Temple Worship
The transcendental form of the Lord installed in a temple is not different from the Lord personally. Such a form of the Lord is called arca incarnation, and is expanded by the Lord by His internal potency just to facilitate the devotional service of His innumerable devotees who are in the material world.
-Srila Prabhupada
Procedures for temple worship
1.Waking and preparing for worship
2.Waking the deities
3.Offering food
4.Offering arati
5.Putting the Lord to rest
“In worshipping the temple Deity, my dear Uddhava, bathing and decoration are the most pleasing offerings.”
–Lord Sri Krishna
This section outlines a basic standard of worship that may be followed in all temples.
Even if the facilities for worship are minimal, the most important aspects of deity worship are strict standards of cleanliness and punctuality. By following strictly these two items, a transcendental atmosphere is created in the temple.
“The Lord in the temple in the worshipable form is never to be considered to be made of stone or wood, for the Lord in His arca incarnation as the Deity in the temple shows immense favor to the fallen souls by His auspicious presence.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21, Purport)
“The Lord in the temple in the worshipable form is never to be considered to be made of stone or wood, for the Lord in His arca incarnation as the Deity in the temple shows immense favor to the fallen souls by His auspicious presence.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21, Purport)