Hinduism and idol worship

In an earlier article (self realization) written by me I have mentioned that purpose of human life is to know Self nature. The consciousness (Chaitanya) of Supreme Being that has spread throughout the universe expresses its nature in different degrees in all the living beings (from bacteria to blue whale). Man has credited with budding consciousness, which can be developed in to blooming consciousness and in this state it is possible to realize supreme truth.

The Rishis have written Sastras in the way that the duty accomplished by human intelligence should be in concordance with absolute’s intelligence, so that the duty accomplished would be in perfect harmony with the universal law. The senses of human being devised by nature in a manner to focus outside materialized world. So human being became naturally objected oriented one.  To realize truth or seeking favors he always inquires outside solutions rather than utilizing the inner potentials. By understanding this human nature, saints have formulated rituals and ceremonies for idol worship. The idol worship makes indirect contact between inner self-conscious and your ego. Not only that the highly penetrative consciousness which has spread throughout universe can be brought in to the idol after invoking by special rituals.

Aavaahana, Sthaapana. Sannidhanam& Sannirodanam meant for invoking, installing, felicitating requesting for the retention till the end of worship to the consciousness attribute of Supreme Being at the idol.

 You may find that a Hindu priest chanting mantra stating with ‘Aavaahayami” in front of the idol that means invoking& welcoming the consciousness to make the it  Chaitanya

And further asking it to stay for a while (Pratimayamtu Saannidhyam….) and at the end

returning back it  where it brought  from(Yathastanam pratishtapayaami)

In the 12th chapter of Bhagvat Gita, Arjuna has asked Krishna which is the best method to worship you, manifest or unmanifest form? (Arjuna did not ask which is right or wrong?)

Krishna replied that the easiest & matured is to worship Him in the manifest form.

According to Sri Mad Bhagavatam, the learned transcendentalists who know supreme truth call this non-dual aspect as Para Brahma (no quality), Paramatma (indwelling supreme soul) or Bhagawan (supreme lord himself)

Vedantis called Him as (impersonal aspect) Supreme Being.

Yogis called Him as (partial representation of personal aspect) Paramatma

And for devotees as  (personal aspect) Bhagawan.

 It is true that the Supreme Being does not have any qualities and cannot be limited within the idol. The supreme being does not have any shape. So it means that he is pervading everywhere and in everybody.The idolaters like Hindus recognise this basic act and welcome  ideas of the other religious people.That is why the so called religious persecution and forceful  conversion  are never   part of  Hindu society.  Why there is  religious intolerance prevails all over the world except in India? There are many times people from other religions criticized Hindus as blind believers,and superstitioners etc etc. The history says idolaters believes in universal brotherhood,peace love and harmony and have high degree of broadmindedness than other sects in world. Hindus use the term  "Path" instead of belief for religion as they know  the religions are not mere belief about God  but are various paths lead to Omnipresent .
 As the idol worship is meant for common people and to realize supreme truth is a huge task in practical life for Janana yogis also. For example, Adwaita philosopher Adisankara when confronted with Chandala with dogs at Varanasi Viswanatha temple. Adi Sankara has asked to chandala to move away, Chandala replied him “whether he meant this body made up of food has to move away or the consciousness nature (Chaitanya) which is common to all has to move away?”How many of us are Chandalas to realize that impersonal absolute Supreme Being and His Paramatma concept. Hence benevolent personal aspect (Bhagavan) of Supreme Beings is much more convenient for common people to worship for getting Dharma,Artha,Kama and Moksha.

Idol worship is not a wrong way of worship but it is the first step to recognize all-pervading universal consciousness,in all animate and inanimate objects. But it becomes a wrong way when one became stick to it without advancing further levels. However the true realized wisdom people may not  criticize  the idolaters as they know the universal consciousness also exists in the idol which got Chaitnya .That is why Adwaitacharyas  are also doing poojas for the idols.

