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== भगवति श्रद्धा ॥ Shraddha in a Deity ==

== भगवति श्रद्धा ॥ Shraddha in a Deity ==

It should also be noted that people can have shraddha for any of the various Hindu deities as noted in verse 7.21 presented in section four earlier. In other words, shraddha is needed in worshipping a deity or pursuing any spiritual practice. Thus, shraddha is also an emotion one has for a deity.

Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita tells Arjuna that any devotee who wants to worship with shraddha, whatever form of deity it may be, He bestows unflinching shraddha to that devotee so that he or she can worship that deity. <blockquote>यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७.२१॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga)]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śraddhayārcitumicchati । tasya tasyācalāṁ śraddhāṁ tāmeva vidadhāmyaham ॥7.21॥''</blockquote>There are two points to be noted in this verse.  

 

* First, one can worship any form of deity one wishes to with Shraddha. Meaning, one is free to choose one's spiritual practice, and Shri Krishna endows the necessary shraddha. In other words, shraddha is needed in worshipping a deity or pursuing any spiritual practice. Thus, shraddha is an emotion one has for a deity.

* Second, Shri Krishna blesses those who have shraddha. That is, shraddha shown by human beings begets divine shraddha or grace from Shri Krishna.

 

यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति । तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम् ॥७.२१॥  

 

स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते । लभते च ततः कामान्मयैव विहितान्हि तान् ॥७.२२॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7 (Jnana Vijnana Yoga)]</ref>

 

In verse 7.21, Krsna tells Arjuna that any devotee who wants to worship with shraddha, whatever form of deity it may be, Krsna bestows acalam or unflinching shraddha to that devotee so that he or she can worship that deity. There are two points to be noted in this verse. First, Krsna does not discriminate among devotees who have shraddha; they can worship whichever form of deity they want to. In other words, we are free to choose the spiritual practice, and Krsna endows us with the necessary shraddha, based on what we bring to the practice. Second, Krsna blesses people who have shraddha. In other words, shraddha shown by human beings begets divine shraddha or shraddha from Krsna.

=== भगवच्छ्रद्धा फलम् ॥ Fruit of Shraddha in a Deity ===

=== भगवच्छ्रद्धा फलम् ॥ Fruit of Shraddha in a Deity ===

Verse 7.22, continues from the previous one, and Krsna states that when the devotee worships the deity of his or her choice with the divine shraddha provided by Krsna, his or her desires are fulfilled by Krsna himself. Therefore, shraddha is not only something that brings one to Krsna but also continues to bring the blessings of Krsna to the devotees, whoever and however they worship. Thus, shraddha is a gift of the Supreme, or a divine grace.

Verse 7.22, continues from the previous one, and Krsna states that when the devotee worships the deity of his or her choice with the divine shraddha provided by Krsna, his or her desires are fulfilled by Krsna himself. Therefore, shraddha is not only something that brings one to Krsna but also continues to bring the blessings of Krsna to the devotees, whoever and however they worship. Thus, shraddha is a gift of the Supreme, or a divine grace.

== आप्तेषु श्रद्धा ॥ Shraddha in a Person or Shastra ==

== आप्तेषु श्रद्धा ॥ Shraddha in a Person or Shastra ==

In Vivekachudamani, Sloka 25, Śrī Śankaracharya says:

In Vivekachudamani, Sloka 25, Śrī Śankaracharya says: