Engage Your Legs in Going to the Temple of Kṛṣṇa
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the temple is the vital center for the spiritualization of human life. In a world where everyone is inevitably marching toward the "temple of death," the house of the Lord offers a rare opportunity to break free from the miserable conditions of material birth. By engaging the body in physical service—such as using the legs to walk to the temple and the hands to cleanse it—the conditioned soul begins to purify their consciousness. The temple is not merely a place for social gatherings or economic petitions, but a transcendental school where one learns to see the Deity, hear the message of the Vedas, and develop the character of a true Vaiṣṇava.
Spiritualizing the Senses
The human body is meant for spiritual activity, and the temple provides the perfect facility to engage every sense in the service of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that instead of using our legs for useless material work or walking to the cinema, we should engage them in going to the temple of Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, our eyes, which are often distracted by mundane sights, are spiritualized when they are used to behold the beautiful form of the Deity. When the hands are busy cleansing the temple and the tongue is engaged in tasting prasāda, the entire being becomes spiritualized. This systematic engagement of the senses makes one the greatest yogī and transforms everyday labor into transcendental service.
- Ambarisa engaged his sense of smell by relishing the fragrance of flowers offered to Krsna, his tongue in tasting the tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of Krsna, his legs in going to the temple of Krsna, and his head in offering obeisances to Krsna.
- Instead of working uselessly, if we use our legs for going to the temple then it is spiritualized work. And instead of going to the cinema, if we go and see Deity then it is spiritual eyes.
- Legs should be engaged for preaching work going or going to the temple. Hands should be engaged for cleansing the temple. In this way, if you are engaged always your senses, you are perfect. You are the greatest yogi.
- The Bhagavad-gita's process of purifying consciousness is the process of fixing one's mind on Krsna by talking of His transcendental activities, cleansing His temple, going to His temple - CC Preface.
Escaping the Material Condition
Modern civilization is often described as a "planet of death" because every living entity is constantly moving toward an inevitable end. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises that the only factual escape from this grim material condition is to visit the temple of Viṣṇu with devotional consciousness. While atheistic political leaders may only turn to a church or temple during times of extreme war or pestilence, a sincere seeker uses the temple as a regular means to cleanse the mind and heart. The temple is a sanctuary where the laws of material nature are superseded by the mercy of the Lord, allowing the devotee to transcend the miseries of birth and death.
- Every minute and every second we experience that living entities are going to the temple of death. Men, insects, animals, birds - everyone is going. This world, therefore, is called mrtyuloka - the planet of death.
- At that time (during war, pestilence, famine and so on) even atheistic political leaders go to a church, mosque or temple for protection by God or gods and submissively say - God willing.
- In order to make an escape from this material condition, one is advised to visit a temple of Visnu with devotional consciousness. Then one can very easily get out of the miserable condition of material birth.
- The Lord Siva found in the temple of Ramesvara is a great devotee of Lord Ramacandra. It is said, devi-pattanam arabhya gaccheyuh setu-bandhanam - After visiting the temple of the goddess Durga, one should go to the temple of Ramesvara.
Beyond Mercantile Religion
Many people visit temples or churches with a mercantile mentality, seeking economic prosperity or the fulfillment of material needs. While approaching the Lord for "daily bread" is better than being an atheist, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this is not pure love. True temple worship involves going simply to offer respect to the Deity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one's visit is purely official or motivated by material gain, they will fail to understand Kṛṣṇa as He is. The goal of every civilized person should be to move beyond the platform of "give me" and instead approach the temple to offer themselves in service, which is the only way to find lasting happiness.
- Any religious sect, either Hindu or Muslim or Christian or anyone, they go to temple or church to pray to God for some solution of problems. People generally think that, - If I become religious person, then my economic condition must be very nice.
- Because their (men with a mercantile mentality) desires are not purified, they are still mercantile men, even though they go to temples to make a show of being devotees.
- Krsna is not easy to understand. Nor is He to be understood by persons who officially go to the temple to offer worship. They make their visit, but they cannot understand Krsna as He is.
- One should go (to a temple or church) simply to offer respect to the Deity. That will place one in the mode of goodness. It is the duty of every civilized man to obey the injunctions of the scriptures and offer respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Duty of the Devotee
A true devotee's relationship with the temple involves more than just a physical visit; it requires the development of compassionate and respectful qualities. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that a person who worships the Deity in the temple with great devotion but lacks sympathy for others or respect for fellow devotees is merely a third-class, or materialistic, devotee (kaniṣṭha-adhikārī). The temple must be a place where the science of God is discussed and the holy name is chanted, otherwise, people—especially the educated—will lose interest. Furthermore, it is the duty of the leaders of society to ensure that temples are functioning properly and that the devotees are acting according to the authorized standards of the spiritual disciplic succession.
- A person who goes to the temple of the Lord and worships with great devotion, but who does not show sympathy to people in general or show respect to other devotees, is considered to be a third-class devotee.
- Those who go to the temples of the Lord and offer worshipful respect to the Deity without sufficient knowledge in the theological science and therefore without any respect for the devotees of the Lord are called materialistic devotees, or kanistha-adhikari.
- We see practically in many temples, because there is no discussion about Krsna, simply a Deity is there, people go for some time, then gradually, especially those who are so-called educated, they do not feel very much interested.
- Why I appointed the GBC men? I advised them to go, temple to temple, if they are acting nicely, according to us. That is the duty of the GBC. But if he does not act himself nicely, what he will do.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions on temple worship emphasize that visiting the house of the Lord is a fundamental duty of every civilized human being. By engaging our legs to walk to the temple and our eyes to behold the Deity, we spiritualize our senses and begin the journey toward liberation from the "planet of death." While we may initially approach the temple for material necessities, the goal is to rise above mercantile religion and offer respect to the Lord out of pure, unalloyed love. The temple is a transcendental center where one must also learn to respect other devotees and show compassion to all living entities. By consistently visiting the temple, hearing about Kṛṣṇa, and chanting His holy names, we cleanse our hearts and prepare ourselves for our eternal home in the spiritual world.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Going to Temples. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.