Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.27.3-4
Mukti· LiberationDeity Worship Benefits Every Social Order
“O most magnanimous Lord, the instructions on this process of Deity worship first emanated from Your lotus mouth. Then they were spoken by the great Lord Brahmā to his sons, headed by Bhṛgu, and by Lord Śiva to his wife, Pārvatī. This process is accepted by and appropriate for all the occupational and spiritual orders of society. Therefore I consider worship of You in Your Deity form to be the most beneficial of all spiritual practices, even for women and śūdras.”
What the purport teaches
- The instructions for Deity worship first came from the Lord’s own lotus mouth.
- Lord Brahmā taught this process to his sons, headed by Bhṛgu. Lord Śiva taught it to his wife, Pārvatī.
- This worship is accepted by and appropriate for all occupational and spiritual orders. Uddhava considers it the most beneficial spiritual practice, explicitly including women and śūdras.
Try this today
Reflect today on the verse’s inclusion of all occupational and spiritual orders in Deity worship.
Ask yourself
Do I recognize that worship of the Lord is beneficial across social and spiritual positions?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.