Signs Of Good Conduct
By ‘God’ we mean idols made of metal, stone, wood or pictorial images as well as the idols of Panchdev installed by Shree Hari.
Only when we experience the physical presence of God in the idols or pictorial images of God installed by Acharya Maharajshree, can we be said to revere God.
The Poojari should do regular pooja with the feeling that God is actually present in the idols.
" The idols which have been given for pooja by the Lord’s own command are of eight kinds. The Lord enters the idols and is physically present in them. A devotee worshipping the idol should do so with the same reverence and devotion as he would to God in person. One must also revere the saints in whom God resides.
One who does not consider God’s omnipresence cannot be said to have faith in God. (Vachnamrut, Gadhdha Pra. 68)
- One must never sit with one’s back to the Lord.
- One must never go before the Lord with one’s shoes on.
- One should never keep things like a walking stick or an umbrella in one’s hands while doing darshan.
- One should never wear a garland of flowers while going before the Lord.
- One should never enter the Temple without changing clothes after visiting the toilet. If one has attended a funeral, one should do darshan only after having a bath.
- It is an insult to God if one wears shoes like socks while inside the Temple.
- One should never sit with one leg across the other leg or with tied knees before God as it is an insult to Him (Shikshapatri, shloka 70).
- One should never chew pan, laugh loudly, display anger or do any misdeed while doing darshan of God. One should not talk with women or touch them.
- One should not circumambulate while God is resting or having meals.
- Men and women should be careful not to touch one another in the Temple on days of festivals or ordinary days (Shikshapatri, shloka 40).
- One should never go empty-handed for darshan of Guru, God or a king (Shikshapatri, shloka 37).
- One should offer fruits, flowers, sweets or money. One should put the money in the money-box only and not throw it.
- One should remove one’s cap, turban or other headwear before going for darshan in the Temple. One should do the darshan with bare head and with the feeling of surrender to God.