BEING a devoted Hindu, I am often approached by non-Hindus including those who were Hindus on “Why do we worship idols?” Hindus never worship idols. In Hinduism there are many words to describe the nature of God. The true nature of God is, therefore, beyond the ability of human beings to understand, yet we have a need to reach out in our mind and try to conceive of God, so we create an image of God in our minds. Hindus do not worship a stone or metal “idol” as God. We worship God through the image. We invoke the presence of God from the higher, unseen worlds, into the image so that we can commune with him and receive his blessings. From a Hindu perspective there is little difference between a mental idol and physical idol. One is just an extension of the other. Human beings have no choice other than to approach God through these idols, of all religions. Hinduism seems the most adept at converting mental idols into physical form as graven idols, or what we prefer to call, sacred images. Hindu temples are full of such sacred images of God and Hindus have special ways to install and interact with these images in their temples and homes, and in most cases these images are viewed, not as material images, but as spiritual forms. This is the result of seeing through faith.
“Devotees come to a temple bringing fruits and flowers and all their prayers and hopes and stand before the sacred image and “post” their offerings and prayers through the sacred image. The worshippers are not bowing down to stone, they are not worshipping a statue; they are approaching these sacred images as the means to get to the God behind the image.
In a similar way, a Christian may kneel before a crucifix of Jesus and pray. The worshipper is not worshipping the wooden cross, but instead he is approaching his object of devotion, Jesus, through the manifestation of the crucifix. Even a Muslim, who will never worship any form, cannot help but have some abstract mental image or concept of God. This too is an idol of God. Roman Catholic Church has the Virgin Mary. Even the Chinese in worshipping Buddha conceive of and worship God through some image is a medium to increase one’s focus on God.
Philosophically, Hinduism believes that there is only one God who is formless and without characteristic. But theologically it states that this God manifests Himself in many anthropomorphic forms for a variety of reasons. The Hindu God is one with many names. Hindus believe religion is extremely tolerant, and we accept all religions. Religions are different roads leading to one house of God.
Hindus do not worship idols
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