Idols can be made of any material, with or without any shape. Islam vs hinduism hinduism facts facts about hindu religion. Nobody has done any revision to the holy books of hindus. Many idols personify the different aspects of nature. Hindu religion is very practical and life oriented. The religion of hinduism originated in northern india, near the river indus, about 4000 years ago and is the worlds oldest existing religion. An introduction the following are some references from hindu scriptures. If you ever wanted to learn about the concepts and fundamentals of hinduism then this is the book for you. Lifex, vivekananda answers christians about worshiping god idols in hinduism. The word hindu or hinduism was not found in any holy book of hinduism even the word was been newly introduced. However, the holy books in hinduism are the basis on which we have evolved our culture and way of living.
Prophet mohammad paigambar is considered as the founder of islam. There are a number of reasons for hindus making a pilgrimage. Idols in the hindu way of life why are they worshipped. It was the way of life which later took the form of religion. In abrahamic religions, namely judaism, christianity and islam, idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than god as if it were god. The vedas a collection of hymns praising the vedic gods. A few texts are shared resources across these traditions and broadly considered as hindu scriptures. The termvedic belivers conservatives if one properly follows the 4 system of that holy rule book then we can say him as a hindu or vedic beliver since you said but it is of relegious view. And the holy quran also states that allah is the beginning, and the end. But jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent and come out of him. The vedas are scriptures that the hindu people use as a guide to daily and religious life. The best advice for such hindus is to turn off the computer, close your eyes and chant hare rama. The puranas do not enjoy the authority of a scripture in hinduism, but are considered a smriti. Hindu worship idols so that they do not forget the real image of.
Mar 02, 2011 hence, different names and idols were given by the people to comprehend the ultimate reality. Sikhism prohibits idol worship, in accordance with mainstream khalsa norms and the teachings of the sikh gurus, a position that has been accepted as orthodox growing sikh popular discontent with gurdwara administration and practices during the 1800s, revivalist movements in the mid1800s who opposed idol worship like the nirankaris who strongly opposed the practice, though reverting to. Idol worship is often considered as one of the major distinctions between western religions and hinduism. Hinduism holy book important books and writings of hinduism sacred text of hinduism some important books and writings on hinduism hinduism does not possess a single holy book like bible in christianity and quran in islamic dharma. In fact puranas like shrimad bhagavatam itself mention the process of deity form worship of the god and what the idols can be made of. But as a matter of fact most of hindus or christians or which ever religion, are all doing the same thing ie limiting to the plane of idol worship for material gains, and are never rising above it that is my observation. V an idol or an image is a living embodiment arca of god. Importance of worshipping a bilwa tree on a monday. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the mahabharata. They dont recognize idols or symbols made out of colors or rock, dance or musical notes. Idols or temples or churches or books are only the supports, the. Hindu texts are manuscripts and historical literature related to any of the diverse traditions within hinduism. So, it is not surprising that they feel comfortable worshiping the divine in his material manifestation. Sikhism beliefs criticizes caste, worship of idols and traditions and believes in one imaginative source, ten gurus of history, faith of guru granth, commencement rituals built up by tenth guru gobind singh including five ks that means the articles of faith and teachings of ten gurus wherever hindus believe in caste, worship of idols and.
Vivekananda answers christians about worshiping god idols. Other holy scriptures in hinduism are called the upanisads, the smrutis, the puranas, the ramayana and the. The bhagavata purana has been among the most celebrated and popular text in the puranic genre. These two fundamental convictions in some ways make hinduism and islam polar opposites. The concluding portions of the vedas are called upanisads. Idol worship is perhaps the greatest falsehood of hinduism. The hindu trinity is represented by three godheads. Idol worship and rituals are at the heart of hinduism and have great religious and philosophical significance. From a small basil plant to the vermilion powder, these small sacred objects have a spiritual significance. Importance of idols in the hindu way of life sanskriti. Fire, wind, sun and soil are considered holy in hinduism. Sadhguru looks at the worship of idols in the hindu way of life, and explains that they are not merely depictions of gods.
Idolatry is the worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a person in place of god. Therefore, hindus who may be weakhearted, pregnant or in otherwise illhealth should not proceed any further. Going on pilgrimage plays an important part in hinduism. The belief system in the hindi religion is outlined from these scriptures. The religious scriptures are not followed word to word.
But in hinduism, idols murti are worshipped as reminders of god. Vivekanandas explanation on idol worship and many gods. A unique and allencompassing characteristic of hinduism is that one devotee may be worshipping ganesha while a friend worships siva or vishnu or kali, yet both honor the others choice and feel no sense of conflict. Worship takes a multitude of forms depending on community groups, geography and language. I am hindu, i want those who are ignorant about hindus worshiping idols to know the answer. I read bhagvad gita and its nowhere written in it anything about idol worshipping in hinduism. Brahma the creator, vishnu the protector, and shiva the destroyer. Any one of the house of israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, i the lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, that i may lay hold of the hearts of the house of. A direct translation from the sanskrit to english is problematic. According to quran, mohammad paigambar was just a messenger and not the founder. Hinduism holy book important books and writings of hinduism. It is the sin nature of man that causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in reality, forms of selfworship. Even though the hindu religion is the oldest religion in the world. We do hope that all serious students of hindu religion and philosophy will find the book useful and.
