All About Bharatiya Sanatana Dharmam otherwise known as Hinduism : Ch.7- 6.1.C. - Swami Sivananda

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04/03/2020.
CHAPTER 7 : (HINDU) WORSHIP IN SANATANA DHARMAM - 6.1.C.
6.The Philosophy And Significance Of Idol-Worship -1.
1. The Idol—A Prop For The Spiritual Neophyte-C.
C.#A Symbol Of God :


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1.

#Pratima, the idol, is a substitute or symbol. The image in a temple, though it is made of stone, wood or metal, is precious for a devotee as it bears the mark of his Lord, as it stands for something which he holds holy and eternal. 

##A flag is only a small piece of painted cloth, but it stands for a soldier for something that he holds very dear. He is prepared to give up his life in defending his flag. 

###Similarly, the image is very dear to a devotee. It speaks to him in its own language of devotion. 

####Just as the flag arouses martial valour in the soldier, so also the image arouses devotion in the devotee. 

#####The Lord is superimposed on the image and the image generates divine thoughts in the worshipper.
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2.

#A piece of ordinary white paper or coloured paper has no value. You throw it away. But, if there is the stamp of the Government on the paper (currency note), you keep it safe in your money-purse or trunk. 

##Even so, an ordinary piece of stone has no value for you. You throw it away. But, if you behold the stone Murti of Lord Krishna at Pandharpur or any other Murti in shrines, you bow your head with folded hands, because there is the stamp of the Lord on the stone. 

###The devotee superimposes on the stone Murti his own Beloved Lord and all His attributes.
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3.

#When you worship an image, you do not say : “This image has come from Jaipur. It was brought by Prabhu Singh. Its weight is 50 lbs. It is made of white marble. It has cost me Rs. 500/-.” 

##You superimpose all the attributes of the Lord on the image and pray: “O Antaryamin (Inner Ruler)! You are all-pervading. You are omnipotent, omniscient, all-merciful. You are the source for everything. You are self-existent. You are Sat-Chit-Ananda. You are eternal, unchanging. You are the Life of my life, Soul of my soul! Give me light and knowledge! Let me dwell in Thee for ever.” 

###When your devotion and meditation become intense and deep, you do not see the stone image. You behold the Lord only who is Chaitanya. Image-worship is very necessary for beginners.

To be continued ...


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