Deepak, Many think an "idol" is the "human-like" figure and somehow "bad". In middle-eastern religions, they go for a "book", prayers written in Arabic script, symbols like the "crescent star" or "a cross" a place of worship that can only look one way, with minarets or spires, a direction in which to turn to pray, a mausoleum (a grave) which has to "look" in a certain way. Christians have statutes of Jesus, as well as Mary and the Child. My question is: Why shd all these "substitutes" be seen as NOT IDOLS ? As far as the human brain goes, everyone of them is an "idol" that carry the same objections as the "idol" with a human likeness. Incidentally, the term "idol" is not the right term for us. "Vigraha" = "Source of the Victory of the House" the term used in Hindu Agamas and Grihya Sutras for the "Mool Devata" conveys the sense of "here is the focus or source of the divine in this Graha or house". Therefore, it is identified as the link, a Sethu for human thoughts and prayers. In that sense, it is a great help. So, on deeper inquiry, some of these superficial criticisms of Hinduism disappear.
