| INTRODUCTION | | | | identity. And an identity is for material. Humans are |
| Hindus are often attacked for being ignorant as they | | | | materialistic. If God is beyond imagination, names |
| practice idolatry. Idols in Hindu religion are of various | | | | cannot apply to God. This means the names as |
| shapes and represent various creatures including | | | | 'Ishwar', 'Allah', 'Jesus' are all an imaginary name with |
| humans. The basic concept of Idolatry, as seems to | | | | the notion to link God with material. And this is |
| be practiced by Hindus, reflects creation of idols and | | | | reasonable also. Unless there is a media, we cannot |
| images, establishing them in temples and home and | | | | outreach God. All religions use names as media to call |
| performing proper worships towards it. Obviously, the | | | | on God. And names can be any and many, media can |
| interpretation of non-believers is that it is stupidity to | | | | be any and many, either all apply or all fail, because |
| bow before stones and paintings. Islam goes ahead | | | | God is unknown to all. There is no logic in declaring |
| to describe this as Crime. And eventually, rationality | | | | that 'Jesus' is the correct name or 'Allah' is the only |
| appears in accepting what is as stated by them. In | | | | name. Thus, name is a proof of materialistic |
| this chapter, we will discuss various aspects of idol | | | | recognition. |
| worship practiced by every religion and make the | | | | 2. We say everything is as per God's will and wish. |
| non-believers to reconsider their ironic conclusions. | | | | Will and wish are related of human thinking. Are we |
| IDOL WORSHIP - IS IT ONLY IN HINDUISM? | | | | trying to say here that God also thinks as humans do |
| Before we elaborate Idol Worship, we need to | | | | and produce will and wish? God's will or God |
| understand the concept of worship, as practiced by | | | | understanding and realizing our wish is a proof of |
| religions like Islam and Christianity. Both these religion | | | | material relation of God. |
| has their own declared God - 'Allah' and 'Jesus' and | | | | 3. If God don't eat, he don't speak or behave as |
| bowing before them and only them is true form of | | | | humans do, how can he hear to what humans say? |
| worship. Both these religions have their own | | | | Why do we chant prayers (in all religions)? Belief |
| methodologies defined for worship and places built to | | | | would have been enough to make things work for |
| worship with togetherness. Islam goes beyond | | | | us. The very concept of delivering prayers through |
| Christianity to harden worship with time, duration and | | | | words (in any language) brings God to posses hearing |
| direction, the ground reason being United Worship. Up | | | | capability as humans. And if you say that you use |
| to this, everything seems fine as the Worship is | | | | words just to convince yourself about your thinking, |
| defining what you should do in worship. But then the | | | | then also you need not do it as God is powerful |
| boundary of worship starts getting strengthening | | | | enough to know about it. And why say anything to |
| further - what you should not do in worship? | | | | God, as he knows what is happening and what is |
| Boundaries are important, but only till the purpose of | | | | about to happen. Why ask for anything to God when |
| creating balance and harmony. Boundaries and Balance | | | | God already knows what is happening to us? Thus, |
| are relative to each other as religion and region are. | | | | rendering of prayers itself binds God to materialism. |
| Worship is a boundary that binds one with God | | | | 4. Why do we go to Temples, Mosques, Churches |
| according to Islam and Christianity. But to a Hindu, the | | | | and all? Why do we have Mecca as a unique place |
| first binding should be with Godly qualities and only | | | | for God? Why do we look towards sky while |
| then we can think of God. If God has created | | | | praying? It is not just for group activity as individuals |
| everyone, if everything happening around is known | | | | also visit them. It means we have tried to capture |
| to God, if every occurrences are not beyond the | | | | the image of God inside these holy houses - God also |
| wishes of God, if God is merciful to all his creatures - | | | | live in houses as humans. And if these places are for |
| then as a human, our first duty to bind to Godly | | | | the whole mass to accumulate and pray, then is God |
| quality starts with respect towards everything. | | | | like a king who can listen to all at that place and give |
