Divinity is formless. Divinity is
Intelligence, Love, Peace, Wisdom, Infinite, Courage, Balance, Omniscient and
Light. How can the formless Supreme Godhead be imagined or worshiped?
Initially man worshiped what was powerful around him - the Sun, the Earth, the
Water, the Wind and Skies. Nature was worshiped as she sustained all life
forms. As and when needed, the Divine
Force manifested itself on Earth in various forms called Avatars and these
forms were Supremely Powerful and Loving. These forms were worshiped as idols
in temples and home. Divinity manifested
itself as Gurus and these Gurus who showed the path to God were also worshiped. Such idol and picture worshipped was encouraged by the Ancient Wise
Men of India as they were very easy and accessible forms of worship for the
common man.
The formless God is called the Nirguna Brahman. The Nirguna Brahman is worshipped by those in the Jnana Marga or Jnana
Yoga – the Yoga of Wisdom. It is very difficult to worship God as the formless.
Hence the various forms in which He manifested to His devotees and the forms of
His various avatars are worshipped. Adi Shankara who taught Advaita –
worshipping of the One Form, and walked the Jnana Marga, realised later that
worshipping of the form was easier and sweeter to the heart and being and hence he built many temples
of Shakti – the Mother Goddess, in India and worshipped Her in these holy spots.
Many religions and many people take
offense to Idol worship. This is because the concept of Idol worship is not
known to them. When we bow before an
Idol in a temple, we bow to the Divinity it represents. We pray to it and seek
answers or blessings from the Intelligence, Love, Peace and Wisdom etc it
symbolizes. When we keep the picture of
a Guru and bow in front of it, we are not bowing to a piece of paper; we bow to
the Divinity it represents. The same is the answer for bowing to a Live Guru.
When we see God in the Guru, the Guru Shakti or the Divine Force of Guru
answers our prayers and guides us. This same force also blossoms in us when we
worship the Guru. The external form of Guru teaches us practices and when we
follow them, the internal form of Guru within us manifests. In this way the
worship of the external Guru by following of the spiritual practices taught,
leads us gradually to self realisation. We respect and honour all holy books,
pictures of God and Goddesses, Saints and places of worship as they all
represent Divinity to us. No one
worships an idol for the sake of the stone or a picture for the colour combinations.
They are symbols of the Supreme Godhead.
The idol in the temple is a symbol, a
form the mind can connect with and concentrate on. The ultimate reality, the
Godhead is beyond symbols, beyond intellect, senses and logic. The abstract
form of God is unappealing to man and it is easier to adore, pray and worship a
form or idol which represents the Supreme Power. The devotee cries out his woes
to the Idol and seeks help and also offers his thanksgiving for blessings
given. When we congregate in a place of worship and do the Naama Smaran – chanting
the holy name of God, the Supreme Power is present there and blesses all.
In Hinduism, the ancient texts give
permission and also examples of worship of idols by many and the success
attained by them. The rites and methods of worship are given. It is also
explained that where one cannot offer fruits, flowers, candles or incense or
other things, one can just offer love and surrender to the idol (God). The
worship of the Supreme Formless is also described. The Hindu has a wide and
unlimited approach and choice in his worship of God. Having an altar or room in
home for the Idol of God makes the home a temple, a sacred place where one
finds solace at any time.
The stone in the temple becomes a
focus of mantra offerings and devout prayers and love of the countless bhaktas. The Supreme Power which is all pervading in Space is invoked through mantras into wind, from wind into fire, from fire into water and this empowered water is poured over the Idol and the Image is consecrated. It is also empowered by the daily ritual worships. Such a place becomes a power spot
where the mind can easily focus and concentrate on God. We find it easy to
connect to Divinity here. There are many
temples in India where Divinity has manifested itself for the devotee and such
temples have powerful vibrations and divine atmosphere. Meerabai, Tukaram, Sri
Ramakrishna and others are proof to the idol in the temple coming alive and
talking and dancing with the devotees.
There are many instances where the pictures of the Saints and Gurus have
manifested miracles in answer to the cries of the disciples. Sri Paramhamsa Yogananda and many others speak of such instances. Idol worship is an integral part of man’s
worship of God and is one of the best ways of leading the fickle mind towards
God.
