity worship in a nutshell. Thank You Maharaj for making my day…..through this article…..!
Wonderful article ..Thank you so much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj Ji for the nectar.
HH Radhanath Swami nicely explains in this article how Krishna is so merciful and so eager for our love.
What a beautiful description of the Deity! thank you Radhanath Swami for the same.
Thank you very much Radhanath Swami. This article gave me a new vision to look at deities!
Thank You Radhanath Swami maharaj for your mercy
How much Krishna is merciful?
We can not fathom the unlimited mercy showered on us by vaishnava’s like HH Radhanath Swami by supreme mercy of Krishna, such a wonderful description of why lord comes in deity form that naturally we get attracted towards him.
Thank you for sharing.
Jai. Krishna is so merciful. Thank you Radhanath Swami
Thank You Radhanath Swami