The purpose of this article is to examine the notion of idol worship in the context of Hinduism and compare it with the Biblical idea of idolatry with the purpose of demonstrating how a misunderstanding can be strategically used as a source of misinformation to further the objectives of proselytization. It must be stated that this article does not aim to condemn Christianity but to express a critical view against any effort by human beings to advocate an intolerant attitude that would compromise social stability and the global objective of unity in diversity.
The systematic attack on the structure of “idol worship” by Semitic religious systems (viz. Christianity and Islam) has existed from the early Jewish times and continues even today. The recent destruction of the Buddhist idols by the Taliban in Afghanistan and the open condemnation of idol worship by Christian evangelists are testimonies to this fact. History has on record of how thousands of innocent Hindu worshippers, in the name of religion, have been slaughtered and their places of worship burnt to the grounds for holding onto their beliefs about the significance and relevance of idols in their spirituality. In certain Christian circles, idol worship has been associated with the worship of demons and are said to be objects in which demons hide. It is presumed that the main source of an anti-idol attitude in the Christian religion is the Bible and against this backdrop the critical question that needs to be raised is whether the Biblical reference to Jewish idols is similar to the idols conceptualized by the Hindus? To make a categorical claim that Hinduism as a whole is an idol-worship faith system is a blatant mistake and a strategic source of misinformation. In fact, Hinduism is not a single-faith religious system but is a collective term for the pluralistic beliefs that the different Hindus cherish. As a pluralistic belief system, idol worship is not a dominant aspect of the liturgical components of the Hindu worship system but constitutes a primary part that aids the devotee in their evolutionary path towards an ultimate end. So the conception of “Idol worship” which suggests that Hindus worship wooden or stone images as an end in itself is totally inaccurate and is part of the misinformation used by convert seekers to further their proselytization mission. On the contrary, an idol is a symbol used by certain Hindus as a means of devotional expression. It must be reflectively submitted that an idol used as a means of devotional expression is different from the notion of an idol that is an object of worship. The manner in which Hindus understand God will serve as ample justification that they do not worship idols as an end in itself but use them as a means to an ultimate end.
In the religious texts of the Hindus we describe God as “bahusirah” which literally means “the many headed one” or “with innumerable heads. There is supporting evidence in the Purusha Sukta hymn of the Rig Veda which describes the Lord as the “Purusha of a thousand heads, thousand eyes and a thousand feet”. In Hinduism, the conception of God is both formless and with a form. However, the language that is used to illustrate the formed nature of God is a language that does not limit God to a mere human being but extends His Divinity as a superhuman reality. In Hindu philosophy, the conception of “a thousand hands, feet and heads” is an ideological symbol of the Infinite, a God beyond space and time. The idol, on the other hand, is a physical objectification of an objectless reality. In Hindu spiritual practice the physical idol is the direct perception of the imperceptible reality and through this perception there is a powerful sense of devotion evoked towards the Infinite. In Hinduism, the physical object is not separated from the spiritual object but an integral part of it. Moreover, there are other terms such as “sarvato-muktah” used in the scriptures which translates to mean “the Divine whose face is everywhere”. The Bhagavad Gita compliments this construct and adds that the Divine is “one who has eyes, heads and faces everywhere” (13.13). Here again the transcendence of the Divine is illustrated. To have a face, eye or head everywhere is humanly impossible and therefore is a defining line between the limits of our humanness and the glory of the Divine. This limitation is further extended to the physical idol, therefore it would be improbable that Hindus would have understood their idols to be an ultimate end in itself. In actual fact, the principle of an idol or “murthi” is described in Hindu scriptures as “viswa-murthi” which translates to mean that the entire Cosmos is an idol of the Supreme. With the infinite Cosmos being described as an idol of the Divine it is impossible for any single idol carved of wood, stone, silver or gold to equal this idea. However, a single idol is a rational symbol of this Cosmic idea, aspiration or ideal. In addition, Hindus define the Ultimate as “naika-rupa” which means “the One not with a single form”, “the One who is of infinite forms”. Physical idols are limited to a single form therefore these idols cannot be taken to be an ultimate end in itself. The Hindu experience suggests that the idol represents the Infinite forms of the Lord. Even those who are anti-idol in their attitude will not be able to use their minds or intellect to capture the nature of the Supreme defined by the Hindu. How can such non-idol worshippers with such limitation in their methods of relating with the Supreme pass judgement on the efficacy of idol worship in Hinduism.
