I am a devotee and has been in ISKCON for about 8 years.
A devotee friend of mine ( a Hare Krishna devotee in the movement for 10 years ) has been married for 3 years and he and his wife were not able to conceive a child despite many attempt.
He then went to a demigod temple (Sivan temple) and performed some rituals/atonement and 3 months later, his wife conceived.
I am confused.
1) As Hare Krishna devotees, was it a sin that my friend committed by worshipping a demigod despite being a devotee of Krishna ? 2) My sister is 35 years old and so far my family is unable to find a suitable husband for her. She is not a devotee. I was advised by a non devotee priest to go to the demigod temple (Sivan temple) and perform a ritual / atonement that has to be carried out since my sister's astrology indicates that this must done and only then my sister will be able to find a suitable husband. If my family were to do this for my sister, am I commiting a sin by worshipping a demigod ? .
Hare Krsna. As conditioned souls, most of our prayers are nothing but condemning Krsna. Most of our prayers are complains and we try to change the mind of Krsna, we try to improve upon him. We ask Krsna to provide us many things which we don't have. That's why it is recommended that when we pray to Krsna, we recite or sing a prayer written by some pure devotee like Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur or some other previous Acharya who are free from material desires.
In my humble opinion, I don't see it as a sin that your friend worshipped Shiva however I feel that it may not be very good for his Krsna Consciousness, because now all his feelings of love, all the juices which were suppose to flow towards Krsna, might be flowing towards Siva and it may become a hinderence in his Krsna Consciousness.
Sri Krishna is the Supreme Enjoyer. The demigods are His servants in this material world. Because we have material bodies, sometimes we need help or have to meet responsibilities. Does being a 'devotee' mean we disturb the Supreme Personality of Godhead's transcendental lila with our troubles, interrupt His play? Even if, due to inflated ego, we consider ourselves are on the highest, purest level and have a right to bother Him like that, should the servant be asking the master to solve his bodily problems? Or do we ask His authorized servants for help? You are neither a pure devotee nor a demigod worshipper. Your friend's and your troubles interfere with your service and when they are solved you will appreciate the kindness of both Sri Krishna and His great devotee servant Lord Shiva and increase your own service, understanding and feelings more. Sri Krishna is not alone, everything and everyone is related to HIm.
A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.