| Worship in Hindus is a realization of at least three | | | | prizes or punishments. But who said kingly behavior is |
| positive attributes of humans, necessary for | | | | not human made. Human mentality requires these |
| existence as human beings - respect, love and faith. | | | | materials to concentrate on God. |
| While all other religions have objection to how Hindu | | | | 5. The concept that God is 'One' itself is a selfish |
| worships, Hindu have never shown such objects in | | | | definition. 'One' is a number which is there because of |
| return as per the quality of worship attributes; thus | | | | the concept of many. 'One' has come into play to |
| proving their behavior to be qualifying to achieve | | | | understand materials. Imposing the say that God is |
| Godly qualities first. For Hindus, worship don't mean | | | | 'One' restricts him to be materialistically an alone |
| just rendering prayer with folded hands and heads | | | | entity in the Universe with almighty capability. And if |
| down - worship means an effort to attain purity with | | | | God is not material, either no mathematical finite can |
| the virtue of purest form of power - GOD. Their | | | | be applied to him, or all counts applies. And hence, we |
| worship don't mean at all that you bind your | | | | have many copies of Quran, Bible and other religious |
| understanding to one and only concept of the world, | | | | books, all manifestations of same God. Hence, we |
| it means to bind your thinking to one and only | | | | have many images and idols created by Hindus, all |
| knowledge of the world that is infinite and incomplete | | | | manifestations of same God. |
| as far as human thinking arena goes. Conclusively, | | | | 6. If God is infinite, and cannot be captured in images |
| worship to God according to a Hindu doesn't mean | | | | or idols, how can he be captured in words? Because |
| simply bowing before God; it more simply means | | | | the vocabulary exists to describe that is reachable. |
| adapting to Godly qualities and getting richer in | | | | Vocabulary and Images can exchange each other, |
| awareness of God, every next time we worship. | | | | rather Images is worth more than thousand words. |
| If worship in other religions means bowing only | | | | Thus, the boundaries and definitions created in |
| before God, it is also important to understand what | | | | various religious books is an attempt to image God. |
| they exactly mean by God. Surprisingly, they have | | | | At least, Hindus are sincere enough not to say that |
| even tried to bind God with similar definitions which | | | | idols are what God looks like! |
| are not only incomplete but are unrealized and | | | | 7. If God is complete, then any thing delivered to him |
| unfathomed by them. God is infinite, is free from | | | | including 'Namaz' or 'Prayers', which if accepted by |
| material, do not have mouth or ear like humans, no | | | | him, would prove to fill some void, thus making God |
| image can represent him, etc are few of their | | | | incomplete - not a truth. Thus, if we pray in |
| conclusions about God. Let us understand the | | | | whatever form and feel that it is correct, then we |
| simplest thing on earth - whenever we negate | | | | also have to understand that our prayers are also a |
| anything, we straight away put a boundary over | | | | manifestation of the same God thus neutralizing the |
| there, a boundary which cannot be crossed, a | | | | void and keeping the God Complete. And if |
| boundary beyond which you should not look and a | | | | everything is a manifestation of same God, idols too |
| boundary which remains unquestioned - no Why - | | | | represent him - a good methodology to picturesque |
| simply accept. How far is it correct to put boundaries | | | | the Universal form and develop respect, love and |
| around understanding of God? How far is it correct | | | | faith towards him under the power of concentration |
| to declare perfection, when every other things | | | | developed through material nature of man. |
| around are changing fast? Perfection has stability and | | | | The above points signify that all religion tries to |
| stagnancy - are we intending to put God under these | | | | realize God as humans only and the very basic |
| two conditions by defining him? I hope, our critics | | | | reason of this is our own human nature. Then what is |
| would open up their mind to read further in this | | | | wrong if Hindus have tried to create images and idols |
| chapter that they are not doing anything different | | | | of God in the shape of humans and tried to |
| from Idol Worship - only their own impressions are | | | | communicate with him more deeply and more |
