Western Society and Abrahamic religions are often dazzled and confused
by all the deity worship with in the Hinduism. So, through this
conversation a Hindu or follower of Sanatan Dharma will give light on
this confusion of Abrahamic faith followers.
Muslim Brothers Asks:
Hindus do idol worship which is condemned in Abrahamic religious books like the holy Quran, the Holy Bible and the Holy Torah.
Hindu/Sanatan Dharmic Answers :
Hindus do not do idol worship. The Vedas also are thoroughly opposed to idol worship, but what you have seen in Hindu temples is not idol worship but rather Deity worship. It is very easy to understand how Deity worship may at first appear as idol worship to a person who is unfamiliar with the principle behind this important devotional process. After all, the form of the Deity is crafted by a man out of some kind of material elements, and that form is later worshiped in the temple with devotion.
Deity Worship is one of the best beneficial devotional service which gives us opportunity to take every breath in supreme bliss.
In the Vedas, Deity worship is an extremely important devotional process to help us develop love of God. In fact, it is one of the nine general classifications of devotional service mentioned in Sanskrit in the Vedas.
It is said, çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëaà päda-sevanam arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà sakhyam ätma-nivedanam [Bhäg. 7.5.23]
“Devotional service consists of (1) hearing about the Lord, (2) chanting His glories, (3) remembering Him, (4) serving and meditating upon His lotus feet, (5) worshiping Him, (6) praying to Him, (7) thinking oneself His eternal servant, (8) becoming His friend, and (9) surrendering everything to Him.” The fifth process mentioned here, arcanaà, worshipping the Lord, refers to Deity worship.
n Bhagavat Gita Lord says that the highest conception of yoga perfection is God-consciousness through “deity worship” is clearly explained in this verse.
“sa vai manah krishna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane karau harer mandira-marjanadishu srutim cakaracyuta-sat-kathodaye mukunda-lingalaya-darsane drisau tad-bhritya-gatra-sparse ‘nga-sangamam ghranam ca tat-pada-saroja-saurabhe srimat-tulasya rasanam tad-arpite padau hareh kshetra-padanusarpane siro hrishikesa-padabhivandane kamam ca dasye na tu kama-kamyaya yathottama-sloka-janasraya
“King Ambarisha fixed his mind on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, engaged his words in describing the abode of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the temple of the Lord, his ears in hearing the pastimes of the Lord, his eyes in seeing the form of the Lord, his body in touching the body of the devotee, his nostrils in smelling the flavor of the flowers offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, his tongue in tasting the tulasi leaves offered to Him, his legs in traveling to the holy place where His temple is situated, his head in offering obeisances unto the Lord, and his desires in fulfilling the desires of the Lord… and all these qualifications made him fit to become an excellent devotee of the Lord.”
Muslim Brothers Asks:
Hindus do idol worship which is condemned in Abrahamic religious books like the holy Quran, the Holy Bible and the Holy Torah.
Hindu/Sanatan Dharmic Answers :
Hindus do not do idol worship. The Vedas also are thoroughly opposed to idol worship, but what you have seen in Hindu temples is not idol worship but rather Deity worship. It is very easy to understand how Deity worship may at first appear as idol worship to a person who is unfamiliar with the principle behind this important devotional process. After all, the form of the Deity is crafted by a man out of some kind of material elements, and that form is later worshiped in the temple with devotion.
Deity Worship is one of the best beneficial devotional service which gives us opportunity to take every breath in supreme bliss.
In the Vedas, Deity worship is an extremely important devotional process to help us develop love of God. In fact, it is one of the nine general classifications of devotional service mentioned in Sanskrit in the Vedas.
It is said, çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëaà päda-sevanam arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà sakhyam ätma-nivedanam [Bhäg. 7.5.23]
“Devotional service consists of (1) hearing about the Lord, (2) chanting His glories, (3) remembering Him, (4) serving and meditating upon His lotus feet, (5) worshiping Him, (6) praying to Him, (7) thinking oneself His eternal servant, (8) becoming His friend, and (9) surrendering everything to Him.” The fifth process mentioned here, arcanaà, worshipping the Lord, refers to Deity worship.
n Bhagavat Gita Lord says that the highest conception of yoga perfection is God-consciousness through “deity worship” is clearly explained in this verse.
“sa vai manah krishna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane karau harer mandira-marjanadishu srutim cakaracyuta-sat-kathodaye mukunda-lingalaya-darsane drisau tad-bhritya-gatra-sparse ‘nga-sangamam ghranam ca tat-pada-saroja-saurabhe srimat-tulasya rasanam tad-arpite padau hareh kshetra-padanusarpane siro hrishikesa-padabhivandane kamam ca dasye na tu kama-kamyaya yathottama-sloka-janasraya
“King Ambarisha fixed his mind on the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, engaged his words in describing the abode of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the temple of the Lord, his ears in hearing the pastimes of the Lord, his eyes in seeing the form of the Lord, his body in touching the body of the devotee, his nostrils in smelling the flavor of the flowers offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, his tongue in tasting the tulasi leaves offered to Him, his legs in traveling to the holy place where His temple is situated, his head in offering obeisances unto the Lord, and his desires in fulfilling the desires of the Lord… and all these qualifications made him fit to become an excellent devotee of the Lord.”
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