The Deity form of the Lord

Brhad Bhagavatamrta 2.4.202...(Sanatana Goswami)

Sri Gopakumara said: I asked him: O lord, are the Lord's Deity forms on the earth all eternal and full of knowledge and bliss as is the form of Lord Jagannatha, the master of Nilacala?

Although the Lord, whose form is filled with eternity, knowledge and bliss, is one, in His pastimes He appears in many places in many different forms.

By renouncing everything and worshiping the Deity what mistake is done? When the Deity is worshiped one becomes aware of a great gain.("everything" means piety, fruitive work, yoga etc- Sanatan Gos.)

Why, then, do we hear from the Puranas so many statements contradicting this? These statements cannot be rejected as evidence,for they have come from the mouths of great souls.

Hearing this, he who is the guru of the path of Deity worship stood up, embraced me with great bliss, and replied.

Sri Narada said: I have already explained that the Deity forms of the Lord are the same as the Lord Himself. Deity worship is very glorious. They who, aware that the Deity is the Lord Himself,worship the Deity, even though they neglect other duties, and even though their worship is not sincere, do not fall down. They have no faults. Their merits are very great. Their devotional service is thought to be the greatest. They attain a very great result.

By seeing the Deity, by worshiping Tulasi, or by once chanting or hearing even the reflection of the holy name, one may attain perfection.

How can there be any fault with worship of the Lord's Deity form,whose form reminds one of the Lord, who is properly installed with mantras, and who is the object of all activities of devotional service?

They who worship the Deity of Lord Krsna never offend the devotees of Lord Krsna. If somehow they do offend them, the devotees do not take offense, but rather praise their attachment to the Lord.

They who, seeing the Deity as different from the Lord Himself and thinking the Deity as made of stone or some other material, worship the Deity of Lord Hari, do not respect the Lord's devotees.Disrespectful to all, and proud of their worship, they rebel against the Lord's commandments in the Vedas.

They are the least of all the devotees. Their intelligence is slow. They do not find the fruits of their worship.

Although the transcendental fruit of their Deity worship is greater than the fruits of all ordinary pious deeds, they do not attain the real fruit that comes from service to the Lord. For this reason the saintly devotees criticize their method of worship indifferent ways and in different places.

Although all the statements of the Puranas and other scriptures(condemn them), don't think everyone who worships the Lord's Deity form is like them. If they do not abandon their worship, then by the mercy of the Lord's devotees, who see the good in others, all the faults in their hearts, now purified by their faith, are destroyed and in time they become the greatest devotees.

After enjoying what they desired, materialistic devotees, by the power of their devotional service, in time attain the real fruit of their service.