Thread by @HinduMediaWiki

Here in Skanda 11 Chapter 27 of Bhagwat purana, Shree Krishan is telling us the methods by which worship is done to him.

Shree Krishan said -:

वैदिकस्तान्त्रिको मिश्र इति मे त्रिविधो मख: |
त्रयाणामीप्सितेनैव विधिना मां समर्चयेत ||७|| 1/9

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Meaning : One should carefully worship Me by selecting one of the three methods by which I receive sacrifice: Vedic, tantric or mixed.

vedabase.io/en/library/sb/…

Now in SB 11.27.15 shloka Shree Krishna is saying that he is worshiped according to the faith of a particular worshiper.

So one can worship him in deity form OR one can worship him in his heart also , its called Manas pooja ( pooja by mind).

द्रव्यै: प्रसिद्भैर्मदयाग: प्रतिमादिष्वमायिन: |
भक्तस्य च यथालब्धैर्ह्यदि भावेन चैव हि ||१५||

vedabase.com/en/sb/11/27/15

One should worship Me in My Deity forms by offering the most excellent paraphernalia. But a devotee completely freed from material desire may worship Me with whatever he is able to obtain, and may even worship Me within his heart with mental paraphernalia. SB 11.27.15

In SB 11.27.48 Shree krishana is telling us that either one can worship me Saguna as well as in Nirguna form. But he exist’s in both within all , as he is the supreme soul. That mean no matter which method one use , supreme person exsists in all in the Saguna as well as Nirguna

So Shree Krishan is saying both forms of worships are the same.

अर्चादिषु यदा यत्र श्रद्भा मां तत्र चार्चयेत |
सर्वभूतेषश्वात्मानि च सर्वात्माहमव्यवस्थित: ||४८||

vedabase.io/en/library/sb/…

Now on other hand The Deity form, arcā, is specifically mentioned here because Deity worship is essential for spiritual progress. Inexperienced persons may think that the Deity is meant for the sense gratification of the worshiper.....

since superficially the Deity is made of external substances such as marble or brass. But through the process of installing the Deity by chanting of authorized mantras, one invites the Supreme God to enter the Deity form.

Conclusion – So from analyzing obove shlokas , we can say that both forms of worship are the same (Saguna and Nirguna). So its not necessary that gods should only be worshiped in deity form (Idol worship).

One can worship god through Mind and Heart also it is essence of Bhakti.