Now we will examine the Biblical conviction of idol and evaluate it in the context of the Hindu understanding. In the book of Leviticus of the Bible the Lord states “Do not abandon me and worship idols, do not make idols of metal and worship them”. I am the Lord your God (19.4). It would seem that in the Rabbinical era, the Jews made idols that replaced the worship of the Divine. It would be interesting to understand why some Jews have lost confidence in the Sovereign Lord and made idols instead and worshipped them. It is irrefutable that the conception of the Jewish idol is different from that of the Hindu. According to the Bible the Jewish idol was separated from the Sovereign Lord of the Bible but the Hindu idol, on the other hand, was a physical expression of the Infiniteness and Oneness of God. It would be plausible to state that this injunction of the Bible is not applicable to Hindus and cannot be used as a Biblical standard to criticize Hindu idol worship. In fact, Hindus do not make idols to replace their Lord but make idols to represent their Sovereign Lord. In the Book of Deuteronomy the Lord states: “You saw their disgusting idols made of wood, stone, silver and gold. Make sure that no man, woman, family or tribe standing here today turns from the Lord our God to worship the gods of other nations” (29: 17-18). This verse further justifies the above argument and it makes transpicuous the Christian philosophy of intolerance. On the assumption of the difference between an idol and God, it is quite clear that Christians cannot be intolerant towards Hindus because their impression of an idol in the Bible is ideologically different from that of the Hindu. Therefore the Christian cannot use these Biblical verses to justify their direct or indirect assault of Hindus. What needs to be transformed or destroyed is not the idea of “viswa-murthi” which represents the Infinite Cosmos as the idol of the Supreme expressed in images carved of stone, wood, silver or gold but the idea of an “intolerant god” who cannot stand the existence of other gods. Such intolerance is unsuited to the goals of a global society.
Furthermore, in the Book of Kings there is reference to “the worship of worthless idols and the makers of it becoming worthless” (2Kings 17: 15). The reference to “worthless” perhaps refers to something that is not beneficial. The Jews, it would seem, made idols that were not really beneficial to their spiritual practice, idols that replaced their God. It is quite perceptible that the Jews saw the necessity of idols; however, they were unable to make it worthwhile in their spirituality. It would seem that the Jews were condemned by God for their stupidity. . Hindus comparatively, developed idols that were gross expressions of the inexpressible and was used in the culture of Yoga to contribute to the stillness of the mind and the expansion of their consciousness. This philosophy and spiritual techniques were unknown to the Jews therefore their idols were worthless. So the Biblical reference to the worthless idols of the Jews was in no way a reference to the beneficial idols of the Hindus. In the Book of Psalms God states: Their gods are made of silver and gold formed by human hands, they have mouths but cannot speak and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear and nose but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel and feet but cannot walk, they cannot make a sound. May all who made them and trust in them become like idols they made (115: 4-8). This verse is further justification that the Jewish idols were limited in meaning and purpose. However, we learn that the God of the Bible had cast a curse upon those who made such idols to become like the idols they made. For the Hindu, the idol represents a God with a thousand feet, ears, eyes, hands who does not have to walk, ear, or move because His infinite nature envelopes the entire Cosmos. Hindus make idols to use as part of their spiritual evolution to achieve spiritual Oneness with the Divine. So the curse of the God of the Jews to become like the idols they make is really a blessing to the Hindus because they made such idols to become spiritually one with the Divine.
