#SriSri on Idol Worship (Moorti-Pooja) *Must Read* Q. Some say that God is One. Some believe in Idol Worship. What to do?? #SriSri Ravi Shankar: There are all kinds of people in the world. Respect what others believe. There is no one fix path. People take photograph in cell phone. It is also said that not to take photographs of idols. But people take photographs or not? Due to cell phone, everyone take photograph. People stand anywhere and take #Selfie! These camera was not there earlier hence idols were made. If someone is in love with someone, then he or she would gaze at the photograph all the time. See in colleges. If you tell someone not to keep photograph of their loved ones, then will they listen to you? No! Similarly idols are made. Taking picture is part of one’s expression of love. People fell in love with God, then they see God everywhere. They see the Creator in the Creation. When they worship idol, they worship the divine. When people revere Kaba, they respect the direction. Similarly, Shivlinga is there. Some people worship fire, the Zorastrians. You cannot say that not to worship idol. Some people see idol of Buddha and fell in love. We need forms to worship. I met one Imam recently. He shared that 50 years ago, it was not allowed to take picture in Mecca. But now everyone take photographs, they want as a memory / souvenir. Pictures are something which you cannot avoid. We can’t say no to all these people! So in ancient days, there were no cameras, no pictures, so they made idols. Wherever Lord Buddha travelled, they made his idol and when people see his idol they feel elevated. Same with Lord Mahavir. Statues came much later in Hinduism. After the Jainism started making idols. In Hinduism, they used to worship fire, water was kept in vessel, Shivlinga was there though. Later all this started. They had symbols of Lord Vishnu. Even today, water is kept in vessel and worshipped. ....
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 17:27:12 +0000
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