35. How should we approach the deity

How should we approach the deity?

When we have a look at the deity, what should be our attitude? The deity form of Lord Sri Krsna is not a mundane thing, so we should learn the proper way in which to see the deity. And more than this, we must try to look at this from the other point of view. As we are trying to see the deity, He sees us. Bhagavan Sri Krsna has come down to help the fallen souls in this material world, and He has come down in such a way as to take us up to His domain.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu looked at the deity and His eyes were flooded with tears. It is not that His eyes were fixed upon the superficial characteristics of wood when He saw the deity form of Lord Jagannath, but Gauranga was connected on a vastly higher level with Krsna consciousness. Mahaprabhu's thoughts were deep with Krsna consciousness.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu thought, "Lord Jagannath has come here and is making arrangements to deliver millions of fallen souls, especially by extending His own prasadam to one and all in great magnitude. Jagannath's magnanimous presence has manifest here for the relief of this world." (Loving Search for the Lost Servant)

Darsana Takes One Back to Godhead:

Once while instructing his disciple, Prahlada, about the glories of seeing Jagannatha Swami in Puri, Narada muni said, "Anyone who takes darsana or hears about Lord Jagannath, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, residing on the top of Niladri mountain (Nilacala) will go to Vaikuntha, the spiritual abode of Visnu, te yanti bhavanam visnoh." (Padma Purana)

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