Devotees of the Lord are often recognized by different signs. Along with the obvious robes, the distinguishing marks of a devotee will be Tulasī wood neck beads, the small tuft of hair called a śikhā, and the clay markings, called tilaka, that designate the body as a temple of the Lord.
An altar is an important part of worshipping the Lord at home or in a Temple. A simple home altar can be set up horizontally or vertically. It does not have to be elaborate. It is good to start with nicely framed pictures, and it should be easy to clean. When you start to offer some things to the Lord, be very simple, as it is nice to make a commitment that is within reason and that can be maintained on a regular basis.
Association of devotees is our main support in the development of Krishna Consciousness. There are different levels of devotees according to their spiritual qualities and advancement. We will discuss those, but the overall picture is that we need to associate with those who inspire and enliven us with their enthusiasm and determination to make spiritual progress. When Śrīla Prabhupāda was asked how his disciples would be recognized, he said that they would be perfect gentlemen. From that, we can also infer that the women would also be perfect ladies.
Śrīla Prabhupāda would sometimes quote, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” There were also a couple of occasions on which Śrīla Prabhupāda said that cleanliness IS Godliness. Cleanliness refers to both the internal and the external aspects. The Sanskrit word “śuci” refers to cleanliness and to the brahmanas, who are expected to be always exhibiting cleanliness. The word “muci” refers to uncleanliness and those who are unclean. The development of brahminical cleanliness will automatically invite auspiciousness and an uplifting atmosphere in the home