| varying, which they are not able to perceive. | | | | personally. I think if idols are criticized, all religions |
| I have explained about God and Worship in details in | | | | come under the umbrella of hypocrisy as their words |
| Chapter 'A Hindu God'. Now, we will understand how | | | | and practices immediately become distinct. If God is |
| Idolatry is very common in every other religion. While | | | | actually powerful enough to make anything happen in |
| doing so, I have no intention to attack any other | | | | this world, if he is looking at us, if he loves us - why |
| religion, nor any wish that they should change upon | | | | can't God take the shape of humans for the sake of |
| any condition. My only intention is to protect my own | | | | his love? What power stops God from becoming a |
| religion that has ever been the greatest in all its | | | | human when time demands it? How can a human |
| qualities executed by its followers through their | | | | declare that it is not needed for God to come at par |
| actions from thousands of years. And I am bound to | | | | to humans to deal with humans? |
| do so, because the onslaught on humble Hindus is | | | | Questions add up - If there is only one true religion |
| getting more and more aggressive, day by day. | | | | as told by God, what prompted God to create so |
| God according to many religions is a power, a power | | | | many other beliefs prior to that? And who said one |
| that in true sense is not material; it is not a tangible | | | | religion is the last religion in this world to have got |
| entity, it cannot be measured or quantified as we | | | | created? We have Sikhism for example which came |
| find for many forces in Physics. Hindus also believe | | | | into existence after Islam, and there would be yet |
| that Power of God is more a belief and goes beyond | | | | another religion trying to take shape and would erupt |
| other religious belief to state that such power is | | | | with time. |
| more an implementation of un-manifested realities | | | | Questions add up - Was God so immature to realize |
| through varying manifestations. To understand this | | | | after thousands of years that all that he did early |
| we will take an example of Money Power. What if I | | | | was wrong and one thing is the last thing he is doing |
| tear a $100, nothing seems to be harming me. What | | | | as a correction over his errors? How silly - one |
| power does a piece of paper do have? Doesn't that | | | | cannot even think of these beliefs out of rationality - |
| paper merely hold certain believed images and | | | | God can commit errors and improve upon it through |
| numbers? It does, yet the world believes that it has | | | | his last say or he was incorrect of incapable of |
| power. This power exists because it is religiously | | | | communicating previously in right and complete |
| believed, adopted and practiced by every individual | | | | manner? |
| across the globe. If you agree I can dare to say now | | | | Christians come and go from Churches, stay for few |
| that God is a bigger power than money. Why a | | | | minutes or hours at churches, either chanting words |
| bigger power can't exist in bigger images, may be in | | | | from Bible or silently calling upon God. Islam has fixed |
| idols? Surprisingly, every country religiously practices | | | | time, direction and guideline of worship. These are |
| money power with different images and numbers | | | | respectable and all Hindu respects this. Not only this, if |
| and respects other country's images and numbers | | | | allowed a Hindu would love to go and worship in their |
| equally, even more. As the image and the number on | | | | methodology with them. But, how correct is to make |
| the paper changes, so accordingly the power of it | | | | things comparative and condemn Hindus, endeavoring |
| changes. Unlike this, Hindus perception of power in | | | | to make them inferior. If such is the attempt, then |
| images and idols, are not respected by the same | | | | question arises - how many Christians or Islamic |
| believers of images. | | | | followers we find have the power to meditate on |
| Every religion exists on certain beliefs. Hindus are also | | | | God for few hours. Unlike them, Hindus have not |
| assumed to exist on such fictitious beliefs, though | | | | defined or bounded anyone with the limitations of |
| the reality of Hindus are based purely on either | | | | time and worship methodology. Hindus goes beyond |
| empirical observational conclusions or on scientific | | | | the limits to allow humans to meditate on God |
| derivation of logics about life, nature and God and | | | | whenever they feel about God, and for any length |
