The Philosophy and Significance of Idol Worship

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*The Philosophy and Significance of Idol Worship *

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Puran Chand's Guru had initiated him into the Narayana Mantra and given him

a small Murti (idol) of Lord Narayana for worship. Puran was regular in his

worship and did not omit repetition of the sacred Mantra, but there was no

sign of the idol blessing him; so he went to his Guru and asked him the

reason. The Guru smiled at Puran and said, "Well son, take this idol of Lord

Siva. I shall initiate you into the Siva Mantra. Worship Lord Siva with

faith and devotion. He is considered as Bhole Nath and is easily

propitiable; He will bless you soon."

 

The next six months saw Puran Chand immersed in Japa and worship of Lord

Siva. The idol of Lord Narayana was placed on a dusty shelf in the puja

room. After many months, Puran Chand once more went to his Guru and

complained that his worship of Siva had brought him no result. He begged him

to give him the Murti (idol of god) and Mantra of a Devata (idol of goddess)

that would bless him.

 

The Guru smiled again; the time for enlightenment had come, yet he felt the

disciple would learn from experience. So he said, "Good son, in this Yuga,

Mother Kali is Pratyaksha Devata. Worship this image of Her and repeat the

Navarna Mantra and you will obtain Her Grace." This time, Puran Chand had no

misgivings whatsoever; he had full faith.

 

Kali worship commenced; Siva joined company with Narayana on the shelf. With

devotion, Puran was waving incense before the image of Mother Kali when the

fumes rose up and reached the shelf where the other two idols were kept.

Puran was enraged. What right had Siva to inhale the incense intended for

Mother Kali? He had refused to be propitiated when he had tirelessly

worshipped Him; it was Mother Kali whom he now worshipped. In great anger he

took down the image of Siva in his hands and began to insert cotton wool in

His nose to stop Him from inhaling the incense. Before he could accomplish

his task, however, the idol disappeared and before him stood the Lord,

smiling in all His mercy and compassion. Speechless with wonder and

amazement, Puran prostrated himself before the Lord who told him to ask for

any boon as He was immensely pleased with his devotion.

 

Puran answered, "My Lord, I am much perplexed. You did not deign to bless me

when I devoutly worshipped You and repeated the Panchakshara Mantra for six

months. But You suddenly chose to reveal yourself to me when I had discarded

Your image and given up Your worship. What is this mystery, O Lord?"

 

The Lord answered, "My child, there is no mystery to be explained; how could

I reveal Myself when you treated Me as a mere image, as a mere piece of

metal worshipped or thrown away according to your whim? Today you treated My

image as a living presence when you wanted to plug the nostrils with cotton

wool; thus you revealed that you recognized My living presence in the idol

and I could no longer withhold Myself from you."

 

Speechless and enlightened, Puran bowed once more and was immersed in His

Love. He could ask for no greater boon, for in His love he found

fulfillment.

 

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Regards

 

Prasanna Kumar