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The idol is a support for the neophyte. It is a prop in his
spiritual childhood. A form or image is necessary for worship in the
beginning. It is an external symbol of God for worship. It is a reminder
of God. The material image calls up the mental idea. Steadiness of mind is
obtained by image worship. The worshipper will have to associate the ideas
of infinity, omnipotence, omniscience, purity, perfection, freedom,
holiness, truth and omnipresence with the form of worship he chooses.
It is not possible for all to fix the mind on the Absolute. A concrete
form is necessary for the vast majority for practicing concentration. To
behold God everywhere and to practice the presence of God is not possible
for the ordinary man. Idol worship is the easiest form of worship for the
modern man.
A symbol is absolutely indispensable for fixing the mind. The mind wants
a prop to lean upon. It cannot hold a conception of the Absolute in the
initial stages. Without the help of some external aid the mind cannot be
centralised. In the beginning, therefore, concentration or meditation is
not possible without a symbol.
Everyone an Idol Worshipper
Idol worship is not peculiar to Hinduism. Christians worship the Cross.
They have the image of the Cross in their mind. The Muslims keep the image
of the Kaaba stone when they kneel and do prayers. The people of the whole
world, save a few Yogis and Vedantins, are all worshippers of idols. They
keep some image or the other in their mind.
The mental image also is a form of idol. The difference is not one of
kind, but only of degree. All worshippers however intellectual they may
be, generate a form in the mind and make the mind dwell on that image.
Everyone is thus an idol worshipper. Pictures drawings, etc, are only
forms of idols. A Boas mind needs a concrete symbol as a prop and a subtle
mind requires an abstract symbol. Even a Vedantin has the symbol Om to fix
his wandering mind. It is not only the pictures or images in stone and in
wood that are idols but dialectics and great leaders also become idols So,
why condemn idolatry?
A Medium for Establishing Communion With God
Idols are not the idle fancies of sculptors but are shining channels
through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to God and flows
towards Him. Though apparently the image is worshipped, the devotee feels
the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion unto it. It is
the appalling ignorance of the modern sensual man that clouds his vision
and prevents him from seeing Divinity in the lovely and enchanting idols
of His forms.
The wonderful scientific advances of this century ought to convince one
of the glory of idol worship. How are the songsters and orators confined
to a small box like thing called a radio or a T.V.? The latter are merely
lifeless, mechanical structures which would break into a thousand pieces
of thrown violently; and yet, if you know how to handle it, you can hear
through it the music and see through it the pictures occurring several
thousands of miles away. Even as you catch the sound-waves of people all
over the globe through the radio and T.V., it is possible to commune with
the all-pervading Lord through the medium of an idol. The divinity of the
all-pervading God is vibrant in very atom of creation. There is net a
speck of space where He is net. Why do you then say that He is net in the
idols?
There are many who would glibly say: "Oh, God is an all-pervading
formless Being. How can He be confined to this idol!" Are these
people ever conscious of His omnipresence? Do they always see Him and Him
alone in everything? No. It is their ego that prevents them from bowing to
the idols of God and with that motive they put this lame excuse forward.
Empty vessels make much sound. A practical man who does meditation and
worship, who is full of knowledge and real devotion, always keeps silent.
He influences and teaches others through silence. He alone knows whether
an idol is necessary in the beginning of concentration or not.
However intellectual one may be, one cannot concentrate without the help
of some symbol. An intellectual or a learned person may say on account of
his pride and vanity: "I do not like an idol I do not wish to
concentrate on a form." He cannot concentrate on the formless One. He
thinks that people will laugh at him when they come to know that he is
meditating on an idol. He never does any meditation on the formless One.
He simply talks and argues and poses. He wastes his life in unnecessary
discussions only. An ounce of practice is better than tons of theories.
Intellect is a hindrance in the vast majority of intellectual persons.
They say that the existence of Brahman is guess-work, the superconscious
state is a bluff and Self-realisation is an imagination of the Vedantins.
