Dharma Vahini - Post 23

Dear All,

To compliment / add to Swami's gospel on Temple worship, it is only appropriate to go through extract from an article on Idol worship by Swami Sivananda.

Swami Sivananda explains:

Idol or Murthy (Vigraha), Sun, Fire, Water, Ganga, Saligram, Linga are all symbols or Prateekas of God which help the aspirants to attain one-pointedness of mind and purity of heart. 

A symbol is absolutely indispensable for fixing the mind. The Christians also have got the symbol 'cross'. A gross mind needs a concrete symbol as a prop or Alambana; a subtle mind requires an abstract symbol. 

Even a Vedantin has the symbol of OM for fixing the wandering mind. In the beginning concentration or meditation is not possible without a symbol.

Even in worshipping a small idol, he has to repeat the Purusha Sukta and to think of the Virat Purusha with countless heads, countless eyes, countless hands, who extends beyond the universe and of the Lord or Atman who dwells in the hearts of all beings.

Narsi Mehta was put to test by a Raja. The Raja said: "O Narsi, if you are a sincere devotee of Lord Krishna, if as you say the idol is Lord Krishna Himself, let this idol move." 

According to the prayer of Narsi Mehta, the idol moved. 

The sacred Bull Nandi before Siva's idol took the food offered by Tulsidas. 

The Murti played with Mira Bai. It was full of life and Chaitanya for her.

How sublime is Hindu philosophy and Hindu mode of worship! It does not stop or end with worship of idol alone. The Sadhaka is taken step by step to higher stages of devotion and Samadhi or communion through the worship of the idol. 

Though he worships the idol, he has to keep before his mental eye the all-pervading Lord. He has to feel His Presence in His heart and all objects. 

Devotees of Lord Krishna should feel that every form is the

form of Lord Krishna. They should not change this Bhava or mental attitude, even if a murderer appears before them to kill them. If they are established in this Bhava, the nature of the murderer will be changed or some other man will kill the murderer. If the Bhava changes, they should cultivate it again and again.

Feel His Presence always. Recognise His presence everywhere. Carry His presence wherever you walk. Remember Him always. Live in Him.


Do not bother yourself if you are not able to have perfect visualization of the picture of the Lord with the closed eyes. Continue your practice vigorously and regularly. You will succeed. What is wanted is Prema for the Lord. Cultivate this more and more. Let it flow unceasingly, spontaneously. This is more important than visualization.

Hear the divine whisper in silence. Realize the power of faith. Feel God's sustaining Grace. Know the way of escape. Build the shrine of love or the temple of devotion in your heart. Enter the silence. Enjoy the life transcendent.

Forget the universe, forget the body and forget everything. Meditate on the glory of His Name. Be fixed in His Name. Merge yourself in His Name.

God deprives one of his wealth, wife, son, etc., if He wants to take him to His Lotus-Feet. Do not grumble, my dear Prem! Say with boldness: "Thy will be done, O Lord!" and rejoice. Have perfect trust in Him. Exert sincerely and leave the rest to God.

The lane of love is extremely narrow indeed. It cannot contain two. Where there is 'I', the Lord is not. Where there is the Lord, this 'I' ceases to be.

Love.

PS- In the next 2 posts, Author would post the 2 articles which came from within, which were included in a booklet distributed in Sai Sadan, Muscat, titled "Journey Within", which is the same essence with which this blog name was also concluded.

The 2 articles are:-

- From Form to Form less

- Worshipping God with Form after Self Realization

Love.