Jain Journal 2000 01

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

Page 31

NAHATA WORSHIPPING A SYMBOL-MY VIEW POINT
not! These arguments emanate out of lack of appreciation of what actually occurs at the ground level in the path of devotion of different sects !
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Yogi Saint Chetananand brings out beautifully the efficacy of idol worship by illustrating this example which is as follows: To think of God in a 'formless' manner is like comprehending fire without its form. Fire is everywhere, it is in the wood, the grass, the stone or the match stick. But, it is not visible unless the above objects are put to an impact. When these objects are subjected to impact, flames of fire sprouts out and then it is put to use. Therefore, when fire turns from 'formless' to 'form', its use is felt. This 'form' is what 'idol' worship is all about.
Guru (teacher) Dronacharya did not teach the art of bow & arrow fighting to Eklavya, because he was a 'Bhil' (untouchable) by caste. But Eklavya made a 'Murti' (statue) of the Guru (teacher) by mud and paying obeisance to that 'Murti' (statue) he learnt the 'Dhanurvidhya' (archery) to such an extent that even the great archer Arjuna was wonderstruck at his competence in this art! If it is so, how far is it correct to say that praying before the idol of the Lord is not blissful?
Without 'idol' worship, worshipping seems to be aimless, it seems as if one is aiming an arrow aimlessly without an object to hit. An archer finds it futile to fire his arrow unless there is an object to be aimed at. Prithviraj was blind, though he was able to hit any object through the medium of hearing! Here he used his hearing faculty to achieve his objective. Similarly, a devotee also has to depend on a medium to achieve one's goal. It is another thing that once one realizes the supreme Bliss, one does not have the necessity for a medium, but that does not mean that one did not need the medium at any stage or at the very beginning.
This point can well be illustrated by the following example: I am a devotee and I want to undertake a pilgrimage trip from Delhi to the holy 'SHRI SAMMETSHIKHAR'. To reach the above pilgrim centre, I have to use the rail or road way. Once I reach the centre, I get off the train and I don't need its services any more. Nobody can logically question me as to why I needed the services of the train at all in the first instance if I were to dispense with the same later. If that be so, I would not have left Delhi, let alone reaching the pilgrim centre ! Similarly for merging the 'Soul' with the supreme spirit the devotee has to have a symbol before him/her to concentrate on the supreme power. That is where the importance of idol worship lies. Once the