Om .Let us know Narayana(as Supreme Being) ,for this we shall meditate on Vasudeva(Bhagavan) and may Vishnu(Paramatma)enlighten to know that Being.

ചിന്താവിഷ്ടനായ ദശരഥന്‍

ഉറങ്ങുമ്പോള്‍ കാണുന്ന സ്വപ്നത്തിലും,ഉണര്‍ന്നിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും അതായത് ഈ രണ്ടു അവസ്ഥകളിലും ഉള്ളവയെ ഏതിനെ ആസ്പദമാക്കി ഒരുവന്‍ തുടര്‍ച്ചയായി കാണുന്നുവോ, ആ ബൃഹതും,എങ്ങും വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നതുമായ ആ ആത്മാവിനെ ഉണര്‍ന്ന വിവേകി ദുഃഖത്തിനെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നില്ല .(കഠോപനിഷത്).

ഒരു മനുഷ്യന്‍ ഉറങ്ങിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും,ആരോ ഒരു പുരുഷന്‍ ഉണര്‍ന്നിരിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. ആ പുരുഷന്‍ പലവിധ മോഹങ്ങളെയും നിര്‍മ്മിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഉണര്‍ന്നിരിക്കുകയാണ്. (കഠോപനിഷത്).

ഒരിക്കല്‍ ദശരഥ ചക്രവര്‍ത്തി ഒരു വിചിത്ര സ്വപ്നം കാണുവാനിടയായി. അദ്ദേഹം അതില്‍ ഒരു ഭിക്ഷാടകനായി കീറിപ്പറിഞ്ഞ വസ്ത്രത്തോട് കൂടി    ആഹാരത്തിനായി അലഞ്ഞു തിരിഞ്ഞു വിശപ്പോടെ ഒരു ഗൃഹത്തിന്റെ മുമ്പില്‍ ചെന്ന് ചേരുകയും, ഗൃഹനാഥ ഒരു വറ്റ് ചോറു മാത്രമേ അവശേഷിക്കുന്നുളളുവെന്നും, അതിനായി അദ്ദേഹം കൈ നീട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍ ഒരജ്ഞാതന്‍ അതിനെ തട്ടി മാറ്റുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നതായും കണ്ടു. ഈ സ്വപ്നം കണ്ടു ദശരഥന്‍ ഞെട്ടി എഴുന്നേറ്റു.എന്നാല്‍ എഴുന്നേറ്റപ്പോള്‍ മുമ്പില്‍ കണ്ടത് നാനാവിധ പഴങ്ങളും,പട്ടുടയാടകളും, ഉള്ള തന്റെ ശയനസ്ഥലമായിരുന്നു ദശരഥന്‍ ചിന്താനിമഗ്നനായി ഇരുന്നു. ഇപ്പോള്‍ താന്‍ ചുറ്റും കാണുന്ന പഴവര്‍ഗ്ഗങ്ങളും,പട്ടുടയാടകളുമായി ഇരിക്കുന്നത് സത്യമാണോ അതോ കീറിപ്പറിഞ്ഞ വസ്ത്രങ്ങളുമായി ഒരു വറ്റ് ആഹാരത്തിന്നായി അലഞ്ഞത് സത്യമാണോ എന്ന്. അദ്ദേഹം ഉടനെ വസിഷ്ടനെ കണ്ടഭ്യര്‍ത്ഥിച്ചു. ഇതില്‍ എതാണ് സത്യമായിട്ടുള്ളത്‌ എന്ന് .വസിഷ്ടന്‍ ദശരഥനോട് ആരാഞ്ഞു സ്വപ്നത്തില്‍ കണ്ടതു എന്താണ്. കീറിപ്പറിഞ്ഞ വസ്ത്രമും,വിശന്നു പൊരിഞ്ഞ വയറും എന്ന് ദശരഥന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. ഇപ്പോള്‍ എന്താണ് കാണുന്നതെന്നു വസിഷ്ടന്‍ ചോദിച്ചു. നാനാവിധ പഴവര്‍ഗ്ഗങ്ങളും,പട്ടുടയാടകളും ആണെന്ന് ദശരഥന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. മുമ്പ് കണ്ടത് ഇപ്പോഴും കാണുന്നുണ്ടോ? അതോ, ഇപ്പോള്‍ കാണുന്നത് സ്വപ്നത്തിലും കണ്ടിരുന്നോ എന്ന് വസിഷ്ടന്‍ ആരാഞ്ഞു.ദശരഥന്‍ ‘ഇല്ല’ എന്ന് മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.അപ്പോള്‍ വസിഷ്ടന്‍ ചോദിച്ചു അപ്പോള്‍ സ്വപ്നത്തിലും,ഇപ്പോഴും പൊതുവായി ഉള്ളത്  ഏതാണ്? പൊതുവായി നിന്നത് ഞാന്‍;ഞാന്‍ മാത്രം ആണെന്ന് ദശരഥന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. വസിഷ്ടന്‍ കരുണാ പൂര്‍വ്വം ദശരഥനോട് പറഞ്ഞു ആ പൊതുവായി കണ്ട ആ ‘ഞാന്‍’ മാത്രമാണ് സത്യം.ബാക്കി ഇപ്പോള്‍ കാണുന്നതും ,സ്വപ്നത്തില്‍ കണ്ടതും അസത്യം മാത്രമാണ്.

