Prabhupāda Cautions His Disciples About Installing Deities Without Qualified Pujaris
Inviting the Supreme Personality of Godhead to manifest in His physical Deity form is one of the most profound responsibilities a spiritual community can undertake. Knowing the severe spiritual consequences of neglecting the Lord, Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly cautioned his disciples against installing Deities prematurely. By enforcing strict prerequisites—such as requiring highly trained brāhmaṇas and permanent facilities—he ensured that the worship would be executed flawlessly, protecting his followers from committing offenses and securing the spiritual potency of the temples.
The Absolute Requirement of Qualified Brāhmaṇas
The presence of the Deity demands continuous, punctual, and opulent worship. If a temple lacks the dedicated personnel to maintain this standard, the installation must be postponed. To safeguard the society, Śrīla Prabhupāda established a firm policy requiring a minimum number of reliable, initiated brāhmaṇas before any Deities could be established. Without sufficient trained pūjārīs, installing Deities is spiritually dangerous.
- I have made it a policy that there must be at least ten initiated brahmanas in a temple before deities are installed.
- Deities should not be removed. We should treat the Dieties as the Personality of Godhead, and to invite Him to come to your home you must worship regularly. You cannot remove. If there is scarcity of pujaris, then Deities should not be installed.
- No you should not install Gaura nitai deities if you do not have the required Brahmins. Better wait.
- First see that you have sufficient brahmins who are very well trained and qualified, then you can consider to install Sita, Rama, Laksmana, and Hanuman. They are the ideal King and it will be very suitable that They reign over the capitol of America.
The Gradual Progression of Worship
Because neophyte devotees are still developing their spiritual habits, they must be gradually introduced to the rigors of Deity worship. Śrīla Prabhupāda advises new centers to begin simply by chanting before pictures of the spiritual master and Lord Caitanya, who is extremely merciful and does not take offense. Only when a community proves its steadiness and purity should it step up to the strict, demanding worship of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
- You should not install the Deities until you have a complete program to see that regulated worship may go on nicely. Until then, simply worship Guru and Gauranga in pictures.
- Unless we have got sufficient experienced devotees we shall not install Radha Krsna or Jagannatha Deities. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very kind and lenient. Simply chanting of Hare Krsna will please Him.
- In our Krsna consciousness movement, our students are first advised to worship Guru-Gauranga, and then, when they are somewhat advanced, the Radha-Krsna Deity is installed, and they are engaged in the worship of the Lord.
- I am very glad that you are worshiping Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu. So continue to do this. There is no need of installing Radha-Krsna, at least at the present moment.
Permanence and Proper Facilities
The Supreme Lord is the ultimate guest, and a host must provide a secure and fitting residence. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly advises against installing large marble Deities in temporary, rented locations or moving vehicles, where They might be subjected to eviction, improper handling, or accidents. A permanent property must be secured to guarantee that the worship can continue undisturbed for generations.
- Regarding the Radha-Krishna Murtis, first of all, as you are searching out a permanent place, the best thing will be to install Them in that permanent place. It doesn't matter if it is on rent or purchased.
- When the property is secured, then you can install the Deities. Otherwise, don't take the risk. I have no objection to your taking a loan for your farm project as you have proposed.
- To install Deities in a moving vehicle is not very good. There is always danger of falling and breaking.
- The Nrsimha Deity should be installed only in a separate temple building. The Deity must have its own temple.
Avoiding Whimsical Additions and Changes
Deity worship requires absolute commitment, not sentimental attachment. Once the Lord is installed, the commitment is eternal, and the standard cannot be reduced. To prevent his disciples from becoming overwhelmed, Śrīla Prabhupāda sternly warns against the childish desire to constantly add new Deities to the altar. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the process is strictly authorized by scripture, leaving no room for manufactured ideas or whimsical alterations.
- There is no need of adding further Deities. Once installed it cannot be changed. Do not make it childish, too much addition of Deities will encumber us. At first, either Panca Tattva or Gaura-Nitai Deities may be installed.
- I shall see later on whether or not that Krishna Balarama can be installed there. You cannot paint the Deity with paint to make bluish. Don't manufacture ideas. What is standard you must follow.
- Now today this function of installing Deity, this is authorized. Just like several times I have given the example that when you put your mails in a box in the street, because it is written there "US Mail," you know that it is authorized box.
- I am very much anxious to know how things are going on, who is taking care of the Deities, whether regular performances are being executed etc. I hesitated to install the Deities when I was in Germany on this account.
Expanding the Mission Through Householder Worship
While temple installations require large-scale organization, the opportunity to directly serve the Lord is open to everyone. Śrīla Prabhupāda highly encourages his householder disciples and the general public to install Deities in their own homes. By creating a sacred atmosphere at home, strictly following the regulative principles, and rendering regular worship, families become completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness without needing to rely on a centralized temple.
- As far as possible, every householder, by the direction of the spiritual master, must install the Deity of Visnu, forms like Radha-Krsna, Laksmi-Narayana, Sita-Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, Gaura-Nitai, Matsya, Kurma and salagrama-sila.
- It is not that we have to open different centers all over the world. Whoever cares for the Krsna consciousness movement can install Deities at home and, under superior guidance, worship the Deity regularly, chanting the maha-mantra and discussing the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- We are actually teaching in our classes how to go about this - installing Deities at home and, worshiping the Deity regularly, chanting the maha-mantra and discussing the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- If you are willing to stick there in Mexico City, along with your good wife, and do the needful for worshiping Lord Jagannatha and take all responsibility, then I have no objection if you install.
Conclusion
The installation of Deities is an incredible blessing, but it is accompanied by an eternal and rigorous standard of care. By patiently waiting for qualified brāhmaṇas, securing permanent locations, and refraining from whimsical additions, the followers of Śrīla Prabhupāda ensure that their worship remains purely situated on the transcendental platform. Ultimately, whether in a grand temple or a simple home, it is this steadfast, disciplined devotion that continuously attracts the loving presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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 Our Installing Deities (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.