Is there any diiference between a devotee taking medicine for a disease and he doing demigod worship for treating the disease?

From Sccd:

one is recommended & other is not? why?

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Question from Chaitanya Chandra Prabhu. Is there any difference between a devotee taking medicine for a disease and doing demigod worship for treating the disease? One is recommended and the other is not. Why? Answer, because taking medicine basically involves interaction at the level of the body, whereas worshipping demigod involves a diversion of the heart away from Krishna towards the demigod.
Generally, when we take medicines, we understand the process is entirely physical. There is a physical medicine that is treating a physical malady. And whether the medicine be ayurvedic or allopathic, we don’t think of that medicine or the whole process of medicine being an object of devotion for us.
It’s a source of treatment and healing, not an object of devotion. But in the case of demigod worship, we don’t just take some physical medicines, rather we chant mantras, we may do some pujas, worship some demigod temples and all this involves doing in many ways the same activities that we do for the worship of Krishna. And that makes things significantly different.
Because we get distracted from one pointed worship to Krishna to worshipping other devatas. So, although in effect we may be seeking the same result, curing a disease, in process what we are doing is significantly different. In process, in taking medicine, we know it’s simply a physical interaction that is happening.
But in the case of worshipping a demigod, it’s not just a physical interaction. It’s an emotional and devotional interaction that is happening. And our devotion is getting distracted from Krishna to the devatas.
So now, what if a devotee feels that, if somebody says that, I will continue worshipping Krishna, but I will do some demigod worship for material healing. Now, it’s not that it is wrong, it’s not that it is sinful, it’s not that it is in any way immoral. It is a part of the Vedic dharma.
So in that sense, it is dharmic. But it is not in accordance with the principles that Krishna has taught and demonstrated in the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavatam. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna has said, And in the Bhagavatam, He discouraged the Brajwasis from worshipping Indra.
So, through these examples we indicate and statements, we know that Krishna doesn’t want his devotees to worship demigods. So, So, the same Krishna who can act to cure our disease through the worship of the demigods, can also act to cure our disease through the bodily medicines. So, once we see that it is Krishna who is acting and Krishna who is curing, then we don’t feel the need to go to worship any demigod.
So, the Bhagavatam says that, Whatever be our desires, we should still worship Krishna wholeheartedly and everything will be provided for. So, we can get the same benefit that Krishna will give through the demigod worship. We can get that through the physical medicine.
And, without any diversion or disruption of our faith, of our heart’s devotion. And even if some treatment is, sometimes some diseases are such that they are not working, the treatments are not working, then devotees can try other treatments. But generally demigod worship is not recommended.
Of course, in some cases, some devotees may do demigod worship and again, as I said, it’s not entirely wrong, but it’s definitely not recommended. And ultimately, if by some destiny, that disease is not meant to be cured, then even the demigod worship may also not cure that disease. There’s no guarantee that it will.
So, devotees can certainly try whatever is required for keeping a healthy body for serving Krishna. But in general, because there is a diversion of faith that happens, devotees do not engage in demigod worship for the sake of bodily treatment.