Question: Can a devotee of Lord Krishna who has not been initiated yet but has been following all the instruction from HDG Prabhupada is allowed to worship Lord Krishna’s Archa Vigraha form in his house?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Yes. Yet that devotee should know that, in course of time, the injunctions of scripture indicate that each sincere devotee should become initiated in the line of disciplic succession. Certainly Srila Prabhupada’s teachings reflect this fact. Historically, Srila Prabhupada authorized that his traveling sankirtan devotees in India could take Gaura Nitai deities with them for distribution to newcomers; non-initiated devotees were expected to become Their worshipers. For a sincere follower of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, aspiring to achieve the standards for initiation is essential, particularly for one who has taken to the arcana process. Worship of Gaura Nitai would be the preferable initial deity forms to be worshiped by uninitiated devotees, because Gaura Nitai are so merciful.