Deluded souls! They are steeped in ignorance. They are carried away by
their secular knowledge which is mere husk when compared to the knowledge
of the Self. There is no hope of salvation for such people. First their
wrong impressions should be hushed by good impressions through Satsang.
Then only will they realise their mistakes. May the Lord bestow on them
dear understanding and thirsting for real knowledge!
A Symbol of God
The idol is a substitute or symbol. The image in a temple, though it be
made of stone, wood or metal, is precious for a devotee as it bears the
mark of his Lord, as it represents something which he holds holy and
eternal. A flag is only a small piece of painted cloth, but to a soldier
it stands for something that he holds very dear. He is prepared to give up
his life in defending his flag. Similarly, the image is very dear to a
devotee. It speaks to him in its own language of devotion. Just as the
flag arouses martial valour in the soldier, so also the image arouses
devotion in the devotee. The Lord is superimposed on the image and the
image generates divine thoughts in the worshipper.
A piece of ordinary white paper or coloured paper has no value. You throw
it away. But, if there is the stamp of the Government on the paper
(currency note), you keep it safe in your money pocket or trunk. Even so,
an ordinary piece of atom has no value for you. You throw it away. But, if
you behold the stone idol of Lord Krishna at Pandharpur or any other idol
in shrines, you bow your head with folded palms, because there is the
stamp of the Beloved Lord on the stone. The devotee superimposes on the
stem idol his own Lord and all His attributes.
When you worship an image, you do not say: "This image has come from
Jaipur. It was bought by Prabhu Singh. Its weight is 50 lbs. It is made of
white marble. It has cost me Rs.500." No! You superimpose all the
attributes of the Lord on the image and pray: "O Inner Ruler! You are
all-pervading. You are omnipotent, omniscient and all-merciful. You are
the source of everything. You are eternal, unchanging. You are the life of
my life, the Soul of my soul! Give me light and knowledge! Let mt dwell in
Thee for ever!"
When your devotion and meditation become intense and deep, you do not see
the stone image. You behold the Lord only who is pure Consciousness. Image
worship is very necessary for beginners.
An Integral Part of the Cosmos
For a beginner, the idol is an absolute necessity. By worshipping the
idol, the Lord is pleased. The idol is made up of the five elements. The
five elements constitute the body of the Lord. The idol remains an idol,
but the worship goes to the Lord.
If you shake hands with a man, he is highly pleased. Yon have touched
only a small part of his body and yet he is happy. He smiles and welcomes
you. Even so, the Lord is highly pleased when a small portion of His
cosmic body is worshipped. An idol is a part of the body of the Lord. The
whole world is His body. The devotion goes to the Lord.
The worshipper superimposes on the image the Lord and all His attributes.
He does the sixteen forms of reverence to the Lord. First, the Presence of
the Deity is invoked. Then a seat is offered, the feet are washed, watts
is offered, and then hospitality is offered, The idol is bathed, dressed
and invested with the sacred thread. Sandal paste is applied to its
forehead, flowers are offered, and incense is burnt. Then a lamp is lit
and waved before the Deity. Food is now offered, together with the burning
of camphor. A gift of gold is offered. Finally (the sixteenth step), the
Deity is bidden farewell.
In these external forms of worship, the inner love finds expression. The
wandering mind is fixed non in this form of worship. The aspirant
gradually feels the nearness of the Lord. He attains purity of heart and
slowly annihilates his egoism.
To the worshipper who has faith in the symbol, any kind of image is the
body of the Lord, be it made of stone, clay, or brass, or be it a picture,
drawing, etc. Such worship an never be idolatry. All matter is a
manifestation of God. God is present in everything. Everything is an
object of worship, for all is a manifestation of God who is therein
worshipped. The very act of worship implies that the object of worship is
superior and conscious. This way of looking at things must be attained by
the devotee. The untutored mind must be trained to view things in the
above manner.
Idol worship Develops Devotion
Idol worship makes concentration for man simple and easy. You can bring
before your mind's eye the great pastimes of the Lord in His particular
incarnation in which you view Him. This is one of the easiest modes of
Self-realisation. It is one that suits the majority of people today.