എന്താണ് സ്വപ്നം? ദശരഥന്‍  ഉറങ്ങിയാലും ഉറങ്ങാത്ത ആ പുരുഷന്‍ ആരാണ്? ഇതിനെ അടുത്ത ലേഖനത്തില്‍ വിശദമായി പ്രതിപാദിക്കാം .

Self Realization

The purpose of the human life is to realize the Supreme Being and in that attempt we have failed often without recognizing the fact that we are part of that Being.

The main purpose of human life is the realization of the Self. Neither gods have the chance to inquire nor the animals have the capacity to realize Self-Nature. That is why gods manifested in the form of human form and realize ultimate truth. Once a saint went to heaven and inquired about Supreme Being and he was answered that they had learned that He dwells in the earth.

The conscious nature differentiate animates from an inanimate ones. There are different degrees of consciousness expressed by the different forms of animate forms. Vedanta divides the degrees in to covered consciousness (plants, trees) shrunken (worms, animals) and budding consciousness (human beings). While the last one, budding consciousness has the potential to bloom while others have not.  That is why Vedanta considered human life is a precious one. When at the realized state (bloom state) one can realize that his nature (soul) or Supreme Being nature is the same. That is ONE. Aham Brahmasmi, Tatwamasi or Sivoham bears the same meaning.

   While one’s self-identity is mortal because it is restricted by time & space (name, place age, etc.,) and differed to each other, (even the micro organisms like bacteria possesses different self identities within in a culture), the soul (not souls) that has eternal nature crosses all barriers. As the soul has invisible nature, it doesn’t have any particular shape; if it does not have shape that it means it has no boundaries (not limited with space& time); if it does not limited within boundaries it means that there will be sole soul that permeates throughout the universe and perceived by us (by Maya or manifestation) in to numerous souls. When we realize this we become more benevolent and kind to fellow beings. But in actual, delusive nature makes us to feel that our nature is separate from others.

Maya, when we break up this term what we get is (Maa and Ya) while Maa=denotes ‘Don’t or No’ and Ya denotes “from the one which”) the meaning is then, the one which appears is now is not there then after. In other words the one, which is not there in actual, is delusively perceived as there actually.

The Katopnishad says , Superior to the sense organs is the mind; superior to the mind is intelligence; superior to the intelligence is the cosmic mind; superior to the cosmic mind is absolute supreme nature. Superior even to the absolute nature (null& void) is  Ever Existent, all pervading and all encompassing (Supreme being) . Those who realize Him get salvation. He is the same one who found in micro level in us and without realizing this we are searching everywhere and we failed in the attempt.

