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NAHATA : WORSHIPPING A SYMBOL-MY VIEW POINT
145 Imagine, you see a stone lying in the work place of a sculptor. You just don't feel anything about it. But you order the sculptor to sculpt an idol out of this stone of your ancestors or your deity in whom you have faith; and after some time when you visit the sculptor's work place, you find the idol you wanted instead of the bare stone. What happens to you? A feeling of affection and reverence wells in your heart towards the idol. You don't see it any more as a stone, but you take the idol as your very own ancestors or deity. That is the significance of idol worship!
It is a matter of deep consideration and research to find out as to in what circumstances idol worship came to be denounced? What is the basis for opposing idol worship? Even those who oppose idol worship can think in this matter deeply and dispassionately. Is it what they oppose actually idol worship or the tradition and method of idol worship? Do they oppose the ostentation that has come to be associated with idol worship or the blind faith that idol worship inculcates, in a devotee? Or particularly in India when the Mughals destroyed the temples and the idols in them, a sect of devotees decided that there was no need for construction of new idols or temples for purpose of worship. This very sect in course of time, might have started to oppose idol worship! May be, people, out of fear of the Mughals stopped going to temples or worshipping the idols or in order to flatter the Mughals, started telling that idol worship was wrong! The reason to oppose idol worship can also be that some people in order to give themselves an identity in society, started preaching a new sect of rules that was totally in contrast to the traditional ones !
Whatever be the fact it cannot be denied that opposition to idol worship took roots in India only on the advent of the Mughals. Any change taking place in the psyche of a society has a deep-rooted basis in the circumstances obtaining at that point of time, and it is the Mughals who are responsible for the opposition to idol worship.
Whenever arguments are bandied in this matter, those opposed to idol worship question as to when, where & why idol worship started and what is the proof thereof? They never want to find out when the actual opposition to idol worship started ? You find in this essay the reason as to why idol worship is necessary--but to find out when exactly, this form of idol worship started is as difficult as, say, to try to find out who is the first ancestor who started your lineage ! whereas, on the other hand, proof exists as to from when opposition to idol worship started. Research also is possible as to why idol worship came to be opposed ? Those opposing idol worship instead of trying to decry
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| SR No. | 520137 |
| Book Title | Jain Journal 2000 01 |
| 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 |