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IDOL WORSHIP IN HINDUISM : DECODED #2

Sanatan Dharma, Hinduism embraces idol worship as the science which opens the door between sadhak and Bhagwan. Idol worship is the easiest and simplest form of worship towards Supreme Sacchidanand. We all are surrounded by materialistic desires, as we are under grip of Maya since our birth. It is impossible to relinquish the grip and remember Bhagwan without imagining his features or idol. Closing eyes and thinking about god or praying in front of idol is the most convenient way of praying God. Without structures or formation, no one can pray to God.

One fundamental thing about hinduism is ,how the  Hindu way of life is. With the Hindu, there is no “ism” because it is a geographical and cultural identity. Anyone born in the land of Indus is a Hindu. There is no particular belief system, god or ideology which you can call as the Hindu way of life. Whatever you do in this culture is Hindu. You can worship a man-god and be a Hindu. You can worship a woman-god and be a Hindu. You can worship a cow and be a Hindu. You can worship a tree and be a Hindu. Or you don’t worship anything and you can be a Hindu. Hindu is a cultural identity, not a religious identity. In the Hindu way of life, the only important thing in human life is his liberation. Mukti is the only goal.

Idols in the Hindu temples are not toys or statues. They are physical bodies which have been energized to vibrate in a certain way such that they impact everything around them. The entire concept and the science behind the idols and their handling is given under Agama Shastra, a tantric scientific methodology that has been perfected over many millenia. The idol as indeed the entire temple becomes a vibrating body that can impact any person that is in the vicinity of the temple. This practice of energizing idols was traditionally known as “Prana Prathishta“, literally meaning Establishment of the Life force in the idol. In English, although not completely consistent, we could use the word consecration for it.

There is a whole science of idol-making where a certain form is created with a particular material and energized in a certain way. Different idols are made in different ways where they relocate or rearrange the chakras in certain places to make them into completely different possibilities. Idol-making is that science through which you manifest the energy in a particular way so that your quality of life can be enhanced.

Being practiced from the time of Vedas and Puranas, Idol worship is an ancient tradition in Hindu religion. Hindus worship idols as an embodiment of God which has become a popular lifestyle for people.The science behind idol making and worshiping is quite immense. In ancient India, knowledgeable and erudite people called saints or ‘pandits’ use to meditate. it was their way of simply acknowledging the content without becoming identified with the content. Meditation was considered as a path to connect with the divine power.For people, it became difficult to assume God without a figure, therefore idol worship was introduced. Making idols and worshiping them apparently helped in increasing the concentration during prayers. An individual started shaping up his thoughts with utmost devotion. Idol worship helps people to concentrate, leading to Moksha and gain spiritual energy without any distraction. Temples were constructed as a place of spirit, where everyone could visit and feel the energy to connect to the divine powers. Idol making and worshiping is a discipline which empowers the spirituality among people and help them lead a peaceful life.

In such a tradition, what is God then? The concept of God as described by Krishna in Bhagwad Gita’s 9th and 10th chapters is central to the Hindu tradition per the scriptures as well. When asked by Arjun “Who are you?”, Krishna points to discrete things – from mountains to Vedas to music, to emotions, the good things and bad, and equates himself with all of them. Once he has discussed a fairly vast expanse of discrete things, he declares “I am All”!

God is the infinite, powerful, omnipresent and supreme truth. Idol worship helps devotees comprehend the abstract and formless. A real heart oriented devotee who can connect to god via a stone will never be able to harm any living being. forget about humans, he will be careful not to harm any insect, animal, bird or plants. for a devotee, god is every where. in every living and non-living being. thats why in india we worship ganges as mother, ocean as devata (god). hindus even worship plants like peppel, banyan, mango, bel leaves, tulsi and so on. they even worship birds and animals like cow. why hindus worship them requires another post. but respect for plants, animals or water bodies is respecting life. because without clean water, clean air life can not survive on earth.

In the end ,what can be said is , respecting all living beings, respecting the rights of birds, animals, trees and respecting all religions is the true honouring of GOD & HIS CREATION .

{ excerpts from Sadhguru Jaggi vasudev’s speech on why are

Idols worshipped in hinduism .click here - http://isha.sadhguru.org/blog/yoga-meditation/demystifying-yoga/hindu-idols-gods-worship/ )

In Hinduism, every human being has an obligation to practice virtue and uphold the Divine Law. They have to cultivate purity (sattva), and discernment (buddhi) and follow the injunctions and guidelines prescribed in the scriptures. Some important moral duties are the study and recitation of scriptures, prayers, worship, rituals, sacrifices, devotion, self-restraint, purity, moral discipline, discernment, resolve, good works, and the practice of virtues such as nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy before marriage, and non-covetousness. Other duties include respecting the elders, parents and teachers, taking care of old and aged members of the family, helping children to grow up, and avoiding the cardinal sins namely lust, anger, pride, envy, and delusion.

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