Does idol worship lead us to the truth?

The prospect of idol worship is viewed as derogatory and many spiritual schools around the world held it with discontentment but idol worship has its own beauty, and it is not without a comprehensive spiritual benefit according to Indian tradition and Shastras. There are some decrees mentioned in sacred books about a particular idol and how to consecrate it inside the temple, just as there are decrees regarding the Temples. The idol is elevated from a level from a deaf and dumb stone to an alive deity after consecration. This consecrated idol serves as a bridge between the vast, endless cosmos and the worshiper. Just as we can see through our window the limitless universe we can see and connect with this universe through idol. The thirst for God realization is always deep side for everyone, an idol can be a catalyst for us to plunge inside ourselves and have the experience of the Absolute. For some, it is possible without any external help, for many this external help in the form of an idol is essential to get a lift in their spiritual status.

This kind of idol worship is practiced in India for a long time. The Bakthi Yoga is one of the four yogas that helps the suffering masses in getting closer to God in an easy way. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa attained unparalleled spiritual heights not through the complex Raja yoga or through karma yoga but through pure devotion and love towards Mother Kali in the temple of Dakshineshwar whom to Sri Ramakrishna is very much alive then the humans around him. The same transformation happened to Swami Vivekananda who was a Brahma Samajist before meeting Sri Ramakrishna when he was directed by the former to visit the Temple and pray to the Mother as if she is there alive. Such one pointed devotion and unconditional love can take a seeker to great spiritual heights, Devotees like Meera had unflinching love and Bakthi towards Lord Krishna, that helped her in the spiritual upliftment. Men and women of great devotion were lived on this land who have forsaken everything in life and devoted to the ideal of Bakthi and endured in the path of God realization. As it was said before the idol can be served as a catalyst, only to give an initial breakthrough in the path of spirituality and later on the seeker would immerse himself with the subtle being of the Absolute. Hugh Ross in his book “Reason to believe” states that “The destiny of a swine is to become a pork, is the destiny of the man same? or lesser ? ” Men are more evolved than animals in emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually.