Hari Gopinath Das

Pancaratra gives many details on Deity worship and for observing Vaisnava festivals. These instructions mainly concern the worship of Visnu avataras.Other more contemporary writings on Deity worship for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas are such sastras as Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Sanatana Goswami, Gaura-govindarcana-paddhati by Gopala-guru Goswami, Gaura-govindarcana-smaranapaddhati by Dhyanacandra Goswami and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s Archana-paddhati, that forms the basis of all contemporary Gaudiya Vaisnava Deity worship in the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

Radha and Krishna as Supreme:Gaudiya Vaishnavism holds that Krishna is the original form of God (Svayam Bhagavan), and Radha is his inseparable consort.

Emphasis on Bhakti:Devotion to Krishna and Radha, through chanting, singing, and other forms of worship, is considered the highest path to spiritual liberation.

Inseparable Nature of Radha and Krishna:Gaudiya Vaishnavism emphasizes the inseparable nature of Radha and Krishna, viewing them as a single divine entity.

Focus on Pure Love (Prema):The ultimate goal is to cultivate selfless and pure love (prema) for the divine couple.

Role of Guru:Gaudiya Vaishnavism stresses the importance of receiving spiritual guidance from a guru and undergoing initiation (diksha).

Distinction from other Vaishnava traditions:Emphasis on Krishna:While other Vaishnava traditions also focus on Vishnu and his avatars, Gaudiya Vaishnavism places a strong emphasis on Krishna as the ultimate Supreme Being.

Bi-monotheism:The Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition is considered closer to a bi-monotheistic system, where both Radha and Krishna are recognized as supreme.

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