Idol Worship

We must understand what kind of views Jeevanvidya and other saints have regarding "Idol Worship".
I am posting few paragraphs from the book written by Shri. Satguru in Marathi, "Hich khari Murtipooja, hach khara dharm" This is a wonderful book written by Shri. Satguru and I request all to please read this book especially those who understand Marathi must read it.
I am posting this translation for the benefiet of all those who do not understand Marathi. (Pages which are given below are 1-6 and 40-43)

TRUE IDOL WORSHIP AND TRUE RELIGION

In India, idol worship is going on since ancient times and is very controversial. On one side we find people who believe that idol worship is the best and a glorious path of devotion. On the contrary, there are others who are convinced that, it is the most inferior way of worshiping and should not be followed. People of certain religion advocate idol worship and feel that by doing so they will get PUNYA (blessings of GOD in the form of merits ); while those of another religion who call themselves religious, feel that destroying idols and temples is a religious act which will be blessed by God. According to Jivanvidya, both the sectors of people are equally ignorant. If both of them would not have existed, the subject ?idol worship? would not have led to malice, hatred, conflicts, riots and even war at times; where many people have been killed. In reality both the believers and non believers of idol worship are equally ignorant. Both of them do not know what is GOD and how to worship him? How to surrender oneself to GOD? How to please him? What happens in our lives exactly when HE is happy with us and blesses us? Actually the word Religion means the path by which we can appease GOD or attain GOD but if we do not know the destination then how would we know the path? Similarly when we do not know what is GOD, How would we know the path by which we can go near HIS feet? Such situation results in lot of confusion about the concept of GOD, idol or image of GOD and religion. Therefore there is chaos in the world by the name of worship since ancient times. Hence we should try to see what is GOD? How to worship HIM truly? And what is an ideal concept of religion?

Everybody knows how normally idol worship is done. An idol of stone or metal is placed either at home or in a temple and then flowers, tumeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste etc. are applied to it. We lighten the lamp before the idol and do arati. Finally fruits and delicious sweets are offered to the deity. Our ancestors have taught us idol worship with an aim that, we should gradually learn to do true worship as our intelligence would get sharpened in due course of time but motive behind teaching idol worship got lost over the period of time and we engaged ourselves mechanically in idol worship. We were worshipping the stone idol, assuming it to be the symbol of GOD but in this process after passing of few centuries; we got convinced that ?The Idol? is GOD. Actually though our sages and saints knew that, idol is not GOD but realizing a fact that GOD can not be perceived by our sense organs; they advocated idol worship for the convenience of people. But in reality this convenience became the cause of concern as it led to much confusion, conflicts, and ultimately chaos. The main cause for this entire situation is ignorance of common man and blind beliefs-faiths as well as fear of natural calamities and disasters, diseases, illnesses and fear of loosing near-dear relatives and ones death. Therefore, shrewd religious leaders and scholars took advantage of these apprehensions for their own interests like monetary benefits, prestigious position in society, fame and power to control people and their lives etc. These so called religious leaders rather than educating and enlightening the common man about GOD; encouraged them to keep blind faiths and beliefs. After doing idol worship for such a long time people were convinced and as if were hypnotized with the idea that "The Idol is GOD." These religious leaders who had their selfish interests; asked people to continue many so called religious acts i.e. rites and rituals to please GOD.

They convinced people that, performing a certain so called religious act (like keeping fast or visiting place of worship on particular day, performing certain rites and rituals.etc.) would please GOD. People became sure that failing to perform rites and rituals would harm them and any untoward event may occur in their lives. As a result of this situation common man lost the confidence about handling difficult or adverse conditions in his life and started visiting so called religious leaders, babas, fakirs, priests, god men etc. for his trivial problems to get the blessings from GOD and also from these self declared religious leaders. Because of them, people were blindfolded and got themselves busy in various religious acts to please GOD. Such situation exists not only in Hindu religion but also in other religions with little difference.

