Image worship and bhakti

[Anand Nayak]

>I am interested in passages in bhakti literature which describe the ideology
>of statue/image worship. Are there any loci classici? Also, any references
>to self-immolation with regard to bhakti practices would be much
>appreciated. Thanks for any help.
>
>Justin Meiland



The Bhagavata Purana is certainly one of the important sources. The statue
(kastha) meditation is frequently described there. The loci classici are:
I,6,17-26; II,1,16-39;  II,2,8...81; III,28,1-38; IV,8,42-78; XI, 14,
31-46. My little book in French "La méditation dans le Bhagavata Purana"
(Paris, Dervy Livres, 1978) may be useful. I have brought together in it
the various textes from the Bh. P. Greetings. A. Nayak



Sarvesham svastirbhavatu        May all be prosperous
sarvesham santirbhavatu         May all be  peaceful
sarvesham purnambhavatu         May all be whole
sarvesam mangalambhavatu        May all be happy

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