Most religions prohibit the worship of God in the form of idols, notably Christianity and Islam. However, all religions idolize either the image or the words of God from the scriptures. Read on to discover the meaning behind deity worship in Hinduism.
Difference Between Idol Worship and Deity Worship
Most Hindus find the word idol offensive as it has a negative connotation because of the way the Bible uses the word. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON explains in a lecture: "If there is no life, then it is idol worship, hedonism. And when there is life, feeling, "Where is Krsna? Here is Krsna. Oh, I have to serve Krsna, I have to dress Him, I have to serve Radharani, She is here. Oh, I must do it very nicely. And as far as possible decorate Her to the best capacity." It is further elaborated that, "If you think this is a brass-made idol, then it will remain a brass-made idol to you forever. But if you elevate yourself to higher platform of Krsna consciousness, then Krsna, this Krsna, will talk with you."
He also further explains in a Lecture on Maha-mantra that: "The Hindus, they have established one statue in the temple, and they are worshiping as the Lord? How is that? Is it Lord is a stone? It is wood?" But he does not know that because it is authorized, because it is authorizedly worshiped, therefore even it is stone or wood, it can act. It can act. Just like the authorized post office, although seemingly it is a box which I can prepare, but it is acting because it is authorized, similarly, the authorized, authorized symbol or representation of God is also God. He's not different from God. Then why God is like that? It is His mercy. Because I cannot see God with my these eyes—I can see stone and wood and material things—therefore God is kind enough (to appear) in a form suitable to my seeing and accept my service. It is His kindness."
This view is backed up by Vedic scriptures that describe the deity or physical "statue" of God as being God in a form that can be seen with material eyes. It is important to worship the deity knowing that it is actually God and not a mere physical representation. Hindus believe God is unlimited and He can take on any form He chooses.
Who Should be Worshipped?
In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says, "Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet." BG 7.23. It is further explained that there is just one God (Krishna) and the other deities (or devatas) work under His direction.
The worship of the demigods is not recommended in the Bhagavad-gita: "Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunt?, but they do so in a wrong way" BG 9.23. It is actually likened to bribing government officials who are supposed to work under the direction of the president. So only the worship of Lord Krishna is authorized according to the Bhagavad-gita. The worship of other deities can be done if devotion to Lord Krishna is the ultimate goal (such as the Gopis who prayed that Krishna would become their husband.)
Deity Worship Helps to Develop Devotion
Worship (called puja) is key to developing a connection with God. Many will speak to the deity and many miracles have been described in Hindu texts from Tulasidas to Narsi Mehta. Devotees offer the deity fruits, incense, ghee lamps and flowers. A Christian may kneel before a crucifix of Jesus and pray, and similarly a Hindu will pay their respects by bowing down to the deity in the temple.
Swami Sivananda suggests that worshiping the deity is a support for the neophyte by aiding the remembrance of God: "To behold God everywhere and to practise the presence of God is not possible for the ordinary man. Idol-worship is the easiest form of worship for the modern man."
Prana Pratishta - Installing the Sacred Deity
There are ceremonies where the deity of God (statues or pictures) are formally installed in temples - called Prana Pratishta. These sacred images of God are called arca-vigraha. Arca means 'worship-able' and vigraha means "form" and so the full translation is the "form to be worshipped." Hindus believe that God agrees to appear in these forms in order to allow Himself to be worshipped. The ceremony can be very opulent with the deities being bathed in auspicious substances and the chanting of sacred Vedic mantras. It is not the case that a Hindu will pray to any image; prayers are generally offered to the installed deity.
The worship of a physical deity can be hard to understand but is integral to developing a relationship with God in Hinduism. When engaging in the service of the deity all the senses are deemed to become purified, and this activity helps the mind, body and spirit focus on God.
Sources:
Deityworship.info. Waking and Preparing for Worship (Accessed August 5, 2011).
ExperienceFestival.com. Hindu Worship: The Philosophy and Significance of Idol Worship
Sanskrit.org. Installing a Sacred Image (Accessed August 6, 2011).
VaniSource.org. Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakanatha Deity Installation (Accessed August 6, 2011).
Sri Swami Sivananda All About Hinduism The Divine Life Society, 1993
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