Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.3.54
Mukti· LiberationWorship as the Lord’s Eternal Servant
“The worshiper should become fully absorbed in meditating upon himself as an eternal servant of the Lord and should thus perfectly worship the Deity, remembering that the Deity is also situated within his heart. Then he should take the remnants of the Deity’s paraphernalia, such as flower garlands, upon his head and respectfully put the Deity back in His own place, thus concluding the worship.”
What the purport teaches
- The basic principle of Deity worship is to understand oneself as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord. Worship purifies us and helps us realize this relationship.
- The servant is qualitatively one with the Lord, like a tiny spark of the original fire, but is not the Supreme Lord Himself. To worship oneself as the Supreme is a misidentification and an offense against the Lord.
- Worship the Deity while remembering that He is also situated within your heart. Conclude worship by respectfully taking His remnants, such as flower garlands, upon your head and returning Him to His own place.
Try this today
Before worship today, pause and reflect: “I am the Lord’s eternal servant; He is my eternal shelter.”
Ask yourself
How would remembering that I am the Lord’s eternal servant change my attitude toward 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.