Murti Puja Idol worshipping

Do not confuse yourself with the concept of idol worship. In Hinduism idol worship is simply a ritual... a means to an end! The masses... the commoner who is not able to concentrate his thoughts on the concept of God Almighty... worships whatever image or concept of God exists in ones mind (thinking).

Most people who go to the temple are not after a spiritual goal of life. They simply worship God out of fear... they ask for material riches all the time. They are after the welfare of the self and the family. In my 50 years of life I have never come across people in temples who did not desire anything from God. We are born a human being... the highest manifest stage in cosmic life... yet we ask of God!

Those in the spiritual pursuit of life never go to a temple. They find God every where and in every deed. For them God exists in the heart of every living being. Personification of God does not mean anything to them. For the true spiritual seeker... the body itself is a garment for the soul atman within. Why seek ornaments for the ephemeral body and burden God!

God Almighty is only one... it never answers our prayer. It is the doctrine of karma that rules the roost. As we perform our karma... so shall our destiny be! If we ask God of something... we must be prepared to offer something equivalent or more in return to God. Most people never offer anything. They desire the fruits of karma they have never performed. Can such desires and wishes ever get fulfilled!

I have observed people going to temple religiously for more than 15 years yet, when I asked one of the benefits accrued... the simple reply was zero! In the domain of God there are no free lunches. We need to perform our karma for the benefit of the community... only then God Almighty might fulfill our wishes in return.

Idol worship... Murti puja is only symbolic. God Almighty does not reside in the statues. If we desire welfare of the family... we pray to Lord Ganesha. What if we do not desire any fruits of our karma... still, do we worship Ganesha or any other God?

Worship of God is never out of fear or desires. We must dutifully worship God for the endowments we have been graced with. It is only then the true benefits of worship sometimes accrue in life.

Essay by: Kaivalya Jnani... One who realized self in his life time!

Kaivalya Jnani... In permanent communion with God explains more on name of the Murti Puja. For more details on murti worship visit - murti puja. Send your query - click here Ref.

More Murti Puja related links...

Hindu God
My favorite god in Hinduism is Lord Krishna. In the battle of Mahabharata... the sermon by Lord Krishna... that forms the sacred Bhagavad Gita is an unparalleled document in the history of mankind. Why?
The doctrine of Bhagavad Gita makes it clear that there is only one truthful entity in the world and that is God Almighty himself. Apart from God Almighty everything else is the work of Maya (veil of illusion). Bhagavad Gita confirms that the theory of Advaita Vedanta is the only subtle truth of life. The doctrine of Advaita Vedanta propagated by Adi Shankaracharya confirms the existence of God as the only truth of life.

Hindu Philosophy
Hindu philosophy is primarily governed by the sacred teachings of Bhagavad Gita... the doctrine given to mankind by Lord Krishna in the battle of Mahabharata. This single document... the sacred Bhagavad Gita contains the gist of Hindu philosophy... the knower of which becomes omniscient and finally attains enlightenment and salvation (aka moksha in Hinduism).

Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is the only religion in the world that encompasses everything required by a human being to reach the highest pedestal of spirituality. The best part of Hindu religion is... one need not convert to Hinduism religion to learn the essential ingredients that form part of Hinduism at large.
Hinduism religion is also not a following of one sacred doctrine or preacher like in Christianity or Islamic dharma.

Reincarnate Hindus
Yes it is only Hinduism amongst all the religions of the world that clarifies how the souls' atmans manifest bodies one after another to reach the last leg of cosmic life... the 8.4 millionth manifestation! Before reaching the human form... every single human being has already manifested every form of animal life... none can escape this cosmic life cycle! Reaching the human stage means our soul atman has crossed life cycle of 7.3 million manifestations!

Worshipping Hindu Gods
Hinduism by and large is a religion without limits. To worship Hindu gods in most Jain households is a prevalent practice. On the eve of the Diwali (also pronounced Deepavali) one would find a horde of replicas of Indian deities installed for worshiping.
For a Hindu... to worship Jaina deities is not common, but for a Jain family to worship every Hindu deity is common.
Rituals form a part of extensive and deep praying. Conducting Hindu rituals in Jain families is not common but worship is.

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