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“Spiritual hunger is common to all; but tastes differ.
There are different forms of God to suit all tastes.”
- Swami Yogaswarupananda, of the Divine Life Society,
a Vedanta-based foundation in Rishikesh.

Are Hindus Idol Worshipers?

Gyan Rajhans P. Eng.
BHAJANAWALI RADIO PROGRAM

No! A thousand times No. Hindus are not idol worshipers in the sense implied by Webster’s dictionary – which defines “idol” as a false God or a form or appearance visible but without substance. A sacred image used in Hindu worship represents a particular manifestation of the ultimate reality Brahman. The substance that the sacred image represents is the ultimate reality and none other. Thus, Hindus’ worship of the sacred images of God is neither a false God nor is it without substance. How can then image worship be called idol worship in the sense implied by Webster’s Dictionary? The image itself is not God, but a symbol of God. The Hindus do not worship the image as God but they worship God through an image. To worship an image as God is idolatry but to worship God through an image is a valid form of worship.

Symbolic Form of God

In every religion, God in some form is worshiped. Christians worship the crucifix as a symbol of Christ, and Muslims adore Kabba in Mecca as the most sacred symbol of God. Other examples are Adi Granth Shrine in the Golden Temple of Amritsar, or the Arc and Tora of the Jews, the image of meditating Buddha, the totems of indigenous faiths, and the artifacts of many holy men of all religions. The examples go on and on, but the bottom line is that in every religion, God in some form is worshiped. Hinduism has the courage to admit it to the world. It is interesting to note that when sacred images are used in other religions, they are called icons and regarded as holy works of art. But when sacred images are used by Hindus, they are called idols. In the words of Dr. David Frawley, the scholar from USA, “An image of Christ as the good shepherd is called an icon and viewed with respect. An image of Krishna as the good cow herder - which is a similar image of the Divine as watching over the souls of men – is called an idol, which encourages one to look down on it. This is prejudice and negative stereotyping in language of the worst order.”

Why so many images?

Now one may say they can understand the symbolic meaning of image worship by Hindus, but may question why so many forms, are they not very confusing? Yes, it is confusing, if one doesn’t understand the following logic. First, Hindu religion recognizes the diversity of the human mind and the potential for a different level of spiritual development in each individual. Hindu religion does not thrust everyone into the pigeonhole of a single creed. The Hindu scriptures declare “Aakashad pathitham thoyam yatha gacchathi sagaram. Sarva deva namaskaraha Keshavam prati gacchathi.” Meaning, just as the rainwater that falls from the sky, eventually reaches the ocean, so also all the worship offered to Him (that is God, Brahman), by whatever name you wish or in whatever form you like, ultimately goes to the one, the only one ultimate Infinite Supreme Reality. Second, being the creator of innumerable forms in this universe, the Supreme Being is able to assume any form to please his devotees. Furthermore, the Supreme Being cannot be said to have only one particular form or one particular name, as that would imply putting limitations to his infinite power. This is why Hindus worship various names and forms of the Supreme Reality.

No Superior or Inferior Forms

No name or form is considered superior or inferior to the others, because all are various manifestations of one Supreme Being. When a devotee chooses to worship one form or one image of the Supreme Being, the chosen deity is called “isht-dev” or isht-devata. This personal ishtdev becomes the object of the devotee’s love and adoration, satisfying his spiritual longing. Another thing about the Hindu philosophy of the image worship must be understood. When a statue of a deity is carved in Jaipur, India (where most of the statues are carved or made), nobody worshiped it. Nor when it was packed, shipped, loaded and unpacked, laying in the temple for months nobody worshiped it. When does it start getting worshiped? When there is a ritual by highly trained priests to invoke the physical presence of the deity into the stone image. This ritual is called pran-pratishtha, which literally means making the image a sacred medium to help devotees offer their devotion to God. Moreover, to understand the language of symbols, one has to attune oneself with the one who evolved it.

Gyan Rajhans, an internationally recognized heath & safety professional has been broadcasting the only non-commercial Vedic religion radio program in North America since 1981 & worldwide web cast on www.bhajanawali.com since 1999. Mr. Rajhans has published extensively on religious and spiritual matters. Some articles are available on the Bhajanawali web site. He has translated Sri Mad Bhagvad Gita in English for the younger generation. Mr Rajhans has been conferred various titles, including that of Rishi by Hindu Prarthana Samaj of Toronto Hindu Ratna by Hindu Federation of Toronto. He received Canadian Journalists' and Writers' Club (CEJWC) award for 2005 in the Internet category - Opinion - for his Spirituality columns in South Asian Outlook e-Monthly.]