Tuesday, 26 February 2013

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.

No comments:

Post a Comment