360 Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

of a demigod, the objective is actually Krsna, since it is He who empowers
the demigods to provide material benefits.

As Rukmini proceeded toward the temple, she was very silent and grave.
Her mother and her girl friend were by her side, and the wife of a brahmana
was in the center; surrounding her were royal bodyguards. (This custom
of a would-be bride going to the temple of a demigod is still practiced in
India.) As the procession continued, various musical sounds were heard.
Drums, conchshelis, and bugles of different sizes such as panavas, turyas
and bheris combined to make a sound which was not only auspicious but
very sweet to hear. There were thousands of wives of respectable
brahmanas present. These women were all dressed very nicely with suitable
ornaments. They presented Rukmini with flower garlands, sandalwood
pulp and a variety of colorful garments to assist her in worshiping Lord
Siva and the goddess Durga. Some of these ladies were very old and knew
perfectly well how to chant prayers to the goddess Durga and Lord Siva;
so, followed by Rukmini and others, they led these prayers before the
deity.

Rukmini offered her prayers to the deity by saying, “My dear goddess
Durga, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you as well as to your chil-
dren.” The goddess Durga has four famous children: two daughters—the
goddess of fortune, Laksmi, and the goddess of learning, Sarasvati—and
two famous sons, Lord Ganega and Lord Karttikeya. They are all con-
sidered to be demigods and goddesses. Since the goddess Durga is always
worshiped along with her famous children, Rukmini specifically offered
her respectful obeisances to the deity in that way; however her prayers
were different. Ordinary people pray to the goddess Durga for material
wealth, fame, profit, strength and so on; Rukmini, however, desired to
have Krsna for her husband and therefore prayed to the deity to be
pleased upon her and bless her. Since she desired only Krsna, her worship
of the demigods is not condemned. While Rukmini was praying, a variety
of items were presented before the deity, chief of which were water,
different kinds of flames, incense, garments, garlands and various food-
stuffs prepared with ghee, such as puris and kacuris. There were also
fruits, sugar cane, betel nuts and spices offered. With great devotion,
Rukmini offered them to the deity according to the regulative principles
directed by the old brahmana ladies. After this ritualistic ceremony, the
ladies offered the remnants of the foodstuffs to Rukmini as prasadam,
which she accepted with great respect. Then Rukmini offered her obei-
sances to the ladies and to the goddess Durga. After the business of deity
worship was finished, Rukmini caught hold of the hand of one of her
girl friends and left the temple, accompanied by the others.
