70 The Nectar of Devotion

should not offer incense without offering some flower. 8) Useless
flowers without any fragrance should not be offered. 9) One should
not fail to wash his teeth very carefully every day. 10) One should
not enter the temple directly after sexual intercourse. 11) One should
not touch a woman during her menstrual period. 12) One should not
enter the temple after touching a dead body. 13) One should not en-
ter the temple wearing garments of red or blue color, or which are
unwashed. 14) One should not enter the temple after seeing a dead
body. 15) One should not pass air within the temple. 16) One should
not be angry within the temple. 17) One should not enter the temple
after visiting a crematorium. 18) One should not belch before the
Deity. So, until one has fully digested his food, he should not enter
the temple. 19) One should not smoke marijuana or ganja. 20) One
should not take opium or similar intoxicants. 21) One should not
enter the Deity room or touch the body of the Deity after having
smeared oil over his body. 22) One should not show disrespect to a
scripture teaching about the supremacy of the Lord. 23) One should
not introduce any opposing scripture. 24) One should not chew betel
before the Deity. 25) One should not offer a flower which was kept in
an unclean pot. 26) One should not worship the Lord while sitting on
the bare floor: one must have a sitting place or carpet. 27) One
should not touch the Deity before he has completed taking bath.
28) One should not decorate his forehead with the three-lined tilaka.
29) One should not enter the temple without washing his hands and
feet.

Other rules are that one should not offer foodstuff which is
cooked by a non-Vaisnava. One should not worship the Deity before
a nondevotee. One should not engage himself in the worship of the
Lord while seeing a nondevotee. One should begin the worship of the
demigod Ganapati, who drives away all impediments in the execution
of devotional service. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that Ganapati
worships the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva, and in that way he has
become auspicious for the devotees in clearing out all impediments.
Therefore, all devotees should worship Ganapati. The Deities should
not be bathed in water which has been touched by the nails or fin-
gers. When a devotee is perspiring, he should not engage himself in
