Jain Journal 2000 01

SR No.: 520137
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 47
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 30

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXIV, No. 3 January 2000 self-egotism, do not even bow before the idol of the Lord, let alone remembering Him in his all-pervasive form! God save these people!
142
If one remembers the devotion of God by simply remembering his name or his great qualities or by hearing of his spotless character, or by following his commands, one can devote himself/herself similarly to the great soul by standing in obeisance before his idol, statue or picture! If this fact is not admitted; then one's devotion towards the great soul is incomplete!
If devotion swells out of just remembering the name of God, how can one ignore worship by way of obeisance before an idol? A name is not based on the qualities of anyone but on the form of that someone. If a name was given to God just on their qualities/attainment there would be no reason to call them by different names. In spite of the same qualities the body structures of the God being different the necessity of giving different names is there. When only by chanting the name of a particular figure of the God can give fruitful results then why not by worshipping the figure? This is nothing but sheer foolishness. If only by taking the name of the Lord gives us prosperity then by praying to the idol of the Lord will be more prosperous. There would be no two opinions about this for any intelligent person. Without name and form to pray unto a formless object and to imbibe its qualities is indeed very difficult for a devotee.
For example a Muslim devotee does not straightaway believe in idol worship, but actually, instead of a small idol, what occupies their mind at the time of devotion, is the full premises of the mosque and each and every part. An idol hating Muslim worships every brick of the mosque as pure and for defending the premises, they are even prepared to sacrifice their life. They do not believe in idols but they are prepared to sacrifice themselves or take the life of somebody else for the sake of the Mosque. Disrespect to a mosque is something that a Muslim can never tolerate! Is this not a type of idol worship?
Like a Muslim, who does not believe in idol worship, but still has sonie form imbibed in his heart, similarly, a Protestant, an Arya Samaji, Kabir Panthi, Nanak Panthi, 'Bayees' Panthi, Terah Panthi also cannot ignore the disrespect of objects that they revere. They cannot tolerate any disrespect to a picture or a statue or an image that they revere.
When an idol worshipper or one who is opposed to idol worship is equally pained when disrespect is shown to the objects that they revere, is it not sheer foolishness to argue whether idol worship is needed or