| this is most reflected in their respected religious | | | | of time. And thus, we easily find meditation and |
| books. I could not find any book stating the law of | | | | 'Yoga' as important aspect of Hindu religious science |
| nature as in Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagwad Geeta. | | | | that gives human tremendous power of control over |
| It is the books of Hindu that states the theory of | | | | the Self. And let anyone prove, that he or she can |
| detachment from our actions in order to eliminate | | | | concentrate on the void or the infinite for even few |
| miseries from our life. It is these books that open our | | | | minutes. This is the reason, Hindu practitioners have |
| mind to realize knowledge over ignorance as a source | | | | been found to be in meditation for days - and that |
| to reach God. It is these books that let us devote | | | | too not in strain but pretty easily - as they have the |
| completely to God so as to keep ourselves above | | | | idol power helping their mind to hold upon one vision. |
| the grievances and materialistic pleasures of life. And | | | | Thus, if one has to concentrate on God, he or she |
| it is these books that actually works over our | | | | has to have a figure to start with. |
| ignorance about God and allows us to expand our | | | | Human mind evolves around matter. We clearly see in |
| thinking to realize God within us. And very beautifully | | | | this nearly all walks of life. Science is successful |
| and uniquely, none of the Hindu book talks about any | | | | because it went to visualize the design of electron |
| other religion anywhere, not even about itself as a | | | | and protons as the composing particles of all |
| religion (I find no other religious book so pure and | | | | elements. Nearly all businesses of the world are |
| universal in nature which does not talk about its | | | | successful as they have first modeled their behavior. |
| identity as a separate religion and this is the first | | | | Metaphors are the means for humans to represent |
| basic reason, why they attack other religions). | | | | more descriptively an abstract thing. Idols of Hindus |
| Hinduism is considered as 'Way of Life' as it talks | | | | are nothing but metaphors used to understand God. |
| purely about work, knowledge, devotion, life, | | | | Hindus have no idea of believing on God with partial |
| standards of living and realization of God within us. | | | | faith. Hindus want to visualize powers of God with |
| How has this happened then that the owner of such | | | | perfection. And any so seeming unachievable targets |
| high knowledge is worshipping idols in ignorance? | | | | needs models and metaphors to represent it. As |
| To me, the ignorance factor attached to idol worship | | | | 'Design' of a building or software is for an Architect, |
| is an external view. We require analyzing many things | | | | so is an Idol for a Hindu. |
| before sarcastically declaring idol worship wrong. | | | | If Idol worship is ignorance, than I must say that all |
| Some faith declares that their religion and religious | | | | other religions hold much greater ignorance; and why |
| books are the words from Gods. Some | | | | religions, we find science too existing on such belief |
| interpretations dictate that God declared it through | | | | about life (Evolutionary theory) and creation (Creation |
| messengers who in turn revealed to humans. | | | | of Universe). In fact, ever since existence took place |
| Religious books contain words and sentences framed | | | | and till existence would be there, Ignorance would be |
| in a language that are understandable by people of | | | | there. Science has not outnumbered variations of |
| respective regions. Now, words and sentences are | | | | artificial creations, nor has God been devoid of all |
| part of a language, a language of humans. Question | | | | lively creations. Creativity occurs due to exploration |
| arises, who formed this language, did they pre-exist | | | | of unfolded knowledge, which will ever remain. This is |
| than humans and was known to God and messenger. | | | | one of the reason, actual scriptures of Hindus goes |
| Or God or messenger came to know about it only | | | | deep into realizing the Self first, and then endeavoring |
| after it was in practice by the faith-followers. | | | | to find God in relation to the Self. For a Hindu, |
| Anyway, we conclude that messenger, being an | | | | worship in form of Love is of utmost importance and |
| angel, must be the knower of these existing | | | | true knowledge of God comes only after that. And a |
