HINDU IDOL WORSHIPERS

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What is commonly referred to as Hinduism is, in fact something which goesbeyond the ordinarily understood concept, objectives and purposes of religion. Sanatan Dharma is mankind’s ancient, eternal and universal way of life.The Rishis and Munis(spiritual seers) have undertaken much investigation intothe reality of God and the Universe and have refined their understanding of therevealed knowledge. Consequently, a continuously evolving religion which isunequaled in it’s depth of spiritual science and philosophy has resulted. Thiswas developed to assist each member of society to live a meaningful andpurposeful life, and as an essential part of that life, to embark on a fruitful andsatisfying quest for the Supreme Truth.This quest is to know oneself as one truly is, that is to see the Supreme being inall creations of this universe and to eventually identify oneself with and merge into“That” realizing the Vedic Maha Vakya

[Great Utterance] “Tat Tvam Asi” – [ I am That].The formless God- the absolute called the Nirguna BrahmanAt the core of Sanatan Dharma are convictions that the Supreme being whocreated and sustains the universe with its infinite variety of animate andinanimate creations is the very embodiment of all virtues, particularly love,compassion and absolute bliss. This Supreme Being (Paramatma) is no different in essence to the individual soul (Jivatma), which inhabits the body andendows it with consciousness and the abilities required to perform the functionsof life. The soul has taken incarnation in a body as it temporarily strays from itsoriginal state of

perfection. The constant strife of the embodied soul is toextricate itself from the cycle of birth and death which attaches it to the world ofmatter and that given the requisite effort, discipline and determination each andevery being will attain the goal of liberation, if not in the present birth then insome future one definitely!Practitioners of Sanatan Dharma have frequently and erroneously accused of idolworship. Examine what is practiced, to understand whether this accusation hasany validity. Hindus believe that the spirit of God is both formless and withoutattributes called the Nirguna Brahman and with form and attributes called theSaguna Brahman, present in all things animate and inanimate. All is the creationof God and all is dissolved back into God, hence reverence is paid to God in theform of the Supreme spirit, in man, in animals and in nature.TEMPLESPrior to the construction of temples, it is customary to perform Vishvakarma Puja(celestial Architect) or worship to God in the form of a divine architect to obtaingrace in completing a structure that is in accordance with the will of the aspect ofGod for whom the temple is being built.Next, to commence construction of a temple,[a whole science is devoted to thisRef. Sthapathya Veda, Vastu Sastras ] where the post holes are dug, offerings tothe spirit of God are made, so that evil entities cannot abide in the same space.Upon completion of construction, different aspects of God's power are evoked asthe structure is spiritually cleansed from foundation to finish. MURTISNext is the installation of Murtis, which are but representations of differentaspects of God, the totality as perceived by ancient seers, this is what is

referredto as idols.All religions agree that God the absolute, is formless and beyond thecomprehension of humans. This raises an interesting question“If God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, as all religions agree,then what prevents the divine being from assuming forms be animate or inanimate ?”.To ascribe limits to what God can and cannot do, is indeed an insult to God, especially as the Lord is supposed to be beyond our comprehension.A Sthapana Puja or formal worship to locate these images in the temple isperformed, the final step in this procedure is what is called Prana Prathistha orthe establishment of life force through the use of Mantras and very rigoroustechniques of meditation. The divine spirit in a particular aspect is evoked andasked to establish itself within the Murti.

Upon completion of all of these, thenthe Murtis become a living representation of the spirit of God which is installed bythe Grace of God, fit to perform worship at and not before. The Murti by virtue ofbeing connected to the energy of the God is also a containment vessel for amanifestation of the energy, hence it is to be treated with reverence at all times.At special times, these murtis are ceremoniously dissolved into the ocean. Onan esoteric level, this act is symbolic of the Form of God dissolving back into theabsolute un-manifest formless state of being.PUJAThe highest and most powerful form of worship is what is called Manasik Puja ormental worship which is where the full worship is performed in meditation asthough it were being conducted in real life. Early sages also realized that not every individual had the mental discipline

orpower to conceive of even aspects of God, hence they designed rituals andMurti's to act as a focusing device for individuals of a lower consciousness toinstill this discipline and provide for mental training of these.Puja is a ritual act which when performed in accordance with the prescribed rulesas to astrological time, concentration on the act as well as the proper devotionalattitude (Bhakti) yields auspicious results. Hindu rituals have evolved into adetailed science and are pregnant with meaning and rich in symbolism andbecomes all the more powerful when one understands the significance of theseacts. Many are the pathways to worshiping and loving God and one does thebest that one knows how to.Hindu worship of God consists of sixteen forms of offerings where the spirit ofGod is adored as the honored guest. In different texts various meanings areascribed to these, the following meanings will be used for

this article. The steps are as follows :Sannidhi Karana is the utterance of a Mantra( particular sounds that evoke theenergy of the Deity) to attain mental proximity to the deity being invited forworship.Stuti is the recitation of verses of prayer to evoke the particular aspect of Godbeing invited.Dhyana is concentration on the form of deity being evoked in the third eye(located between the eyebrows) until the consciousness of God takes form in theparticular aspect being invited. This is then supposed to be mentally projectedon to the image worship is offered at. The act symbolizes the spirit descending to the world of matter.1) AVAHANAM Formal Invitation to the deity.2) ASANAM Offering of a seat. AKSHATA

