08 Feb 2005
Archanam means worship. But in all the nine stages of devotion the word Archanam is mentioned. It does not mean the Archanam of Pratima (worship of statue). It can be the worship of a human form of Lord. In fact examples given in the nine stages of devotion relate only to the human form of the Lord. Arjuna was told as an example for friendship (Sakhyam). But Arjuna was a friend to Lord Krishna and not a friend of any statue.