Jayapataka Swami: You see, Durga-devī is also a great Vaiṣṇavī, and she is the protectress of the holy dhāma, and so we need her mercy to enter into the holy dhāma. I usually tell the worshippers of devas or devīs that they should first worship Kṛṣṇa, and offer Kṛṣṇa prasāda to Durgā-devī or Śiva, because they are devotees, they like to have kṛṣṇa-prasāda. In Kolkata, the old Durgā-pūjā pandals, they worship Śālagrāma-śilās first, and then they offer the prasāda to Durgā-devī. But most people don’t realize what they are doing. Durgā-devī is not independent, she is the energy of Kṛṣṇa. So, if you preach to them that you worship Kṛṣṇa first, then you offer the prasāda to Durgā-devī, then usually they are not offended by that.
03-June-2020 SRI DHAM MAYAPUR, INDIA
