Please do not use the word Hindu. Arya is the true word. Hindu word was coined by Muslim Arabs it means a thief or something similar. Somepeople now claim that it refers to river Sindhu. Anyway Hindu word is not found in the vedas. Please do not worship stones or animals as the vedas believe in one formless god. Arya Samaj is the only true Hindu movement. In Arya temples you will not find idols of any demi-gods. Gita also says that do not worship demigods.
Gita Seventh Chapter, twentieth verse:
"Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
RE:Arya not Hindu
by deep dar on Sep 25, 2007 08:45 AM Permalink
I don't understand the harm in worshipping idols. As long as you have faith in dharma, whether you worship idols, meditate, or just do your work for which you have entered the world, it makes no difference.
Regarding many Gods, the various forms of Gods are there to signify the various features of His personality. The Supreme God is Lord Vishnu, as explained clearly in the Vedas.
RE:Arya not Hindu
by Anil Hingorani on Sep 25, 2007 09:17 AM Permalink
This phrase needs to be understood in appropriate context and it is being misquoated in the context cited by you. This statement has a deeper meaning for spiritual high risers.
In a way this statement implies that one does need idol worship initially as the supreme cannot be visualised or imagined without a personification (prototype or model). People worship idols to gain spiritual height as well as material possessions, however the aim should be go into advanced spirituality where a human mind no longer needs the aids of form, color, sound to understand the supreme who is formless and omnipotent.
Likewise, all religions in a way do idol worship, including those who openely oppose it. Simply put, when anybody regardless of religion beleives that God listens, god sees, god gives, god punishes, god saves etc. is modeling or personifying god by attributing God with ears, eyes, heart etc. Hindus being most advanced in spiritual science go a step further to give a form, beauty and power symbols to the same God. Worshipping god in idols or non-idolic personification is an important (though optional) step in a spiritual cycle. Unfortunately those driven by mullahs, maulvis and those driven by pastors and priests who got converted by false means and still take pride in being fooled will not understand these finer intricacies.
RE:RE:Arya not Hindu
by Anil Hingorani on Sep 25, 2007 09:23 AM Permalink
Just to conclude..........Therefore in a bid to encourage people to go advanced in spirituality, hindu scriptures signal to a aspirant that he/she needs to go beyond idols to seek the supreme self, else there is no harm in worshipping idols.
