Ideals Vs Idols

 

One of the most virulent charges against Hinduism is, it is idolatrous!! 

The psychic of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) is so against idol worship, any whiff of “graven” images immediately conjures up images of Mosses destroying the first tablets of the commandments because his people were worshipping a golden calf.

What they do not seem to understand is that idols are the embodiment of ideals.  They convey the ideal attributes of divinity as worshiped by the devotee.   Everyone knows that the idol is not The God – it is but a representation of what we admire / aspire to.  The serenity of Vishnu, or the strength of Rama , perfect posture of Nataraja, or the motherly smile of Devi – these are the things we wish to emulate, aspire to, and integrate in out lives.

Idols incorporate so many symbolism, that only a devotee can sometimes pick out all that the sculpture is trying to convey through his work.  For example, the snakes on Shiva’s body represent his ability to regenerate and live forever – snakes ability to cast off its old “body” (skin) and acquire a new one simultaneously was seen as a proof of reincarnation / immortality.  Snakes guard their own with all they have, Shiva, by associating with them, was saying I will guard you with all I have.  By taming snakes, the very symbol of death, Shiva is saying I have conquered death ! Come to me and you will not suffer countless rebirths.   There are many other explanations of why the symbol of the snake is used with Shiva.   A Shiva worshipper would know these and when he / she bows down, they bow down to these ideals, not the idol.

It is for this reason that though the non-believers have destroyed countless Hindu temples and idols, Hindus have not lost their faith.  Their faith is bound up in ideals, not idols.  Hence, centuries of senseless destruction, though emotionally and artistically tragic, did not spiritually destroy Hinduism.  To us, God resides in everything and everyone, and hence an image is but one more residence for the divine spirit.  What can be more monotheistic or indeed omnipresent, omnipotent than that !

The power of conveying ideals / ideas through images is as old as time and is exploited to the full by modern corporate and marketing / media.   Corporate logos, Brand development / recognition and Trademarks are but the new idols of today’s consumer oriented world.  Everyone knows the power of Coke’s brand is driven through its logo.  Certain phrases are the mantras of modern corporations – such as “Just Do It” that immediately conjure up the relevant ideals, ideas and even images of what the brand wants its devotees to think.   Corporates guard their “idols” jealously and any infringement on their image is immediately followed by law suites.  Isn’t this idol worship by any other name ?

Even the Christian churchs that abhors idols, has plenty of them in its own precincts.  Catholic worship in front of images of Mary, Jesus and an army of saints with total disregard of “idolatry”, yet, that is exactly what they are doing !  By expecting the various saints etc to step into assist them, they are negating the very omnipotence of God !  Yet, the irony of the situation escapes them when they claim Hindus do the same !

Muslims have their images of Kaba, Mecca and indeed calligraphy of verses from Koran.  They hold these with highest respect and no one is allowed to pass any negative comment on them.  An illiterate woman was recently stoned to death for serving her children food on paper printed with their sacred verses.  The women was too poor to afford plates and could not read or write, yet, she was punished for using sacred writing for mundane purpose.  Isn’t this worship of idols by other means ?

Jews have their sacred candle stand, the Wailing Wall and the torah, which they worship with greatest of reverence.  Any attack upon these is seen as an attack upon their religion and community at large !

 

What is amazing is that no one seems to realise the irony of the situation and everyone meekly accepts that idol worship is wrong.  No one questions the premise of this assumption and no one tries to go beyond the sound bites provided by the old testament.  (if you are offended by the use of lower case for “old testament” – you have just demonstrated your preference for idol worship – according respect to words or images is idolatry according to that lore.)

People need to realise that idol worship is universal and that we, as humans, will always worship ideas, ideals and aspirations in some image form or other.   Whether it’s a pictorial form or words, or indeed objects of cultural significance, we will always adore some thing we think as pure and wonderful.

Let us realise, and accept, that idol worship is actually “ideal” worship and live in peace !!

© Bhagwat Shah

 

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