Just as the picture of a famous warrior evokes heroism in your heart, so
also a look at the picture of God will elevate your mind to divine
heights. Just as the child develops the maternal feeling by caressing,
nursing and protecting its doll made of rags, and suckles it in an
imaginary manner, so also the devotee develop the feeling of devotion by
worshipping the idol and concentrating on it.
Unveiling the Divinity in the Idol
Regular worship and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of
recognition of divinity in the idol unveil the Divinity latent in it. This
is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol
speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in
you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol It is like a
powerful lens that focuses the sun's rays onto a bundle of cotton. The
lens is not fire and the cotton is not fire either, nor can the sun's rays
by themselves burn the cotton. However, when all three are brought
together in a particular manner, fire is generated and the cotton is burnt
Similar is the case with the idol the aspirant and the all- pervading
Divinity. The idol is the lens which brings into focus the all-pervading
rays of Divinity and lights up the aspirant with divine illumination.
God is enshrined in the idol. From here, He will protect you in special
manner. The idol will perform miracles. The place where it is installed is
at once transformed into a temple, nay, a Vaikunta or Kailas in reality.
Those who live in such a place are freed from miseries, from diseases,
from failures and from world-liness itself. The awakened Divinity in the
idol acts as a guardian angel blessing all, conferring the highest good on
those who bow to it.
The Image-A Mass of Consciousness
The idol is only a symbol of the Divine. A devotee does not behold
therein a block of stone or a mass of metal. It is an emblem of God for
him. He visulises the indwelling Presence in the idol. All the sixty-three
Nayanar saints of South India attained God-realisation through worship of
the Shiva Linga, the image of Lord Shiva. For a devotee, the image is a
mass of consciousness. He draws inspiration from it. It guides him. It
talks to him. It assumes the human form to help him in a variety of ways.
The image of Lord Shiva in the temple at Madura in South India helped the
fuel-cutter and the old woman. The image in the temple at Tirupati assumed
a human form and gave witness in the court to help His devotees. These are
marvels and mysteries. Only the devotees understand them.
When Idols Become Alive
For a devotee or a sage, there is no such thing as insentient matter.
Everything is consciousness, The devotee actually beholds the Lord in the
idol Narsi Mehta was put to the test by a king. The king said, "O
Narsi! if you are a true, sincere devotee of Lord Krishna, if as you say,
the idol is Lord Krishna Himself let this idol move. According to the
prayer of Narsi Mehta, the idol did move. The sacred bull Nandi, standing
before Shiva's idol took the food offered by Tulsidas. The idol of Krishna
played with Mirabai. It was full of life and consciousness for her.
When Appayya Dikshita went to the Tirupati temple in South India, the
Vaishnavas refused to grant him admission. The next morning they found
that the idol of Lord Vishnu in the temple had changed to the idol of Lord
Shiva. The priest was greatly astonished and startled. He asked pardon and
prayed to Appayya Dikshita to change the idol again to that of Lord
Vishnu.
Kanaka Das was a great devotee of Lord Krishna in Udipi, in the district
of South Kanara, in South India. He was not allowed to enter the temple on
account of his low birth. Kanaka Das went round the temple and saw a small
window at the back of the temple. He seated himself in front of the
window. He was soon lost in singing songs in praise of Lord Krishna. Many
people gathered round him. They were very powerfully attracted by the
sweet melody of his music and the depth of his devotion. Lord Krishna
turned round to enable Kanaka Das to get His Darshan. The priests were
struck with wonder. Even today, pilgrims are shown the window and the
place where Kanaka Das sat and sang.
The idol is the same as the Lord, for it is the vehicle of the expression
of the Mantra-consciousness which is the Deity. The devotee should regard
the idol in the temple with the same attitude of respect and reverence
that he would evince should the Lord Himself appear before him in person
and speak to him in articulate sound.
