Guest guest Posted August 20, 2004 Report Share Posted August 20, 2004 sri: Dear Sri Srivatsa Chakravarthy: This Q&A Session at the monthly Vedics meet in Chicago might answer some of your questions. Vedics never use the word IDOL (ArchaAvathara is the right word) but usually outsiders or those new to Vedic Culture may use the word IDOL. ======================================== >From Q&A Session Transcript at UIC - Vedics: 1999 ======================================== Topic: ArchAvathara, God in Archa (Idol) Form ================================= Question: Why do Vedics place so much emphasis on worshipping idols? Answer: This is a very important question, and can often be one of the most difficult concepts for someone either new or outside to Vedic culture to conceive. SriVaishnavam concurs with most of the world's faiths that there is only One Supreme Being, and His Loving Presence is everywhere in this Universe, including our own hearts. Question: If he is everywhere, then why do we need to go to a temple, or make some elaborate altar for Him in our homes? Is not the whole thing rather primitive and idolatrous, and something that most monotheistic faiths would consider as backward or sinful? Answer: Questions such as these are valid but complex (for outsiders), but need to be answered if we are to ever fully accept the Vedic understanding of God and how He is connected to His Universe. A good first step towards finding an answer begins with discovering that virtually all religions of the world have some representation or form of God that they recognize and adore to one degree or the other. It seems that the older the religion is, the more emphasis is place on icons and religious symbols. But, what is important for us to understand is that unlike these other faiths, the Vedic seers recognized the icons to be far more than just symbolic representation or objects of meditation, but an actual physical manifestation of the Lord Himself, who has provided us with the ultimate gift of Love, Himself in an understandable form, so that we can know His Presence and experience His Beauty and Love directly. As we know, our Acharyas recognize the Supreme Being, Sriman Narayana as being the One Supreme Truth, the Supreme Soul, upon whom all that is known and unknown about this Universe subsists. His Nature is one of infinitely good and admirable qualities, and His Power and Majesty are such that He Rules Over All That Is. But, despite all of this, He is accessible to each and every one of us as our Dearest Friend and Benefactor, irrespective of who we are, or what station of life we are in. Needless to say, such a Being's Love for us far exceeds our desires for him. So, while even the most devout among us may try and connect with him through our prayers for a few minutes every day, He is thinking about us each and every moment, and is constantly striving for ways to reach out to us, not in a forceful and demanding way, as some would suggest, but with His Love so that we may accept Him and be redeemed from this endless cycle of birth and re-birth that is the result of our own selfish actions. To reach out to us, the Supreme One, who is said to beyond the comprehension of even Brahma and Siva, has to come to us in ways in which we as human beings can understand. Our Acharyas describe five general forms through which He reveals Himself to us: 1.Para – this is the Form that we see when we interact with Him in His Supreme Abode, Vaikuntam or Paramapadam 2.Vyuham – this is the Lord as the Creator and Preserver of this Universe, the Great Cosmic Energy Who serves as the Source for the very existence for all things. 3.Vibhava Avathara – these are the various Avatharas that the Lord has taken throughout history. They include the ten Avathars that we are all familiar with, Krishna, Rama, LakshmiNarasimha, and others. 4.Antaryami – the Lord in the Heart, who serves as the conscience, guide and dearest friend to our true self 5.ArchAvathara – God in form as the idol (Vigraha) in temples, and in homes, as photos, vigrahas, and salagramas. Question: Why so many various forms? Answer: While Sriman Narayana has taken all of these forms solely for our sake, it is relatively easy to see how most of these are ones that are currently beyond the reach of most human beings. The first one is only a form that we can see and enjoy after we have been freed from this world. The second is wonderful to contemplate on, but difficult to meditate upon, because despite all its good, the power of the Universe can sometimes appear harsh, particularly for we human beings, who are constantly striving to tame it. The third are forms that took place or are to take place at specific times, so we may or may not have the benefit of interacting with them. And, while all of us would like to think that we are in touch with the Antaryami, the vast cobweb of fears, doubts, and complexities that are part of our own human foibles are really serving as filter that prevents His guidance from every really reaching us. Question: Which is the one most easy for us to access and interact with? Answer: Really, the only form in which the Lord that can really and truly easily accessible is is the archAvathara, the Lord in form both as the idol (Archa) in the temples, and as the photos, vigrahas, and salagramas that every devotees keeps in his/her home. For a SriVaishnava, the Lord in this form is more than just a symbol, but is an actual manifestation of the Divine in a form that can be seen and interacted with. The Supreme, Unreachable Mystery sits helpless in our home on a small shelf or at best, a rather makeshift altar, in a completely vulnerable state, ready and willing to hear and answer any of our prayers, and accepting with joy what little love we can offer to Him. This form of the Lord is available to anyone, irrespective of race, caste, creed and gender. All that is required on our parts is to accept Him and make part of our home and hearts. Indeed, while whatever we do pales to insignificance before His Unconditional Love and Grace, the more we accept Him and make Him a part of our family and life, the more He can reach to us (as we lower our egoes and allow his grace to flow), offering peace and happiness in this life, and eventually, Redemption. ============================================================ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 Bhaktas, This question of worshiping the archavatara, was laid emphasis on late after the vedic period. This was done to enable ordinary men like us, who cannot see the HIM in everything and also are not capable of leading ourselves into our very own soul to find that amsa of the universal soul. This is a step for us to make him as the object of our concentration, delve into him and all his leela's to realize the ultimate truth. dasan/raghavan --- Pattangi <danp wrote: > sri: > > Dear Sri Srivatsa Chakravarthy: > > This Q&A Session at the