# The Temple *On the importance of temples and Deity worship* --- ### For Purification > All these reformatory measures—brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha—they are simply the cleansing method. And bhakti is also cleansing method, vidhi-bhakti. But by engaging oneself in this Deity worship, he also becomes cleansed. — [[spoken/1970/701219sb.sur|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.34–39, Surat, 1970]] --- ### Legs for Going to Temple > The eyes are meant for seeing Kṛṣṇa. The ears are meant for hearing about Kṛṣṇa. The tongue is meant for glorifying Kṛṣṇa and tasting Kṛṣṇa prasādam. The hands are meant for working for Kṛṣṇa. The legs are meant for going to the temple of Kṛṣṇa. — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### Kṛṣṇa's Kindness > Kṛṣṇa is so kind that He has agreed to appear in the temple as the Deity so that we can see Him, we can offer Him food, we can dress Him, we can worship Him. This is Kṛṣṇa's mercy upon us. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Not Idol Worship > We do not worship idols. The Deity is Kṛṣṇa Himself. Kṛṣṇa has agreed to appear in this form for our benefit. Because we cannot see Kṛṣṇa in His spiritual form, He has kindly agreed to appear in the form of the Deity. — [[spoken/1970/700508ip.la|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Los Angeles, 1970]] --- ### Training Ground > The temple is a training ground. In the temple, you learn how to become Kṛṣṇa conscious—how to rise early, how to offer obeisances, how to chant, how to hear, how to serve the Deity. This is training. — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### Center of Spiritual Life > The temple should be the center of spiritual life. Everyone should come to the temple, take prasādam, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, hear about Kṛṣṇa. This is the purpose of the temple. — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### Build Beautiful Temples > So any line of education, you cannot take it, but use it for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction. Then your education is perfect. If you are very first class engineer, you construct such a wonderful temple for Kṛṣṇa that people from all the world will come to see it. — [[spoken/1975/750310bg.lon|Bhagavad-gītā 7.2, London, 1975]] --- ### Open to Everyone > The temple is open to everyone—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra, everyone. Anyone can come to the temple and worship Kṛṣṇa. There is no restriction. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. — [[spoken/1970/701219sb.sur|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.34–39, Surat, 1970]] --- ### Place of Purification > If you follow the regulative principles and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, you become purified. And as you become purified, you will see Kṛṣṇa. You will be able to see Kṛṣṇa face to face. This is the perfection of life. — [[spoken/1970/701215sb.ind|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.27, Indore, 1970]] --- ### Always Open > The temple should be always open. Anyone can come at any time and see the Deity, take prasādam, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. This is the business of the temple—to give shelter to everyone who wants to advance in spiritual life. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the temple* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]