Constant Remembrance of God

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Constant Remembrance of God

What is an idol (Pratima). An idol can be compared to a measure or a

weight. You may call it the unit of measurement. When the measuring

weight is small, the result will be great. Suppose the measuring weight

is a quarter, the result of it will be four units. When the measuring

weight is one- sixteenth, the result will be sixteen units. Now, we have

to see what the Pratika and the Pratima (external objects and idols) in

the Hindu religion are. They are units of measure to estimate the

greatness of God. In Hindu religion, the great Sun and the Moon are also

the forms of Pratika (external object) to form an estimation of God.

Next to them are also Guru (religious teacher), Brahmana (Man of

realization), cows, Garuda (the biggest bird) Pipala, Tulasi, Kailasa

(one of the high peaks of the Himalaya) the Ganga, etc. etc. Besides

these, the short round black stone (salagrama) has also been taken as a

form of Pratima, the measure. Was the smallest Pratika or Pratima (the

unit of measure) only meant to make God look small? No. Not at all. In

taking a small unit of measure it was aimed to enhance the estimation of

God consciousness and Divine vision. When even the smallest stone has

been accepted as Divinity, all the other things and the entire world

will be nothing but Divinity. But, he who worships the idol with limited

ideal that it alone is Divinity is steeped in ignorance. Such a man can

well be compared to the 'worm' which is confined to the stone only.

- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

- (Source Shri Sai Padananda October 1992)