Regulations for Worship of Srila Prabhupada

1. There shall be a separate daily guru-puja for Srila Prabhupada in the temple.

2. The only guru-puja inside the temple room will be for Srila Prabhupada.(81)

12.1.6 Regulation of Deity Installations in ISKCON:

ISKCON centers shall consult with and take guidance from the Deity Worship Ministry before installing or beginning worship of any Deities.

Any ISKCON center wishing to install any Deities for public temple worship or commence the worship of any Deity in an ISKCON center must first receive a "Certificate of Readiness for Worship" for the said Deities.

Centers may not make any commitments or agreements regarding procuring and/or worshiping Deities until the "Certificate of Readiness for Worship" is granted. This "Certificate of Readiness for Worship" applies only to the Deities for which it is granted and is not a generic permanent approval.

The readiness for worship will be assessed by a panel consisting of one local representative (either from the temple concerned, the local GBC or a representative from the National Council or RGB, etc.), a GBC appointed by the EC, and an ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry representative.

This law shall fully go into effect no later than Gaura Purnima 2012.

Any center that has already finalized plans for installation and publicly advertised the installation must consult the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry, which will assist them in preparing for the worship of the Deities.

2017:Amendment of ISKCON Law 12.1.6: “Regulation of Deity Installations inISKCON ”

(ISKCON Law)

Any ISKCON center wishing to install any deities for public temple worship or commence the worship of any deity in an ISKCON center must first receive a “Certificate of Readiness for Worship” for the said deities.

Centers may procure Deities and begin promoting planned temple openings or additions to existing worship once they have successfully completed the first stage of the approval process. Centers shall not commit to and/or publicly advertise final dates for commencement of worship until they receive a “Certificate of Readiness for Worship.”

This “Certificate of Readiness for Worship” applies only to the deities for which it is granted and is not a generic permanent approval.

The initial contact: The center wishing to commence the worship of deities makes an application via the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry’s website, deityworship.com. After receiving this application, the IDWM contacts the local GBC and regional authorities to assess the viability of the application. If this consultation shows the center has made a proper analysis of the requirements to worship deities and are moving in the right direction regarding allocation resources, etc. to the worship of the deities then the first stage approval is granted. This then enables the temple to make arrangements to acquire deities and commence fund-raising, etc.

The second and final stage will be assessed based on the findings of a site visit by a IDWM representative, or comprehensive consultation with concerned devotees.

The readiness for worship will be assessed by a local representative (from the temple concerned); the local GBC, regional leadership (which may include a representative from the National Council or RGB, etc.); and an ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry representative. The GBC Executive Committee will be informed of the assessment outcome.

For any applications for deities apart from those given by Srila Prabhupada, i.e. Radha-Krsna; Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra; and Gaura-Nitai (or Panca-tattva) and salagram silas; the IDWM requires executive input.

Therefore, for any application that includes Krsna-Balarama or Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman, the IDWM will consult with the GBC Executive Committee for approval.

Any deities apart from the aforementioned must be approved by the GBC Body before the IDWM can issue a Certificate of Readiness for installing deities.

This Certificate of Readiness is valid for up to 180 days beyond the initial scheduled installation date. If the 180 day period has elapsed without the installation being completed, the temple will be reassessed by the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry for a new Certificate of Readiness to be issued.

 

Guidelines

12.2.1 Worship of Demigods as Vaisnavas

1. Worship of demigods as independent gods is not permitted in Krsna consciousness. However, the Nectar of Devotion says that demigods should be respected. Worshipping demigods as Vaisnavas is authorized for preaching, in order to teach people the right position of the demigods as great Vaisnavas.

a. The worship is only as a vaisnava (This means that the deva/devi shall be offered: the prasadam arati items immediately after they are offered to Lord Krsna, krsna-prasadam flower garlands, and krsna-prasadam foodstuffs. No independent worship is offered. Only the chanting of Hare Krsna and VisAu's names is done, as Lord Caitanya did in South India.)

b. Their status as servants of Krsna is made as clear as possible through signs, symbols, and iconography, and

c. Offerings are of krsna-prasadam.

2. Deities of demigods (incl. Laksmi where no VisAu is established), shall not be established without permission of the GBC. Where they are permitted or where ISKCON acquires a temple with already established murtis of demigods, they may remain, provided they are worshipped as vaisnavas, as provided above.

3. ISKCON temples may hold, on special occasions, ceremonies or pujas respecting and worshipping demigods as great vaisnavas, provided they shall be designed as an introduction, precisely to draw people into that culture, and not as a substitute for it, thereby not falling under Srila Prabhupada's structure. Properly conducted, they are favorable to Krsna consciousness and should not be rejected.