Vedanta and Idol Worship
A pseudo-Vedantin feels ashamed to how before an idol in the temple. He
feels that his Advaita (attitude of oneness) will evaporate if he
prostrates himself. Study the lives of the reputed Tamil Saints-Appar,
Sundarar, Sambandhar, and others. They all had the highest Advaitic
realisation. They saw Lord Shiva everywhere. Yet, they visited all temples
of Shiva, prostrated before the idol and sang hymns which are on record
till today. The sixty-three Nayanar saints solely practised the worship of
the idols of Shiva and attained God-consciousness thereby. They swept the
door of the temple, collected flowers, made garlands for the Lord and put
lights in the temple. They were illiterate, but attained the highest
realisation. They were practical Yogis and their hearts were saturated
with pure devotion. They were embodiments of Karma Yoga. All practised the
Yoga of synthesis. The idol was all consciousness to them, not a mere
block of stone.
Madhusudana Swami, who had Advaitic realisation, who beheld oneness of
the Self and who had the feeling of oneness with all creation, was
intensely attached to the form of Lord Krishna with flute in His hands.
Tulsidas realised the all-pervading essence. He had Cosmic Consciousness.
He communed with the all-pervading, formless Lord. And yet, his passion
for Lord Rama with bow in His hand did not vanish. When he was at
Brindavan, beholding the idol of Lord Krishna with flute in hand, he said,
"I will not bow my head to this form." At once Lord Krishna's
form assumed the form of Lord Rama. Then only he bowed his head.
Tukaram also had the same cosmic experience as that of Tulsidas. He sings
in one of his songs: "I see my Lord all-pervading, just as sweetness
pervades the sugarcane", and yet, he always speaks of his Lord
Vittala of Pandarpur with His hands on the hips. Marabai also realised her
identity with the ail-pervading Krishna, and yet she was not tired of
repeating again and again, "My Giridhar Nagar.
From the above facts, we can clearly infer that one can realise God
through worship of the idol; that the idol is a great aid for the
realisation of the Lord in His all-pervading, formless aspect also; that
the worship of the idol is very essential for the purpose of concentration
and meditation in the beginning; and that such a worship is not in any way
a hindrance to the attainment of God-realisation.
Those who vehemently attack idol worship are groping in extreme darkness
and ignorance, and have no real knowledge of unnecessary, vain debates and
discussions against idol worship to show that they are learned persons.
They have not done any real Sadhana at all. They are persons who have made
idle talking and tall talk their habit and profession. They have ruined
themselves. They have unsettled the minds of countless persons and ruined
them also. The whole word worships idols alone in some form or another.
The mind is disciplined in the beginning by fixing it on a concrete
object or symbol. When it is rendered steady and subtle, it can be fixed
on an abstract idea such as Aham Brahma Asmi. As one advances in
meditation, the form melts in the formless and one becomes absorbed in the
formless essence. The worship of idols is, therefore, not contrary to the
view of Vedanta. It is rather an aid to the highest Vedantic realisation.
Conclusion
Idol worship is only the beginning of religion. Certainly it is not its
end. The same Hindu scriptures which prescribe idol worship for beginners,
also speak of meditation on the Infinite or the Absolute and contemplation
on the significance of Tat Twam Asi for advanced aspirants.
There are different grades of worship. The supreme state is
Self-realisation. Second in rank is meditation on the Supreme Self. The
third is the worship of symbols. The fourth is the performance of rituals
and pilgrimages to holy places. The Shastras, the Gurus, are like kind
mothers. They take hold of the hands of the aspirants and take them step
by step till they are established in the highest superconscious state.
Glory to the Hindu Rishis who take aspirants from the lower to the higher
form of worship!
Beloved children of the Lord! Shed your ignorant disbelief this moment
Enshrine supreme, unshakable, living faith in your heart this very moment
Recall to your mind the glorious examples of saints of the past. They
believed, and they reaped the rich spiritual harvests. You too can enjoy
great peace, happiness and prosperity here, and attain Him here and now if
you have faith in idol worship.
