In ISKCON and Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy, Pancopasana refers to the traditional smarta system of worshipping five deities (pancha = five, upasana = worship) promoted historically by Śankarācarya.
The five deities in this system are:
Visnu
Siva
Durga
Ganesa
Surya (The Sun God)
Srila Prabhupāda explains in his purports (such as CC Adi 5.226) that Pancopasana is designed primarily by impersonalists. In this system:
The worshiper accepts five symbolic forms of the Absolute Truth to purify the mind.
The Underlying Assumption: Impersonalists believe the ultimate reality (Brahman) is formless, and that these five forms are temporary, material manifestations used as stepping stones. Once one achieves "liberation," all five forms—including Lord Viṣṇu—are discarded.
"Mayavādis admit that worship of the Lord's form is required in the beginning, but they think that in the end everything is impersonal. Therefore, since they are ultimately against worship of the Lord's form, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu has described them as offenders."
The five deities in this system are:
Visnu
Siva
Durga
Ganesa
Surya (The Sun God)
Srila Prabhupāda explains in his purports (such as CC Adi 5.226) that Pancopasana is designed primarily by impersonalists. In this system:
The worshiper accepts five symbolic forms of the Absolute Truth to purify the mind.
The Underlying Assumption: Impersonalists believe the ultimate reality (Brahman) is formless, and that these five forms are temporary, material manifestations used as stepping stones. Once one achieves "liberation," all five forms—including Lord Viṣṇu—are discarded.
"Mayavādis admit that worship of the Lord's form is required in the beginning, but they think that in the end everything is impersonal. Therefore, since they are ultimately against worship of the Lord's form, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu has described them as offenders."