Without specific examples, I am disinclined to belief you. No offense, but that's just the skeptic in me. That and I yern for more data.
Okay, let me rephrase this.
Meriam-Webster's 4th Definition of Worship will be important
4) extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem
Part of the worship of a diety often includes the acknowledgement of greatness over the worshiper, correct?
Many a greek fable is wrought with the woes of those who do not show the gods their respect (IE: their greatness). Arachne comes to mind.
The very act of acknowldging one as greater than onesself is an act of subservience and that is the core of worship. Ergo, the two are inseperable. It's analogous to a wolf pack where one wolf goes belly up and behaves as a pup to show that the leader is boss.
And if you want an eastern example, may I point to various asiatic "demigod emperors" whom few people of low station could not even look at? Yeah. Bowing was the least that could be done.