| languages. Questions build up: What medium did Allah | | | | Hindu sincerely believes that such a pure love cannot |
| or Christ take to describe the book to these Angels? | | | | get developed unless there is a controlled and |
| Was it through words and sound? If no, then was it | | | | harmless behavior executed by human. And to make |
| just by his mere wish? We will consider both here. | | | | such actions controlled, the so called Idol worship |
| Word is a property of language to be perceived by | | | | plays a vital role, conveying a message to Hindus that |
| our senses either through vision or sound, both of | | | | all creations are manifestations of God, thereby |
| which are a property of matter. If word was the | | | | establishing the environment of harmless behavior. |
| medium to produce any of these books by God, God | | | | Moreover, Idol for the world external to a Hindu |
| undoubtedly exhibited quality of a matter, which | | | | might be a representation of human form. But for a |
| negates the definition of God according to the same | | | | Hindu, idol is never a human form. Had it been so, we |
| books. So, if God used words as a medium, it is clear | | | | would have found idols only in proper human shape. It |
| that he executed materialistic properties. And idol, | | | | is not so. We have 'Goddess Durga' with 8 or 10 |
| also a matter can well exhibit property of God. In | | | | hands, Lord Vishnu with 4 hands, Lord Ganesha with |
| fact, a picture is worth more than thousand words. | | | | the head of an elephant and 4 hands, Lord Shiva in |
| Idols can be more worthy - we will see. But, if God | | | | the shape of a 'Diya', Lord Hanuman in the form of a |
| did not use the medium of words or sounds, as he is | | | | monkey. We don't find humans with 10 hands or 4 |
| free from the property of matter, first conclusion | | | | heads. A Hindu temple is not a house of a statue in |
| would be to ask a straight forward question, 'what is | | | | human form. It has many more idols often |
| the use in chanting verbs from Religious Books as the | | | | representing creatures other than humans. Doesn't |
| words or sounds won't reach God - God is free from | | | | this convey a clear message - Hindu is not |
| it'. Surely, you will say here that it is the feelings out | | | | worshipping God as human Idol. An Idol for a Hindu is |
| of our belief that reaches God. Then my dear friends, | | | | simply an acceptance that every creation around is a |
| who said that when a Hindu stands before an idol | | | | form of Godly representation and with love, regard |
| with closed eyes, he is devoid of all feelings? In fact, | | | | and worship towards every creature, this world can |
| we find that while other religions fail to worship God | | | | achieve ultimate peace - which what is the goal of all |
| beyond a certain time period, Hindus do not have any | | | | religions. No religion in this world dares to give regard |
| time limit. They can worship for a minute, for an | | | | to such understanding about God and his presence all |
| hour, for a day or even for months. And the reason | | | | around. Idol worship is not worshipping humans or |
| is so simple, their idol helps them to concentrate on | | | | animals, it is simply a message to the society that |
| God, and develop a deep feeling for God, which kills | | | | God requires love to be developed for all his |
| their impatience through love. And who said feelings | | | | creations around and worship is realization of such |
| are devoid of matter. Feelings are part of our | | | | love. |
| existence, and if God is realizing the same feeling, by | | | | Worship in any form is beneficial to humans as it kills |
| what means does he do that? If he executes no | | | | the arrogance, anger and other negative attitudes, |
| human capability (if he does, worship of Idol is | | | | helping the human to morally rise in life. Once a |
| straightforward proven to be correct), then this | | | | tendency or understanding that 'my concept is |
| question would be a dead end - God's definition | | | | correct' and 'his concept is wrong' develops, it |
| needs to be re-corrected in order to answer | | | | immediately frames an arrogance, envy and ego |
| questions like this. | | | | around, which eventually results in hatred, anger, |
| Coming to the other part of the answer that God | | | | onslaughts and war. It is stringently required by all |
| made the messengers realize the words of holy | | | | religious believers to respect each other towards |
| books through mere wish, and then also God is | | | | anything they do to achieve godly behaviors in life - |
| exhibiting our behavior. Wishes and desires are human | | | | why not then respect the Idol worshippers as they |
