Vivekananda Mailing List-10/14/03

[Guest guest]

Again, in Christianity and Mohammedanism whatever exists of image

worship is made to fall under that category in which the Pratika or the

Pratima is worshipped in itself, but not as a " help to the vision "

(Drishtisaukaryam) of God; therefore it is at best only of the nature

of ritualistic Karmas and cannot produce either Bhakti or Mukti. In

this form of image-worship, the allegiance of the soul is given to

other things than Ishvara, and, therefore, such use of images, or

graves, or temples, or tombs, is real idolatry; it is in itself neither

sinful nor wicked — it is a rite — a Karma, and worshippers must and

will get the fruit thereof.