Of “Puja”, “Murti” and Idol Worship
Pandit Dev Maharaj recently sent me a very well written (and easy to understand) introduction to the Hindu way of worship and an explanation of the different symbolisms.
In the article, he makes the point that, “Practitioners of Sanatan Dharma have frequently and erroneously been accused of idol worship…(which is not true)…Hindus believe that the spirit of God is both formless and without attributes called the Nirguna Brahman and with form and attributes called the Saguna Brahman, present in all things animate and inanimate. All is the creation of God and all is dissolved back into God, hence reverence is paid to God in the form of the Supreme spirit, in man, in animals and in nature.”
Essential reading for anyone wishing to know more about the various aspects of the traditonal “Puja”.
The pdf version of the article can be accessed by clicking the “Hindu Idol Worshippers” file in “Docs and Slides” in the right hand panel (lower down this page)
Dhanywaad, Panditji.
Related post: Of “Sacred Bulls”, Divinity & Development
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http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr122009/national20090412129755.asp?section=updatenews
1400-year-old idol found in JK
Srinagar, PTI:
The sculpture has been taken in possession by the state Archives and Archeology department and its antiquity and artistic details are being studied, its Deputy Director Peerzada Mohammad Ashraf said.
A rare granite sculpture of Goddess Laxmi, believed to be 1,400 years old, has been found at Waghama village along the river Jehlum in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The sculpture, that was found by the farmers a few days ago, has been taken in possession by the state Archives and Archeology department and its antiquity and artistic details are being studied, its Deputy Director Peerzada Mohammad Ashraf said on Sunday.
He said the farmers stumbled upon the idol when they were digging a field in Waghama-Bijbehara, 45 kms from here. They kept the idol with them but some villagers tipped the local police who recovered it and handed it over to the archaeology department.
The idol is seven inches high and 4.5 inches wide and is seen as one of the most important findings of the year, Ashraf said.
“It is a rare find bearing Gandhara art influence,” Ashraf said.
Bijbehara has been the home of Hellenistic art and evidences of early Hellenistic sculpture art had been found from here in the past.
Hare Krishna
Again the misuse of word as a weapon.
http://drfrankmorales.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/04/word-as-weapon-the-misuse-of-terminology-in-the.htm
If we are created in the image of God as a holy book says, then do we not have a parent picture.
If heaven and hell have a location, then surely God must be having a form.
Ponder on this.
Hare Rama , Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna . all article are there here.
http://www.dharmacentral.com/articlesbysridharmapravartaka.php
Hare Rama Hare Krishna