monthly Vedics meet in > Chicago might answer some of your questions. > Vedics never use the word IDOL (ArchaAvathara is the > right word) > but usually outsiders or those new to Vedic Culture > may use the word IDOL. > > ===============================================================================F\ rom > Q&A Session Transcript at UIC - Vedics: 1999 > =============================================================================== > Topic: ArchAvathara, God in Archa (Idol) Form > ================================================================= > > Question: Why do Vedics place so much emphasis on > worshipping idols? > > Answer: > This is a very important question, and can often be > one of the most difficult concepts for someone > either new or outside to Vedic culture to conceive. > SriVaishnavam concurs with most of the world's > faiths that there is only One Supreme Being, and His > Loving Presence is everywhere in > this Universe, including our own hearts. > > Question: If he is everywhere, then why do we need > to go to a temple, or make some > elaborate altar for Him in our homes? Is not the > whole thing rather primitive and idolatrous, > and something that most monotheistic faiths would > consider as backward or sinful? > > Answer: > Questions such as these are valid but complex (for > outsiders), but need to be answered > if we are to ever fully accept the Vedic > understanding of God and how He is connected to His > Universe. > > A good first step towards finding an answer begins > with discovering that virtually all religions > of the world have some representation or form of God > that they recognize and adore to > one degree or the other. It seems that the older > the religion is, the more > emphasis is place on icons and religious symbols. > > But, what is important for us to understand is that > unlike these other faiths, the Vedic seers > recognized the icons to be far more than just > symbolic representation or objects of meditation, > but an actual physical manifestation of the Lord > Himself, who has provided us with the > ultimate gift of Love, Himself in an understandable > form, so that we can know > His Presence and experience His Beauty and Love > directly. > > As we know, our Acharyas recognize the Supreme > Being, Sriman Narayana as being > the One Supreme Truth, the Supreme Soul, upon whom > all that is known and unknown > about this Universe subsists. His Nature is one of > infinitely good and admirable qualities, > and His Power and Majesty are such that He Rules > Over All That Is. > But, despite all of this, He is accessible to each > and every one of us as our > Dearest Friend and Benefactor, irrespective of who > we are, or what station of life we are in. > > Needless to say, such a Being's Love for us far > exceeds our desires for him. > So, while even the most devout among us may try and > connect with him through > our prayers for a few minutes every day, He is > thinking about us each and every moment, > and is constantly striving for ways to reach out to > us, not in a forceful and demanding > way, as some would suggest, but with His Love so > that we may accept Him and be > redeemed from this endless cycle of birth and > re-birth that is the result of our own selfish > actions. > > To reach out to us, the Supreme One, who is said to > beyond the comprehension of even > Brahma and Siva, has to come to us in ways in which > we as human beings can understand. > Our Acharyas describe five general forms through > which He reveals Himself to us: > > 1.Para – this is the Form that we see when we > interact with Him in His Supreme Abode, Vaikuntam or > Paramapadam > 2.Vyuham – this is the Lord as the Creator and > Preserver of this Universe, the Great Cosmic Energy > Who serves as the Source for the very existence for > all things. > 3.Vibhava Avathara – these are the various Avatharas > that the Lord has taken throughout history. They > include the ten Avathars that we are all familiar > with, Krishna, Rama, LakshmiNarasimha, and others. > 4.Antaryami – the Lord in the Heart, who serves as > the conscience, guide and dearest friend to our true > self > 5.ArchAvathara – God in form as the idol (Vigraha) > in temples, and in homes, as photos, vigrahas, and > salagramas. > > Question: Why so many various forms? > > Answer: > While Sriman Narayana has taken all of these forms > solely for our sake, it is relatively easy to see > how most of these are ones that are currently beyond > the reach of most human beings. The first one is > only a form that we can see and enjoy after we have > been freed from this world. The second is wonderful > to contemplate on, but difficult to meditate upon, > because despite all its good, the power of the > Universe can sometimes appear harsh, particularly > for we human beings, who are constantly striving to > tame it. The third are forms that took place or > are to take place at specific times, so we may or > may not have the benefit of interacting with them. > And, while all of us would like to think that we are > in touch with the Antaryami, the vast cobweb of > fears, doubts, and complexities that are part of our > own human foibles are really serving as filter that > prevents His guidance from every really reaching us. > > > Question: Which is the one most easy for us to > access and interact with? > > Answer: > Really, the only form in which the Lord that can > really and truly easily accessible is is the > archAvathara, the Lord in form both as the idol > (Archa) in the temples, and as the photos, vigrahas, > and salagramas that every devotees keeps in his/her > home. > For a SriVaishnava, the Lord in this form is more > than just a symbol, but is an actual manifestation > of the Divine in a form that can be seen and > interacted with. The Supreme, Unreachable Mystery > sits helpless in our home on a small shelf or at > best, a rather makeshift altar, in a completely > vulnerable state, ready and willing to hear and > answer any of our prayers, and accepting with joy > what little love we can offer to Him. > > This form of the Lord is available to anyone, > irrespective of race, caste, creed and gender. All > that is required on our parts is to accept Him and > make part of our home and hearts. Indeed, while > whatever we do pales to insignificance before His > Unconditional Love and Grace, the more we accept Him > and make Him a part of our family and life, the more > He can reach to us (as we lower our egoes and allow > his grace to flow), offering peace and happiness in > this life, and eventually, Redemption. > ================================================================================\ ======================================= > > _______________________________ Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Enter now. http://promotions./goldrush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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