| behavior born out of attachment to objects and | | | | have proved to be the most tolerable and peaceful |
| goals. I believe, if God starts wishing, then there are | | | | society on this earth. Why not live together to |
| two options - he is materialistic (because he is | | | | extend this tolerance and peace across the globe? |
| executing same quality as a human and hence idols | | | | It is not the paper piece of dollar or the Idol of Lord |
| are proven) and he is powerless (because he is | | | | that is powerful; it is the faith and complete belief of |
| showing the incapability to make every creature | | | | the person realizing them in its complete meaning |
| realize his wish the way he did to messengers - A | | | | that constructs upon the power. We all have |
| phenomena of job delegation strongly practiced in | | | | universally accepted concepts like 'confidence', |
| modern management science). Existence of | | | | 'self-motivation', 'belief on own ability', 'positive |
| messengers reflects the weaknesses of God, but | | | | attitude', etc. playing important role in uplifting our day |
| this goes against the definitions? Thus, it is sure that | | | | to day work outputs. And whatever means we |
| if God existed as per the definition of those books, | | | | adopt to pray God, what is more important is to |
| he neither used words or wishes as a medium to | | | | realize the power of God in our life. Attacking others |
| communicate anything to the messengers. And | | | | on their methodology of worshipping or remembering |
| hence, the only thing remained to conclude is that | | | | God is a very negative quality and it proves that one |
| the book has no relation to God dictating it to | | | | who does so actually never worships God in true |
| anyone and is a pure creation of human super mind. | | | | sense. If we render worship to God, we would surely |
| In fact, who have seen the concepts like | | | | find changes in our lives and these changes are |
| messengers and God's words, other than the words | | | | reflected through our actions, behavior and approach |
| of Religious Books? Anyway, a Hindu is not bigotry | | | | to live in society. We would grow more positive, we |
| and believes that we exist in materialistic environment | | | | would develop better understanding about God, we |
| and God has to use same media to make us realize | | | | would develop our intelligence and memory more, we |
| his existence. Quran, Bible and Bhagwad Geeta are | | | | would learn to control our desires, we would get |
| books in material form containing words about God, | | | | inspired by right things more than wrong ones, we |
| the maturity and completeness varying in them, | | | | would find love in our heart for every creature, we |
| which are subject to study. A Hindu would and must | | | | would find peace in our mind persisting in all situations, |
| accept God first in material form (as manifestations) | | | | we find patience to bear the odds, we would realize |
| before declaring that Bhagwad Geeta is words from | | | | God in everything we do. Irrespective of religion, this |
| God. And understanding of God also is different in | | | | is the sole purpose of all prayers. If we are not able |
| Hindu than from other religions (See chapter 'A Hindu | | | | to see these things happening, it is sure that we are |
| God'). Hence, it is required to understand Hindu | | | | trying to dupe God and the world through our |
| philosophy first before attacking on their idol worship | | | | falsified means of worship. Whether it is Idol or just |
| methodology. | | | | the name, it hardly matters, what matters is how it |
| As per many religious books, God is 'One' and he | | | | controls our lives. |
| does not require anything or any resource of this | | | | Temples, Mosques, Church, etc, are simple |
| world. This means he do not require our prayers too. | | | | arrangement to help humans remember God and |
| He will still be the same as he is complete. But then, | | | | Hindus go beyond this arrangement to create idols |
| why do people deliver 'Namaz', why do they go to | | | | within them so as to realize that creations of God |
| church, and why are temples in place? Do we want | | | | are equally respectable and important for peaceful |
| to reach God and if not reach, we surely want to | | | | existence. While other religion simply ignores the fact |
| communicate to God for something that is probably | | | | that creation is also a part of God and considers that |
| not known completely to us. But God don't require | | | | creativity is what God did, Hindus goes beyond to |
