Jain Journal 2000 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 27

WORSHIPPING A SYMBOL-MY VIEW POINT
LALIT KUMAR NAHATA For any one striving for a spiritual world idol worship is the first and the foremost step-concentrate on the Lord in some form and di your spiritual energies on to that form or object. That is where idol worship assumes significance. In the initial stages of a human's spiritual evolution, the striver needs a tool, a medium to cling to. When an evolved soul reaches the top rung of spiritual awareness, such a soul may not need these crutches or tools: but even such re: souls will never discount the importance of such medium for the evolving humans. In this context, one remembers what Swami Vivekanand said during his discourse in Chicago in USA on the 19th September, 1893 before the World Religious Conference “Childhood gives birth to youth etc." So, should we assume that an old man will be justified in calling his childhood and youth days as useless or a wicked phase of his life? Not at all ! One never becomes old without having been a child or youth.
Idol worship has been there down the ages because this comes naturally to a huinan being. Unless you imagine the thing to be venerated in the form of a certain object/idol it is as difficult to concentrate spiritually on that thing as it is life without breathing.
Idol worship is not something to be despised; on the other hand, it is a very essential medium or aid for the evolving soul to climb up the spiritual ladder. How far one is justified in despising idolatory worship when such a worship enables the devotee to experience higher spiritual solace? Even the evolved souls cannot question the efficiency of such a medium.
According to his or her faith everyone directly or indirectly does 'Idol worship’. Even a follower of Islam while doing ‘Namaz' (praying), subconsciously assumes that he/she is standing in the Kaba (Mosque at Mecca) and positions himself/herself in the direction where the above Mosque is situated. Such a Mosque is also a symbol of a religious place for them. For the Christians the Church is a symbol of their holy place. The Protestants among the Christians respect the symbol + (cross) as much as the Catholics worship the idols of 'Mother Mary &