Human body is a gift of GOD. Actually human body is an incarnation of GOD himself. HE exists everywhere hence HE also exists in human body. Electricity requires the medium like tube light, lamp etc. to express. Similarly GOD (Divine Life Force) requires medium to express. Hence HE expresses through human body. Our body is not created by our parents. If it would have been created by man then all children would be fair, tall, intelligent and beautiful and virtuous but this is not the fact as we all know. But that does not mean that there is no creator for this body and to say so would be a foolish act. When we see any beautiful sculpture we do not have any doubt over the fact that there is somebody behind this creation. To create an ordinary sculpture, the sculptor requires many instruments and has to take lot of efforts to create it. He also has to learn the art and gain skill. And one who masters all this proudly tells everybody that he has created that sculpture. After so much of hassle when we see the sculpture; we find that it is much inferior compared to human body. It does not move, does not walk, talk or laugh can not think or express views. In fact sculpture is incapable of doing anything.

On the contrary, human sculpture can walk, talk, laugh, play, can think and plan. Actually it has the capacity to do countless activities. Though this body has complex intrinsic structure, there is no mess in it. The most amazing fact is that the creator who has built this sculpture is hidden and invisible and this creator has not used any evident instruments. There is great planning, systematic organization and skill used in preparing structure of this body which is in an exact proportion. Even though GOD has created such a great sculpture, HE has never proclaimed that HE IS THE ONE, who is responsible for this beautiful creation. GOD is the sculptor of this body and the human body is a living idol of GOD. Hence taking due care of this divine image of GOD and remembering the almighty GOD, who has created this miraculous sculpture with love and gratitude is true worship and true devotion of GOD. In this context the hymn written by Saint Tukaram which has the following meaning is quite instructive.

"Karavi he puja manechi uttam "करावी हे पुजा मनेचि उत्तम
Laukikakache kam kay ase ? लौकिकाचे काम काय असे

This means, "The best worship is done by mind.
Then what is the role of the material world?"

It is extremely unfortunate that we do not know the essence of real worship; hence people engage themselves in idol worship mechanically. In reality idol or image worship is meant for learning real worship only. GOD created human body as HIS divine image. We should remember this fact while worshipping a stone idol. To understand this aspect in depth we should observe and analyze the manner in which we do idol worship. In this process of worship, we apply sandalwood paste to an idol and the same we apply to ourselves. We offer various fragrances to GOD and same we perceive. We lighten lamp in front of an idol and do arati and experience its delight. We offer sweets to an idol and then consume it as Prasad. All this means that the so called idol worship is to realize the concept of true worship.(From Pages 1-6)( Hence Satguru says in his pravachans that the real God enjoys in this process of idol worship and not an idol, who is not the true God.)

Page-40 Actually after doing idol worship in elementary stage we should change ourselves and learn the method of real worship of GOD. In this context, teaching of saints is quite clear. They tell us emphatically that we should change our method of worship from idol worship to formless worship or while doing idol worship we should engage ourselves to formless worship. They teach us with conviction,

"Shivam bhutva shivam yajet"
"We can attain GODLY state by keeping in mind that we are one with GOD- we exist as chaitanya shakti (State of Shiva)".

This saying which is mentioned in our scriptures is quite famous.

Saint Tukaram tells us that,

Kaya hi pandhari atma ha Vitthal काया ही पंढरी आत्मा हा विठ्ठल
Nandato keval I Pandhurang II नांदतो केवळ पांडुरंग

This means that,

Body is abode of Vitthal (GOD) I
Soul is Vitthal II
There stays only I Vitthal II

Great Saint Dnyaneshwar maharaj clearly tells us in his poetry that,

Dev Dev mhanoni I vyartha ka firasi I देव देव म्हणोनि व्यर्थ का फिरसि
Nij Dev nenasi I muli kon? II निज देव नेणसि मुळि कोण
Deva nahi rup I Deva nahi nav I देवा नाही रूप देवा नाही नाव
Deva nahi gav I kothe kahi II देवा नाही गाव कोठे नाही
Dnyandev mhane I bhaja atmadeva I ज्ञानदेव म्हणे भजा आत्मदेवा
Akhandit seva kara tyachi II अखंडित सेवा करा त्याचि

Dnyaneshwar maharaj means that,

Why are you wandering and calling for GOD for no reason?
You are ignorant about GOD, who resides in your heart. Who is HE?
GOD does not have form. GOD does not have any specific name.
GOD does not have particular place anywhere.
Dnyaneshwar says you should worship GOD who dwells in your heart.
Serve HIM relentlessly.

Dnyaneshwar maharaj tells in Haripath, (Book written by him in which benefits of enchanting name of Lord are described in detail.)