| anything including prayers; he requires nothing as he is | | | | realize that under the law of cause and effect, all |
| complete - any thing delivered to God would prove | | | | creation, creativity and creator are God only. While |
| him to be incomplete. God accepting even our | | | | other religion simply accepts that this Universe was |
| prayers would simply mean that some void was filled | | | | created by God, Hindus go beyond to ask, 'If it was |
| to which then God would respond, which goes | | | | created by God, from what was it created' and, |
| against the definition of Religious Books. Thus, God | | | | 'what was there when there was no creation'. Hindu |
| do not require even 'Namaz' or 'Prayers'. We require; | | | | philosophy is clear to fathom that if creator existed |
| we require many things. | | | | before creation and only creator existed before |
| The fact is - we humans are very petty animals, | | | | creation, then creator is the cause and creator is the |
| who either want to impose on others our beliefs. | | | | effect too for creations. This clearly means that |
| Humans very selfishly have even imposed definitions | | | | whatever has been created has come from the |
| to God restricting him to exist as per the definition in | | | | creator and whatever has been created, has been |
| the religious books. How can the very complete and | | | | done by the same creator. Today science is also |
| free from all material God listen to the prayers that | | | | trying to talk in the same language through various |
| are delivered by humans who are pure materials? | | | | theories like Big Bang. But it requires a huge effort |
| God needs to deliver material behavior in order to | | | | for science to digest the concept of Big Bang, while |
| make materials like human realize him. And if God has | | | | such concepts are well explained in Hindu myth and |
| been doing this for other religions, what is stopping | | | | Idols are simple examples that reflects this. Idols |
| God to take it via the medium of Idols the prayers | | | | clearly convey that if Earth is the cause of creation |
| of Hindus which come deep from their heart? | | | | of a Pot, the 'Potter' is also the cause of the creation |
| The belief that prayers can be delivered only through | | | | of the 'Pot', but there is a difference in these two |
| chanting words of Bible, and feelings can erupt only | | | | causes. While earth still remains the same even after |
| out of delivering 'Namaz', for God can listen and feel | | | | creation of 'Pot' and simply goes cyclic |
| them alone - is a meaningless conclusion to restrict | | | | transformation, 'Potter' is no more than a medium to |
| God and his powers, thereby falsifying the existence | | | | make this transformation take place. In the world of |
| of God at all. God is one who is equal to all and he | | | | creation, Universe is the transformation of God and |
| can see the tears of Idol worshippers and | | | | God is the medium too and hence we say he is |
| understand their feelings equally well. Why is it wrong | | | | omnipotent and omnipresent. If this is digestible, how |
| to create an idol of God which one can visualize as | | | | materials can then be not a part of God, when |
| God and shed tears of love, to which he can talk, to | | | | materials is transformation of God only. While other |
| which he render all his belongings and accept all what | | | | religion sees, Potter and Pot as separate entities, |
| he get in life as the Almighty's giving. If I draw a | | | | Earth and Pot as separate entities, Hindus bring them |
| picture of my father, does my father come to my | | | | together to realize mater and non-matter as |
| level - No.? Rather he praises my effort to try to | | | | coexisting entities, all being manifestations of the |
| remember him so closely as to put him on papers. | | | | same creator exactly as Science have proven that |
| Will God become angry if we try to create a | | | | matter and energy are inter-exchangeable. |
| beautiful image of him even though that resemble to | | | | Idols and Ideals are very close words. We get |
| human beings or any creature (creature as created | | | | inspirations from Ideals we choose, we configure our |
| beautifully by the same God) and deliver our whole | | | | actions and thinking around our ideals. This is a |
| life to it? Is anger a behavior of God that he would | | | | practice in west and is found to be effective in |
| impose upon those who ever tried to picturesque | | | | shaping humans. The acceptance as an Ideal itself |
| him with the depth of their heart and concentrate | | | | delivers the high regard towards them. Idols are |
