IDOL WORSHIP

There are two ways in worshipping God. When we worship Him within ourselves and meditate, it is called “.nirgunopasana”, that is worship without name and form. The second type is termed  “sagunopasana” where the Divine is worshipped with a name and form according to the preference of the bhakta or devotee. While the former is rather strenuous and and involves   concentrated meditation, the latter is comparatively easy as there is an idol with a name and form on which the devotee can concentrate his vision and meditate.The difficulty with the first type is that there is no object or idol to see and meditate! The mind cannot remain steady in the absence of some idol with form. Muslims do not have idol worship. Hinduism practises both the two types of worship-- “ nirguna and saguna” types. While the former is resorted to by jnanis, the latter is practised by the common devotees.

Idol worship is looked down upon by the followers of some religions. What is there in one stone or a metal object in  the shape of a God or Goddess? It is lifeless and is it not meaningless to worship such idols in temples and shrines? This is the question that many people ask. The idol is a means to the end! It is not an end itself! It is through the worship of God with name and form that we are able to realize the Divinity without name and form. Like the mother showing the child the branch of a tree first and later the moon beyond it, the direction and the object are pointed out gradually but not suddenly! This is called “ sakha chandra nyaya” in Sanskrit language. The idol is a symbol representing a God or Goddess. It is not a mere stone! It is the faith of the devotee that enlivens it. He looks at it and meditates on it as the embodiment of Divinity. “ It is the outer form; the inner content is Divinity. Western critics laugh at idol worship and say that Hindus reduce God into stone; but the truth is, Hindus elevate stone to God.”states Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba.

The devotee considers the idol as the living form of the chosen deity, the one who is all pervading. That form is invoked and perceived in the idol and approached with great faith and reverence! The real bhaktha attempts to merge himself in the Eternal and the universal! A few others consider image worship as superstition and condemn it. But for the Bhaktha endowed with pure faith, it is the Omnipresent God who is embodied in the form of the image, in the stone or metal! When it is considered as a stone it has no value. But when faith ,devotion, and emotion permeate the stone image is transmuted into the very person of one’s beloved form of God! Here is a story that demonstrates how faith and devotion compel the Lord to fulfill the  desire of his devotee! Ramanna was a village lad at school. He heard that his friends’ sister and brother in law were arriving to visit the famous Siva shrine at Srisailam. He wanted his sister and brother in law too to visit the shrine. When told that he had no sister or brother in law, he insisted that they should come! To satisfy the boy, his mother said that Bhramaramba and Mallikarjuna were his sister and brother-in-law!

Ramanna believed the words in faith but didn't realize the they were the presiding deities of SriSailam! He went there with his neighbor, saw the idols and wanted them to come home with him!! When there was no reply he fell at the feet of the idols and pulled them! When the priests of the temple saw this they were shocked at the foolishness of the young boy. They forcibly separated the boy, reprimanded and sent him away. Dejected and disappointed, the boy wandered along and did not know what to do. But he did not want to return home without his sister and brother-in-law! He finally decided to end his life. He went to a steep cliff at the SriSailam hills to leap down to death! When Ramanuja was on the verge of jumping down,he heard a voice, “Ramanna, don't jump! We are coming with you!”

Soon the Divine Couple presented themselves before Ramanna at which his happiness knew no bounds. He left for his village along with Lord Siva and his consort Bhramaramba! It was a sight to see and enjoy the incredible  and indescribable experience! Ramanna’s mother was really fortunate to have such an exceptional son who could, by his faith and devotion, bring down the God and the Goddess to her home! Through this story Sri Satya Sai Baba points out how implicit faith and devotion lead to the realization of Divinity!  It is faith and undiluted devotion that breathe Divinity into the lifeless images of stone and other materials! Many a bhaktha has realized Godhead through worshipping his chosen deity! Let us not think that images and idols are lifeless stones!