The Truth

Author(s): O P Jain
Publisher: Veer Nirvan Granth Prakashan Samiti

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THE TRUTH
statues of leaders in our public places and we keep portraits of those, whom we revere, in front of our eyes. We even keep portraits of our dear relations and friends to feel their company when they are away, even though we may be able to recall them, fully in our mind. We do not tolerate any insulting behaviour towards such portraits even though we know that it is not the actual person. But we have installed the person in the portrait which is almost a living object to us now. The reason is that visual impulses greatly affect our thoughts and help us to concentrate on the qualities of the person whose image is before our eyes. The mind stops wandering if we see an object before, us. There are any number of examples when persons have received tremendous inspiration from the portraits or idols of great saints, teachers and brave warriors and have thus achieved great heights. It will be foolish to consider the stone image as God itself and to beg anything from it. But in reality it is never the intention to do so. The image is given an outward appearance which may refiect the virtues of the person whom it represents. As stated, God has eternal bliss and perfect peace of mind, is free from passions and completely detached from worldly objects i. e., is vitaraga. The image must reflect these attributes if it is going to infiuence the mind favourably i.e., it must be in a happy and innocent pose, serene looking and composed, in well disciplined asana, free from all objects associated with violence in any form, in a mood of meditation and in as pure a form as the soul it represents. Out of reverence, it may, however, be placed in dignified surroundings and the highest norms of respect and behaviour are to be followed in its presence. The devotee sees through the image the real God and is not contented to see the image superficially.
We always use names, pictures or models to know and understand worldly objects. How can it be otherwise with respect to God who is not even seen through our senses. It is quite natural that besides an abstract mental picture, we make a physical model representing His attributes. For lesser type of men, this additional facility to know God is essential. He needs a physical object of worship.
All criticism of idol worship arises from lack of appreciation of the purpose for which the idol is installed and from the wrong notion which a devotee may have about the idol. What is actually worshipped is not the person of God (what to say of the idol which is merely a material object), but the virtues and attributes of God, so that we may acquire them and rise to the status of Godhood. Worship, is,