In conclusion, it is discernable that the notion of idol worship in Hindu liturgical practices is significantly different from that of the Jews and the interpretation of the Christians. It is also quite evident that Christians mix up the idols of the Jews with that of the Hindus and that the Biblical criticism of Hindu idols is therefore unjustified.
The systematic attack on the structure of “idol worship” by Semitic religious systems (viz. Christianity and Islam) has existed from the early Jewish times and continues even today. The recent destruction of the Buddhist idols by the Taliban in Afghanistan and the open condemnation of idol worship by Christian evangelists are testimonies to this fact. History has on record of how thousands of innocent Hindu worshippers, in the name of religion, have been slaughtered and their places of worship burnt to the grounds for holding onto their beliefs about the significance and relevance of idols in their spirituality. In certain Christian circles, idol worship has been associated with the worship of demons and are said to be objects in which demons hide. It is presumed that the main source of an anti-idol attitude in the Christian religion is the Bible and against this backdrop the critical question that needs to be raised is whether the Biblical reference to Jewish idols is similar to the idols conceptualized by the Hindus? To make a categorical claim that Hinduism as a whole is an idol-worship faith system is a blatant mistake and a strategic source of misinformation. In fact, Hinduism is not a single-faith religious system but is a collective term for the pluralistic beliefs that the different Hindus cherish. As a pluralistic belief system, idol worship is not a dominant aspect of the liturgical components of the Hindu worship system but constitutes a primary part that aids the devotee in their evolutionary path towards an ultimate end. So the conception of “Idol worship” which suggests that Hindus worship wooden or stone images as an end in itself is totally inaccurate and is part of the misinformation used by convert seekers to further their proselytization mission. On the contrary, an idol is a symbol used by certain Hindus as a means of devotional expression. It must be reflectively submitted that an idol used as a means of devotional expression is different from the notion of an idol that is an object of worship. The manner in which Hindus understand God will serve as ample justification that they do not worship idols as an end in itself but use them as a means to an ultimate end.
In the religious texts of the Hindus we describe God as “bahusirah” which literally means “the many headed one” or “with innumerable heads. There is supporting evidence in the Purusha Sukta hymn of the Rig Veda which describes the Lord as the “Purusha of a thousand heads, thousand eyes and a thousand feet”. In Hinduism, the conception of God is both formless and with a form. However, the language that is used to illustrate the formed nature of God is a language that does not limit God to a mere human being but extends His Divinity as a superhuman reality. In Hindu philosophy, the conception of “a thousand hands, feet and heads” is an ideological symbol of the Infinite, a God beyond space and time. The idol, on the other hand, is a physical objectification of an objectless reality. In Hindu spiritual practice the physical idol is the direct perception of the imperceptible reality and through this perception there is a powerful sense of devotion evoked towards the Infinite. In Hinduism, the physical object is not separated from the spiritual object but an integral part of it. Moreover, there are other terms such as “sarvato-muktah” used in the scriptures which translates to mean “the Divine whose face is everywhere”. The Bhagavad Gita compliments this construct and adds that the Divine is “one who has eyes, heads and faces everywhere” (13.13). Here again the transcendence of the Divine is illustrated. To have a face, eye or head everywhere is humanly impossible and therefore is a defining line between the limits of our humanness and the glory of the Divine. This limitation is further extended to the physical idol, therefore it would be improbable that Hindus would have understood their idols to be an ultimate end in itself. In actual fact, the principle of an idol or “murthi” is described in Hindu scriptures as “viswa-murthi” which translates to mean that the entire Cosmos is an idol of the Supreme. With the infinite Cosmos being described as an idol of the Divine it is impossible for any single idol carved of wood, stone, silver or gold to equal this idea. However, a single idol is a rational symbol of this Cosmic idea, aspiration or ideal. In addition, Hindus define the Ultimate as “naika-rupa” which means “the One not with a single form”, “the One who is of infinite forms”. Physical idols are limited to a single form therefore these idols cannot be taken to be an ultimate end in itself. The Hindu experience suggests that the idol represents the Infinite forms of the Lord. Even those who are anti-idol in their attitude will not be able to use their minds or intellect to capture the nature of the Supreme defined by the Hindu. How can such non-idol worshippers with such limitation in their methods of relating with the Supreme pass judgement on the efficacy of idol worship in Hinduism.
