Idol Worship

Murti or idol worship is currently an integral part of Hinduism. It is important to distinguish between murtis and idols. The term "murti" means "divine form", and can refer to anything which one prays to when conducting a puja. However, the term "idol" refers to a humanoid figure representing Brahman or God.

            Originally, Hindus did not worship idols, but instead focused on murtis such as Agni (fire) or Surya (sun). Proof of this can be found in the Yajurveda, with this quote: "Of him there is no likeness, whose glory is infinite". The quote describes how no one idol could describe God or Brahman fully. However, a shift eventually occurs; In the Ramayana, Rama worships a Shivalingum in Rameswaram before attacking Sri Lanka. Further proof of this can be seen from the conception of the Shilpa Shashtras, a collection of various Hindu writings that rose to prominence as the use of idols for prayer grew. They we're used as the primary source of information regarding the creation of any murti.

Why do you think idol worship started becoming more and more popular as the standard form of Hindu worship?

            The historical answer for the above question is that Buddhists first started to used idols in their prayer. Hindus, craving the ability to worship at any time outside of a proper puja or havan chose to create their own idols.

            Of course, there are reasons for and against the use of idols within worship. As described by Swami Vivekananda, idol worship helps people to focus on the formlessness nature of God. Idols also allow for a very personal connection with God. One easy way to explain this was through the use of a clip from the cartoon Naruto. Within the clip, the title character is learning how to focus his thoughts onto a specific point. This serves as an analogy for the concept of focus. The clip can be found here--http:/www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=N85THbFWOBc

            However, there are many arguments against the use of idols in worship. For example, the Vedas specifically describe the form of God as formless and describe worship through havan as the primary method for connection with God. Furthermore, certain idols (also murtis) are given extra importance over other murtis. One example of this is the predominant worship of Tirupati within South India. Of course, it is up to the individual to form their own opinion of idol worship and to choose their own path.