08 Feb 2005

How can You object to Archanam of the statue, when it is one of the nine stages of devotion?

Swami replied:- Archanam means worship. But in all the nine stages of devotion the word Archanam is mentioned. It does not mean the Archanam of Pratima (worship of statue). It can be the worship of a human form of Lord. In fact examples given in the nine stages of devotion relate only to the human form of the Lord. Arjuna was told as an example for friendship (Sakhyam). But Arjuna was a friend to Lord Krishna and not a friend of any statue.