Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.3.49
Mukti· LiberationWorship With Inner and Outer Cleanliness
“After cleansing oneself, purifying the body by prāṇāyāma, bhūta-śuddhi and other processes, and marking the body with sacred tilaka for protection, one should sit in front of the Deity and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Before worship, one should cleanse oneself, purify the body and apply sacred tilaka for protection. One then sits before the Deity to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Cleanliness also means acting for the Lord’s pleasure. Remembering Him through chanting and hearing His holy name brings one toward purity within and without.
- External marks and rituals are not enough if the mind remains absorbed in sense gratification. Genuine worship requires a favorable attitude toward the Lord and the understanding that we are His insignificant servants.
Try this today
Clean yourself before worship today, then spend a few moments chanting and hearing the Lord’s holy name with the intention to serve Him.
Ask yourself
Does my inner attitude support the outward acts of my worship?
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.