Re: raga-marga & viddhi-marga

> To what extent is the pancharatriki-viddhi necessary for a practitioner and how shoud he/she assess its necessity in his/her personal bhajan?

If one is fully attached to engage in constant Naama Bhajana, then Deity Worship is not necessary. The Deity of the Holy Names can be worshiped by anyone even a non-brahamana constantly even while talking, walking, eating, sleeping etc. which is not possible in the case of Temple Deities.

Shrila Sacchidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in Hari Naama Chintamani:

ekati arcana-pravritti, ekati smarana-kirtana-pravritti.
ubhayei samicina haileo smarana-kirtana-pravritti aikantika
bhakta-digera madhye prabala.

"There are two processes in God-realization. One is Deity worship and other is the process of chanting and remembering the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Though both are powerful, the path of chanting and remembering the Holy Names is exclusively preferred as the most powerful by serious and advanced spiritual aspirants."

There is a pastime in which Shrila Gaura Kishore Dasa Babaji sees a devotee who was previously trying to chant constantly take to Deity worship at an old age. On seeing him, Shrila Gaura Kishore told Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta to see how this devotee has deprived himself of the highest form of Bhajana and taken to Deity worship instead.

Daaso'smi, Swami Gaurangapada.

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