In Bhagvat Gita lord Krishna says,”That Supreme being is said to be the light of all lights and entirely beyond Maya (Nature, dark matter). That godhead is knowledge itself, worth knowing, and worth attaining through real wisdom, and is particularly seated in the heart of all”.

There is a story that goes like this, once mount Kailash was accessible to every body as there is no greedy thoughts found in human beings. Over a period of time, human beings cultivated the thoughts of negative and lord Siva has wasted his time to solve their problems in his court. So lord Siva asked his court people, wise men and Rishis how to get rid of these people. One Rishi commented he has to move on moon and another gave suggestion to move on mars. Siva with his third eye found that in future, man can reachable to these places. At last a wise man pointed out that the only one place, which is inaccessible for human being, is one’s own mind. As man’s vision and other senses are devised to focused out side and by this nature, he always search for the Omnipotent outside. So Siva decided to dwell inside in the heart of human being. Without realizing this, we human being are in search of him outside.

Beyond Supreme Nature

Once at a discourse a devotee has asked to Sri.Buddha about the existence of god. For that, Sri. Buddha’s reaction was very simple – a smile.
Sri. Buddha neither accepts nor denies the existence of god, unlike Jainism, -which totally denies the Ever Existent (god). According to Buddha, the necessity does not arise at all on this subject. He said that worldly life is surrounded by sorrows that make one to take several births. The desire is the factor behind all sorrows. By overcoming this desire one can win over the sea of sorrows and thus can escape from the birth death cycle.
As a nihilist he said that the truth (supreme) is that the one, which becomes null & void.

Samkhya philosophy argues that if God does not have any bond (relation) with world and is detached, then he would not be interfering in any affairs in the worldly matters ; and further it argues that as per the theists if God as a benefactor, then it makes god to govern us only under attachment .That is he remains to be attached and he is not an independent being. So this persuades Him to govern under compulsion and it reduces His virtue of being ever unattached. So this makes a theist to accept either God is not at all governing or he is never unattached. In both way god will not be God.

But I wish to follow the popular sloka of Narayaneeyam which says that God is incomparable, beyond space and time, detached and ever unattached.
This (remaining unattached) can be substantiated with an example; the sun governs the earth by giving its energy. The billions of lives, from single sense grass to six sensed human being depends on this energy for their day to day activities,while sun remains independent.

Vedanta shows the existence of Supreme Being beyond this supreme nature. According to Vedic science, there are innumerable universes present in this supreme nature. And a formless & attribute less Supreme Being governs this supreme nature

The Katopanishad Verse VI.7 to VI.9 discusses Ultimate Truth
Superior to the sense organs is the mind; superior to the mind is intelligence; superior to the intelligence is the cosmic mind; superior to the cosmic mind is absolute supreme nature. Superior even to the absolute nature (null& void) is the Ever Existent, all pervading and all encompassing (Supreme being)

Bhagvad gita tells us (X111.17), ‘That Supreme Being is said to be light of all lights and entirely beyond absolute dark nature’.

Purushasookta also comment that Supreme Being is beyond the supreme nature. The following stanza gives idea about this ,
"I know this great Supreme Being, the wise one, who, having created the various forms and the nomenclatures, deals with them by those names, and who is beyond darkness, and is eternal, and is brilliant like the sun."

According to me,There must be sole source of potential form of energy available in the universe, which gives kinetic energy to irrigate each and every particle of universe. This energy, which vitalizes all particles, is also acts as bonding force and acting as a platform to do their respective functions. All particles in this universe follows some basic rules while functioning and we can find they follow some regularity& precision in their functioning .So it does mean that a sole soul (Chaitanya) which is independent to this potential form of supreme form of energy which governs those functioning. In other words the functional part of Supreme Being(non functional,attributeless) is this universe (nature).

The difference in the view between theist and atheist is slightly narrow but both are parallel to the ultimate truth.