Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.14.39
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyWorship the Lord and Respect His Devotees
“My dear King, when great sages and saintly persons saw mutually disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, Deity worship in the temple was introduced with all paraphernalia.”
What the purport teaches
- When saintly persons saw disrespectful dealings at the beginning of Tretā-yuga, they introduced Deity worship in the temple. This worship helps those who cannot properly appreciate authorized devotees advance spiritually.
- A beginner may faithfully worship the Deity yet fail to respect devotees and people in general. An advanced Vaiṣṇava who helps others become Vaiṣṇavas deserves special respect, not criticism.
- In Kali-yuga, special stress should be given to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and distributing transcendental literature. These activities help bring people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes today chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Ask yourself
Does my worship help me appreciate those who bring others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.