How to Worship the Deities?

Radhanath Swami

A kanishtha adhikari, according to Srimad Bhagavatam is the lowest platform one who worships the deity but does not offer honor, respect and service to the devotees, that is devotional service but it is on a lower platform, because Krishna says, mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā, worship of my devotee is what pleases me the most. If we offend the devotees, the vaishnavas, then do you think Krishna will like to see us when we come to worship him on the altar? Not at all. So, worship of the deities is one of the five most important principles of bhakti according to our Gaudiya Vaishnava system. But it is crucial, it is essential to have proper etiquette in dealings with others, for the deity to be pleased.