Idol Worship

Idol worship is yet a topic of debate. The life of Swami Vivekananda demonstrates the deep insight into this topic.

Before meeting his master, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he was a member of Brahmo Samaj. His initial beliefs were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which included belief in formless God and deprecation of the worship of idols.

But after meeting Sri Ramakrishna and seeing him spending hours sitting before the idol of Goddess Kali, he investigated the truth behind idol worship.

His investigation under the light of guidance of his guru Sri Ramakrishna enlightened him of the true meaning and importance of idol worship which he in turn taught to Maharaja of Khetri later.

When the king of Khetri heard of the growing fame of Swamiji, he called him to his court. Swamiji found that the king was against idol worship and considered those who follow idol worship inferior, he decided to change his view on this.

Swamiji asked one of the court men to bring down a big portrait of the king from the wall of the court. The court man hesitated but followed his words on king’s consent. Then Swamiji asked the court man to spit on the image. This was unbearable to anyone and the king asked what was he saying.

Then the Swami explained that as the image represented the king and the court men respect the image as much as the king, similarly idols represent the Lord of the devotee and they do not worship the mud and the shape. The shape of the idol just helps a devotee to concentrate on his/her mind on his/her Lord, as the painting reminded them of the king. The king fell on the feet of the Swami and become one of his best disciples.

In this way he proved that nothing in this world is useless. Everything has its own importance.

The idol worship is a boon for those who feel it hard to concentrate on a formless God. After all, all the devotion expressed by the devotees is meant of the one ultimate God alone.

I hope this post was useful for one and all.

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