Faith And Idol Worship

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Faith And Idol Worship

 

The Philosophy and Significance of Idol Worship By Sri Swami Sivananda

http://www.thedivinelifesociety.org/download/idolworship.htm

 

Puran Chand's Guru had initiated him into the Narayana Mantra and

given him a small Murti (idol) of Lord Narayana for worship. Puran

was regular in his worship and did not omit repetition of the sacred

Mantra, but there was no sign of the idol blessing him; so he went to

his Guru and asked him the reason. The Guru smiled at Puran and

said, "Well son, take this idol of Lord Siva. I shall initiate

you into the Siva Mantra. Worship Lord Siva with faith and devotion.

He is considered as Bhole Nath and is easily propitiable; He will

bless you soon."

 

The next six months saw Puran Chand immersed in Japa and worship of

Lord Siva. The idol of Lord Narayana was placed on a dusty shelf in

the puja room. After many months, Puran Chand once more went to his

Guru and complained that his worship of Siva had brought him no

result. He begged him to give him the Murti and Mantra of a Devata

that would bless him.

 

The Guru smiled again; the time for enlightenment had come, yet he

felt the disciple would learn from experience. So he said, "Good

son, in this Yuga, Mother Kali is Pratyaksha Devata. Worship this

image of Her and repeat the Navarna Mantra and you will obtain Her

Grace." This time, Puran Chand had no misgivings whatsoever; he

had full faith.

 

Kali worship commenced; Siva joined company with Narayana on the

shelf. With devotion, Puran was waving incense before the image of

Mother Kali when the fumes rose up and reached the shelf where the

other two idols were kept. Puran was enraged. What right had Siva to

inhale the incense intended for Mother Kali? He had refused to be

propitiated when he had tirelessly worshipped Him; it was Mother Kali

whom he now worshipped. In great anger he took down the image of Siva

in his hands and began to insert cotton wool in His nose to stop Him

from inhaling the incense. Before he could accomplish his task,

however, the idol disappeared and before him stood the Lord, smiling

in all His mercy and compassion. Speechless with wonder and

amazement, Puran prostrated himself before the Lord who told him to

ask for any boon as He was immensely pleased with his devotion.

 

Puran answered, "My Lord, I am much perplexed. You did not deign

to bless me when I devoutly worshipped You and repeated the

Panchakshara Mantra for six months. But You suddenly chose to reveal

yourself to me when I had discarded Your image and given up Your

worship. What is this mystery, O Lord?"

 

The Lord answered, "My child, there is no mystery to be

explained; how could I reveal Myself when you treated Me as a mere

image, as a mere piece of metal worshipped or thrown away according

to your whim? Today you treated My image as a living presence when

you wanted to plug the nostrils with cotton wool; thus you revealed

that you recognised My living presence in the idol and I could no

longer withhold Myself from you."

 

Speechless and enlightened, Puran bowed once more and was immersed in

His Love. He could ask for no greater boon, for in His love he found

fulfilment.