Offenses that should be Avoided by devotees – PART-2 (From Varaha Purana)
(By Sri Rupa Gosvami as said by Srila Prabhupada)
Another list of thirty-two offenses given by the vedic scriptures have been listed in THIS PREVIOUS POST. Please read that also for better understanding.
Besides these, there are a number of Offenses to Be Avoided by devotees which are mentioned in the Varaha Purana. They are as follows:
(1) One should not touch the Deity in a dark room.
(2) One should not fail to strictly follow the rules and regulations in worshiping the Deity.
(3) One should not enter the temple of the Deity without first making some sound.
(4) One should not offer any foodstuff to the Deity which has been seen by dogs or other lower animals.
(5) One should not break silence while worshiping.
(6) One should not pass urine or evacuate while engaged in worshiping.
(7) One should not offer incense without offering some flower.
(I stopped chanting and involved in offenses because I got no benefits. What to do? READ HERE!)
(8) Useless flowers without any fragrance should not be offered.
(9) One should not fail to wash his teeth very carefully every day.
(10) One should not enter the temple directly after sexual intercourse.
(11) One should not touch a woman during her menstrual period.
(12) One should not enter the temple after touching a dead body.
(13) One should not enter the temple wearing garments of red or blue color or garments which are unwashed.
(14) One should not enter the temple after seeing a dead body.
(15) One should not pass air within the temple.
(16) One should not be angry within the temple.
(64 REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES FOR VAISHNAVAS FROM HARI BHAKTA VILASA! READ HERE!)
(17) One should not enter the temple after visiting a crematorium.
(18) One should not belch before the Deity. So, until one has fully digested his food, he should not enter the temple.
(19) One should not smoke marijuana, or ganja.
(20) One should not take opium or similar intoxicants.
(21) One should not enter the Deity room or touch the body of the Deity after having smeared oil over his body.
(22) One should not show disrespect to a scripture teaching about the supremacy of the Lord.
(23) One should not introduce any opposing scripture.
(How should a brahmachari behave to avoid offenses? READ HERE!)
(24) One should not chew betel before the Deity.
(25) One should not offer a flower which was kept in an unclean pot.
(26) One should not worship the Lord while sitting on the bare floor; one must have a sitting place or carpet.
(27) One should not touch the Deity before one has completed taking bath.
(28) One should not decorate his forehead with the three-lined tilaka.
(29) One should not enter the temple without washing his hands and feet.
OTHER RULES:
(30) One should not offer foodstuff which is cooked by a non-Vaisnava,
(31) One should not worship the Deity before a nondevotee,
(How to deal if we find any devotee committing offenses? READ HERE!)
(32) One should not engage himself in the worship of the Lord while seeing a non-devotee.
(33) One should begin the worship of the demigod Ganapati, who drives away all impediments in the execution of devotional service. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that Ganapati worships the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva and in that way has become auspicious for the devotees in clearing out all impediments.
Therefore, all devotees should worship Ganapati. The Deities should not be bathed in water which has been touched by the nails or fingers. When a devotee is perspiring, he should not engage himself in worshiping the Deity.
Similarly, there are many other prohibitions (Offenses to Be Avoided by devotees). For example, one should not cross or step over the flowers offered to the Deities, nor should one take a vow in the name of God.
These are all different kinds of Offenses to Be Avoided by devotees in the matter of executing the devotional service, and one should be careful to avoid them.
(Why the devotees should avoid offenses strictly? READ HERE!)