Ayakta nirakar I nahi jya akaar II अव्यक्त निराकार नाही ज्या आकारा
Jethuni charachar I tyasi bhaje II जेथुनि चराचर त्यासि भजे
Dnyandev mhane I Nivrutti nirguna II ज्ञानदेव म्हणे निवृत्ति निर्गुण
Didhale sampurn I majhe hati II दिधले संपूर्ण माझे हाति
By this he means that,

You should pray, ?The Formless and the one beyond all manifestations (NIRGUN) -Source of all
From where all living and all non-living forms are created?.
Dnyaneshwar says his sadguru Nivruttinath Maharaj
Who is NIRGUN himself has given him total experience of NIRGUN.

There are many superstitious stories told about Namdev Maharaj. He has spoken ruthlessly in very clear words.
Dagadacha Dev I Manila Iswar II दगडाचा देव मानिला ईश्वर
Pari to sachar I Dev bhinn II परि तो साचार देव भिन्न
Dagadacha Dev I Ichcha puravito II दगडाचा देव इच्छा पुरवितो
Tari ka bhangato I Aaghatane II तरि तो भंगतो आघाताने
Pashan devachi I Bhakti je kariti II पाषाण देवाचि भक्ति जे करिती
Sarvasvi mukati I Mudhapane II सर्वस्वी मुकति मुढपणे
Pattharacha Dev I Bolato bhaktate Iपत्थराचा देव बोलतो भक्ताते
Sangati eikati I Doghehi murkh IIसांगती ऐकती दोघेही मुर्ख
Dwadashiche diwashi I Zala updesh II द्वादशीचे दिवशी झाला उपदेश
Devavin os I Sthala nahi II देवावीण ओस स्थळ नाही
To Dev Namya I Rhudayi davila II तो देव नाम्या ह्दयी दाविला
Khecharane kela I upkaar II खेचराने केला उपकार

Namdev Maharaj is telling us that,

People think that stone idol is GOD
But GOD who has taken all the forms is different
If we think that stone idol is capable of fulfilling all our desires.
Then why does he get broken after striking?
Those who worship stone idol
Have lost everything because of their foolishness
The one who tells others and one who listens to him both of them are fools
I got advice on twelfth day of full moon (got enlightened)
GOD exists everywhere
My sadguru Khechar has obliged me
He has shown this GOD (Divine life force) in my heart.

Jivanvidya tells in clear words

?Enjoyment which we experience in doing Nirgun worship can not be experienced by doing Sagun worship.? (Sagun worship is the worship of form or an idol.)

Sagun worship which saints refer is of two types. First is worship of formless (vyatirek or direct) which we can experience in the form of peace and bliss and secondly worship of GOD (anvay or indirect) who exists in many forms as world. (1)Worship of formless (vyatirek or direct) we can do in continuous meditation on our own existence. (2) And if we can stay in a state where we always remember that, this world is nothing but manifestation of my existence in many forms then that is a worship of all pervading GOD(anvay or indirect).

All this means that, if we live life in such a way that we are doing conscious efforts to stay in a state of knowledge that GOD (Divine life force) exists every where as systematized order then it would be called ideal worship of GOD. In this context following poetry of an English poet is very thoughtful.

I sleep in peace and wake in joy
And in him I live, move and have my being

Similarly Saint Tukaram tells us very important principle and teaches us very nicely.

Vishnumay jag I Vaishnavancha dharm Iविष्णुमय जग वैष्णवांचा धर्म
Bhedabhed bhrama I Amangal भेदाभेद भ्रम अमंगळ
Ayikaji tumhi I Bhakta bhagawat II आयीकाजी तुम्ही भक्त भागवत
Karal te hit I Satya kara II कराल ते हित सत्य करा
Konahi bhutacha I Na ghado matsar II कोणाही भूताचा न घडो मत्सर
Varm Sarveshwar I Pujanache II वर्म सर्वेश्वर पूजनाचे
Tuka mhane eka I Dehache avayav II तुका म्हणे एका देहाचे अवयव
Sukh dukhkh jiv I Bhog pawe II सुख-दुःख भोग पावे

Saint Tukaram means that,

True religion of GOD worshippers is to see that whole world as various forms of GOD.
To see it any way different in delusion is improper for them.
You all people are worshippers of GOD
So whatever you do, do it correctly
You should never be jealous of anybody
This is the essence of worship of GOD
Tukaram says we all are appendages of that single body (GOD)
Happiness and sorrow are as a result of our ignorance (that we are different than GOD)
Pages 40-43
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