Reverent throwing of coloured unbroken rice at the foot of the Deity.3) PADYAM Offering of water for washing feet.4) ARGHYAM Offering of water for washing hands.5) ACHAMANIYAM Offering of water for sipping.6) SNANAM Offering of water and/or five articles for Bath. 5

articles : Sugar, Honey, Ghee, Milk, Yogurt.7) VASTRAM Clothes comprising of upper & lower garments. Offering of Decorations/Jewelry.8) GHAÑDAM Fragrant Paste [Chandan]and scents.9) PUSHPA MALYADI Flowers, Garlands [Mala] also called Archana.10) DHUPAM Incense [Agar batti and/or Dhupa sticks]. Devis and Devatas are fond of sweet smells.11) NAIVEDYAM

Food- Mohan Bhog, Fruits etc.. Drink - Milk,Ghee, Honey,Water,Yogurt. Sweets - Laddu, Modaka, Jalébi etc..12) TAMBULAM Betel [Paan] leaves with Betel [sopari] nuts, elaichi, cloves and Camphor.These were all considered to be forms of Hospitality to a guest in ancient Hindu culture.13) YAGÑOPAVITAM The sacred thread.

Representing the three powers of God- Will, Action & Knowledge.14) DIPAM Light - A lighted Diya. Representing the offering of the light of one's Consciousness to God15) NIRAJANAM Offering of

Sacred Light. Light of five wicks Representing the five sacred fires burning before God ARARTIKA Offering of Burning Camphor. Representing the dissolution of one's light into the supreme light.16) PRADAKSHINAM Circumnambulation- Moving anti-clockwise around the

Deity 3 times. Representing destruction of three types of Karmas Pernambulation - Turning clockwise in front of the Dévi/Déva. 3 times. Representing protection from three

types of pain/death. PUSHPANJALI Offering of whole fragrant flower or petals as each Name of God is chanted. Representing the sweetness of God's names to the worshiper's ears. VISARJANA Request to the deity for forgiveness of worshiper for

impropriety in worship and return from the world of matter to the Spirit world.KALASHA PUJAIn Hindu mythology it is stated that the celestial architect Vishvakarma fashionedthe Kalasha to emulate Hiranyagarbha or the Cosmic egg for use in Puja. Thewaters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of the Vedas and the blessings ofall the deities are evoked in the Kalasha and its water is thereafter used for allrituals. The leaves and coconut represent creation. The thread represents the lovethat binds all in the creation.The Kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped,

with the ideathat the whole cosmos is ceremoniously worshipped for welfare to all.In Puja, both the Male and Female Deity / pair should be worshipped together.The reason is that the Male deific form represents the consciousness of God andthe Female the Active power to carry out the will of the consciousness. HenceLord Siva without his Sakti is pure consciousness, without her he becomes staticor inactive, with her he becomes dynamic or active. In the reverse, Sakti withouther Siva is unconscious and cannot act.The Vedi (altar) where the worship is performed is symbolically built toreconstruct the Cosmos. The construction can have both esoteric as well asexoteric meanings and symbolisms. For example the five elements of earth,water, fire, air and ether (spirit) are worshiped. Earth represents thefirmament of the universe, Water represents the cosmic waters, Fire representsthe cosmic fire, Air

represents the life force and Akasha represents the cosmicspirit. The Navagrahas or the plantetary system is worshipped. This is done asthese are the energies that work to bring to fruition our desires. The spirit of Godin different manifestations are worshipped. The idea is that, the universal spirit towhich the worship is offered to takes different forms, animate and inanimate, sothat the whole of creation is worshipped.HAVAN / HOMAHavan is performed to the presiding deity as a form of sacrifice, it is also believedthat the deity is fed through the fire as Agni (God of Fire) is the mouth of God. Italso serves a dual purpose which is to convert Jathaara Agni (Fire of theElement) into Bhuta Agni (Fire of the Spirit) which aids a worshiper in attaining ahigher state of vibration and consciousness. These mechanisms are required forthe lowest spiritual

evolutes, used only they become competent to perform theseprocesses mentally. The next phase of worship is totally Mental and requires thathomage be paid to the spirit of God within and without as this spirit pervadeseverything. This worship continues internally until the aspirant can see nothingbut the spirit of God everywhere. It is then one merges into the spirit of God andcan proclaim the great Vedic Maha Vakya -Aham Brahmasmi [ I am Brahman (God)]In view of the afore-mentioned information I find the statement that Hindus are idolworshipers to be rather mis-informed on the part of those who support this view.God who is of boundless love understands that not everyone is as evolved ashe/she is supposed to be as well as man's inability to comprehend Brahman'sunmanifest form and infinitude. NOTE: This article is written at a very simplistic level to enable a general understanding without undue technicality, it is by no means a complete thesis on the various aspects of worship ( according to Hinduism ).Namah SivayaBest RegardsPandit Devindra Maharaj

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