| upon him through it as a medium? Does this actually | | | | similar ideals for Hindus. They get inspiration to live a |
| mean that one has tried to consider God as humans? | | | | peaceful life. Who can be the best ideal than God |
| Does this mean that one is expecting the idol to | | | | himself? Thus, for most of the Hindus, ideals are idols |
| move and do things for him? I believe, not at all and | | | | of Deities and they deliver regard of highest form - |
| no Hindu even thinks that the Idol would move for | | | | worship, towards them. This is the practice in India |
| him. In fact, it has more positive impact on society. If | | | | and among Hindus - Why are then the world worried |
| I start praying an idol which is of human form, I will | | | | about this? |
| not dare to harm human beings in any manner. And | | | | Idols and God exist as coexisting realities for a Hindu. |
| history proves this. Hindus has never tried to impose | | | | Only truth and such high philosophy can be practiced |
| themselves at any point of time over any other | | | | from thousands of years and yet not loose its charm. |
| religion. Hindus have never invaded any other country. | | | | If science is able to discover such huge energies |
| Hindus are the only religion in this world which does | | | | from stones and the world has accepted it, Hindus |
| not talk of religion at all. It is all because they know | | | | have tried to unfold a greater energy from the same |
| and understand God better and try to live in peace. | | | | stone and the world should accept it. Only then, the |
| It is the challenging environment which provokes | | | | secret of God would get unfolded before the |
| them to do wrong and not their religions for sure. | | | | religions of the world. |
| Idol thus is not a God for Hindus, it is a | | | | Science has failed to describe life and hence denies |
| representation of his manifestations, which is | | | | accepting God. It is all because, Science has tried to |
| amazingly beautiful and unparallel worthy to be | | | | look at the definition of God from the views of |
| respected, loved and believed upon - in other words | | | | religions other than Hinduism. I hereby, try to present |
| worthy to be worshipped. Worship is one of the | | | | the Hindu understanding of God and the mystery |
| strongest powers that impacts human attitude and | | | | would be unfolded. As I said earlier, mystery of God |
| configures his behavior in the world. Thus, what we | | | | remains as long as the understanding doesn't accept |
| worship and how we worship is also very meaningful. | | | | to answer my question - 'From what did God created |
| If the worship has not come through the depth of | | | | the Universe'. A more generic question that Hindu |
| the heart and we are doing it under the boundary of | | | | philosophy attaches includes - 'Why', 'How' and 'What' |
| belief, it should be such that it conveys a message of | | | | to every concept that goes unanswered by all other |
| peace, love and harmony in the world. Idol worship | | | | religions. While other religions along with science, |
| has proved through thousands of years that Hindus | | | | simply ignore such questions, it becomes very |
| have been one such society. Instead of attacking | | | | necessary for a Hindu to answer these questions and |
| them, all other religions must come ahead to look into | | | | this unfolds for them the truth of God, which |
| the depth held by a Hindu for that would teach them | | | | become a scientific and believable explanation for |
| how to hold their family intact, how to build a | | | | them. And it is this belief on a practical theory that |
| peaceful society, how to develop a sense of | | | | makes them realize God and live in no ignorance and |
| humanity, how to configure our behavior as per the | | | | darkness. |
| laws of nature, and overall how to feel God inside us | | | | I call upon the religious leaders of the World of all |
| by realizing the Self. | | | | Religions to go back into the words of Swami |
| I would like to summarize the above conclusions and | | | | Vivekanand, who had brought a revolution of |
| ask the Critics to consider following points and give | | | | elaborating Hindu philosophy on the Globe, and then |
| their criticism a better shape. | | | | turn again towards Hinduism to understand this |
| 1. Animals don't have names, humans do have. 'Allah', | | | | amazing religion which has shown peace and |
| 'Ishwar', 'Jesus' and all are names stating that our | | | | tolerance since existence - a lesson that no other |
| imagination towards God is like humans. Name is an | | | | religion could learn till date. |