Qualification to worship Shaligram Silas & Deities at home!
A male devotee asked like this:
“Should the Shaligram shila be worshiped only by the initiated brahmana? Why? It is said that violating this will cause stomach problems.”
REPLY:
It should be understood that only a person who is following the purity expected from a brahmana should worship Deities and Shaligram Silas at home because we only have to offer pujas to them at home.
Deities and Shaligram Silas are the archa avatars of the Lord. So, utmost sincerity and sufficient purity is expected from the worshippers at home.
However, anyone can worship deities and Shaligram Shilas at the temples because there are brahmana qualified pujaris to offer pujas at temples.
See, in the Qualification to worship Shaligram Silas & Deities at home, the terms “Initiated” , “Brahmana initiated”, “advanced” , etc., are not real indications of one’s Spiritual standing.
We take it as indications and norms just because there is no other fool proof way to evaluate one’s purity status.
Hospitals do not appoint the doctors just because he has completed MBBS. MBBS is the course completion certification. But, the hospitals expect certain norms and level of knowledge from the candidates. Only if the candidate possesses them, they appoint him for practice.
(Is Shaligram Shila & Deity worship not recommended at Home For all? READ HERE!)
Gurus give hundreds of initiations. All the disciples do not shine. Only those who take efforts to serve the Guru and the Lord shine in their devotional service.
Among many disciples of Srila Bhakti siddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Prabhupada excelled in his service.
Thus, getting initiation is just a status. Whether you make yourself qualified for that initiation is very important.
Just because one takes initiation, he does not straightaway go to the Goloka. He has to make himself qualified for that initiation by following the instructions of his guru and going back to the Godhead.
Getting initiated is a formal stage. Still many things are to be done even after initiation.
Let me come to your question now.
(DEITY CARE: BATHING & CARING DEITIES OF KRISHNA AT HOME! READ HERE!)
You say that the Qualification to worship Shaligram Silas & Deities at home is that one should be Brahmana initiated.
The actual recommendation should be that one should follow the purity of the life of a brahmana to worship Shaligram Shila.
Taking brahmana initiation is to follow the life of a brahmana. Only if he follows the rules of brahmana life, his brahmana initiation will work.
If a devotee takes brahmana initiation but does not follow the recommended sadhanas and rules, he should not call himself a brahmana.
Brahmana means, one who follows brahmana rules.
Initiated devotee means, a devotee who is following the rules of initiation after formal initiation by a guru.
It is also said that Gayathri Manthra should be chanted only by a brahmana initiated brahmana.
The actual meaning of that advice is that Gayathri Manthra should be chanted only by a person strictly leading a brahmana way of life.
Hare Krishna Maha Manthra has less regulations, but Gayathri Manthra has more regulations.
(30 IMPORTANT RULES TO FOLLOW DEITY WORSHIP AT HOME! READ HERE!)
Similarly, Picture worship has less rules, but Shaligram worship & Deity worship have more rules to ascertain the level of purity.
So, in case a person is not brahmana initiated, but is following the rules of a brahmana sincerely, he too can follow Shaligram worship. However, when you get formal brahmana initiation, you get the benefit of surrender to your guru.
If you are free from violations by following four regulative principles and chant regularly, you too can follow Shaligram Sila & Deity worship.
So, if you are physically and mentally pure, you can worship Shaligram Sila.
But, be sincere and do not be casual in worship.
The stomach pain punishments are not given by Krishna. If a devotee does not follow the rules properly, his elevation will get delayed. That’s all.
Hope you are now clear about the Qualification to worship Shaligram Silas & Deities at home!
(Can women worship Shaligram Shila? READ HERE!)