(H H Kadamba Kanana Swami, Prague, 17th July 2012) Lecture: SB 4.12.24
In deity worship, time is never flexible! Punctuality, cleanliness and simplicity are 3 things that Srila Prabhupada stressed for deity worship and these have great power. Through this, we build up pious habits even if our heart is not pure. In deity worship, gradually we develop pure ways of conduct.
On the altar, everything has to be proper. Even if you are second initiated, you can’t just say: ’Well, I’ll go and sit in the altar today to chant my rounds. I’m second initiated, I can go up there.’
You can’t do that. I know that in the GBC, we used to because it is our service to watch the pujaris, and then get the mercy at the same time! But on the altar, we can only be there for service and everything must be done properly. So it’s really nice. There is no room for any speculation, since everything is proper.
So gradually one becomes purified, one begins to live his life proper, instead of just doing anything that comes into the mind. That’s very powerful, and it says that if you serve the deities faithfully for your entire life then at the end of your life the deities come and personally take you back to Godhead!