Now we will examine the Biblical conviction of idol and evaluate it in the context of the Hindu understanding. In the book of Leviticus of the Bible the Lord states “Do not abandon me and worship idols, do not make idols of metal and worship them”. I am the Lord your God (19.4). It would seem that in the Rabbinical era, the Jews made idols that replaced the worship of the Divine. It would be interesting to understand why some Jews have lost confidence in the Sovereign Lord and made idols instead and worshipped them. It is irrefutable that the conception of the Jewish idol is different from that of the Hindu. According to the Bible the Jewish idol was separated from the Sovereign Lord of the Bible but the Hindu idol, on the other hand, was a physical expression of the Infiniteness and Oneness of God. It would be plausible to state that this injunction of the Bible is not applicable to Hindus and cannot be used as a Biblical standard to criticize Hindu idol worship. In fact, Hindus do not make idols to replace their Lord but make idols to represent their Sovereign Lord. In the Book of Deuteronomy the Lord states: “You saw their disgusting idols made of wood, stone, silver and gold. Make sure that no man, woman, family or tribe standing here today turns from the Lord our God to worship the gods of other nations” (29: 17-18). This verse further justifies the above argument and it makes transpicuous the Christian philosophy of intolerance. On the assumption of the difference between an idol and God, it is quite clear that Christians cannot be intolerant towards Hindus because their impression of an idol in the Bible is ideologically different from that of the Hindu. Therefore the Christian cannot use these Biblical verses to justify their direct or indirect assault of Hindus. What needs to be transformed or destroyed is not the idea of “viswa-murthi” which represents the Infinite Cosmos as the idol of the Supreme expressed in images carved of stone, wood, silver or gold but the idea of an “intolerant god” who cannot stand the existence of other gods. Such intolerance is unsuited to the goals of a global society.
Furthermore, in the Book of Kings there is reference to “the worship of worthless idols and the makers of it becoming worthless” (2Kings 17: 15). The reference to “worthless” perhaps refers to something that is not beneficial. The Jews, it would seem, made idols that were not really beneficial to their spiritual practice, idols that replaced their God. It is quite perceptible that the Jews saw the necessity of idols; however, they were unable to make it worthwhile in their spirituality. It would seem that the Jews were condemned by God for their stupidity. . Hindus comparatively, developed idols that were gross expressions of the inexpressible and was used in the culture of Yoga to contribute to the stillness of the mind and the expansion of their consciousness. This philosophy and spiritual techniques were unknown to the Jews therefore their idols were worthless. So the Biblical reference to the worthless idols of the Jews was in no way a reference to the beneficial idols of the Hindus. In the Book of Psalms God states: Their gods are made of silver and gold formed by human hands, they have mouths but cannot speak and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear and nose but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel and feet but cannot walk, they cannot make a sound. May all who made them and trust in them become like idols they made (115: 4-8). This verse is further justification that the Jewish idols were limited in meaning and purpose. However, we learn that the God of the Bible had cast a curse upon those who made such idols to become like the idols they made. For the Hindu, the idol represents a God with a thousand feet, ears, eyes, hands who does not have to walk, ear, or move because His infinite nature envelopes the entire Cosmos. Hindus make idols to use as part of their spiritual evolution to achieve spiritual Oneness with the Divine. So the curse of the God of the Jews to become like the idols they make is really a blessing to the Hindus because they made such idols to become spiritually one with the Divine.
In conclusion, it is discernable that the notion of idol worship in Hindu liturgical practices is significantly different from that of the Jews and the interpretation of the Christians. It is also quite evident that Christians mix up the idols of the Jews with that of the Hindus and that the Biblical criticism of Hindu idols is therefore unjustified.
