20250122 Question and Answer Session

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Question: As you mentioned in your previous class about: Idolatry and Deity worship, lot of people they have misconception of idolatry and Deity worship is identical and they think that if they follow the idolatry process they will achieve the same highest perfection. So if you would please clarify the difference between them.

Jayapataka Swami: The Deity installation is something that was handed down by Brahaspati, who is the guru of the devas. So, when we install a Deity we chant the mantras and do different ceremonies which were handed down by Brahaspati. So the Deity is installed by the mantras and they are seeing the Deity and they have the direct experience of the Deity. Idol is something that you speculate, but the Deity is something that is made as a form of Kṛṣṇa and there are different adhivāsas and ceremonies. So, these are very sacred rituals and so the devotees are able to call the Deity into these material things.

Blessings! Kṛṣṇe matir astu!