It is a means to focus ones religious pursuits and worship bhakti. The king in an attempt to mock idol worship told swamiji, ive no faith in idol worship. There is a whole science of idol making where a certain form is created with a particular material. The rigveda is a collection of hymns dedicated to 33 gods especially to indri and agni. Idolatry is the worship of an idol or cult image, being a physical image, such as a statue, or a. Could never really understand the idol worship argument. It is the qualities that are worshiped by the hindu. As explained, idol worshipping in its true meaning enhances one focus and concentration. At the front was a big central pulpit and behind the preacher.
I am often told by religious people that celebrities are now being worshiped like gods. There are a number of scriptures and holy books in hinduism. The form carved in a stone or painted on a paper is also an imaginary form and not even a direct photo. Jan 30, 2010 in hinduism idol worship is not prohibited. Information on hinduism for kids primary homework help. They may wish to have a closer experience of the god that they worship, or they may wish to wash away their sins by bathing in a holy river. Apr 25, 2014 hinduism is the worlds oldest living religion and the third largest behind christianity and islam with more than 1 billion followers. These hindu texts have been influential in the hindu culture, inspiring major national and regional annual festivals of hinduism. Although all the scriptural excerpts below are genuine and taken directly from hindu holy books, the truth can sometimes be too much to handle for some people. Lord krishna said believe in me, have faith in me, worship me and you can see me with divine eyes etc. Hindus do worship idols, but so do christians, jews and even muslims. Some argue that hinduism is more a way of life than religion. Once swami vivekananda visited king of alwar in present day rajasthan. There are two bodies of holy literature that form the primary texts of sanatana dharma.
Part 1 in indian society, idol worship is one of the major superstitions that preclude the development of a scientific bent of mind. Hinduism today magazine, published quarterly from kauais hindu monastery. Hinduism and judaism similarities pakistan defence. The book, which was first published in 1947, has now been rearranged in a more convenient form, with useful additions here and there, and is now released in its fifth edition. The holy book in the hindu religion is known as the vedas. Idols in the hindu temples are not toys or statues. Apr 03, 20 the holy books in hinduism are there only for guidance. How do hindus show respect for their holy book answers.
Idol worship is described in uddhava geeta by lord krishna to his cousin and disciple uddhava in bhagwata puran. In this essay, we present ten valid reasons that justify the practice of idol worship in hinduism and why hindus pray to idols and images at homes and in temples. They only recognize idols made out of letters or alphabets or paper. That is why i have raised this question so that other faith people whom we respect will understand the significance of idol worship. Dec 11, 2011 salam alekum, hope this is the right place to post this question as it involves hinduism. A sense of bhakti or devotional love if generally invoked. Vivekananda answers christians about worshiping god idols in hinduism. Some of the holy books are the ramayan and the bhagvad gita. There are approximately 950 million adherents, most of them in india or nepal. Idolatry is the worship of a physical object as a god of any object, person. Sep 08, 2009 idols and signs are essential part of every religion hindus have murtis not idols of their gods christian worship cross, jesus and mother marys photos muslims bow before an uncut black stone sikhs worship a book as guru pagans worship symbols what is the philosophy behind worshiping photos, murtis and stones and books for worshipping god. Therefore speak to them and say to them, thus says the lord god. When an idol is made by the hindu, he assigns certain qualities to that idol. As far as i am concerened hinduism has not one book but many books and just by going through one line and spreading a rumor that idol worship is banned in hindusim doesnt suit.
Idol worshipping, western terminologies and the modern view. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. Posts about hindus worshiping idols written by hinduism1om1. Hindus do not worship a stone or metal idol as god. May 07, 2007 if all the holy books go for revision its better. The christian missionaries disliked and were against their idolworshipping, as their beliefs from the old testament stated that thou shalt not worship false idols. My dear lord, o master of the devotees, please explain to me the prescribed method of worshiping you in your deity form. This misperception results from ignorance, not only among the foreigners, but even among indians about the underlying philosophy of god in indian tradition and the symbolic nature of idols that are hardly different from other symbols like a sacred site or holy book revered in other. This is why we find in our holy book, the koran, both scholastic. Or you dont worship anything and you can be a hindu. Is there any holy book in hinduism where idol worship is. I liked the key pointman is to become divine by realizing the divine.
And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. In these monotheistic religions, idolatry has been considered as the worship of false gods and is forbidden by the values. Thus, thus symbolically in idol worship one not only worships the concrete form of god murtam but also the subtle, invisible and formless self amurtam in the body. This article was first published at patheos i was brought up in pennsylvania in an independent bible church. The only religion in the world that doesnt need to worship an idol is hinduism. No doubt it is prohibited in all holy books like vedas, upanishads, talmudh, bible and the quran. Therefore, one should not undermine the importance of idol worship in hinduism. All hindu deities are themselves symbols of the abstract absolute and point to a particular aspect of the brahman. In fact, it is impossible to conceive of god without some form of idol, for idol worship is the way of religion.
At the front was a big central pulpit and behind the preacher were some pews for the choir. What is the difference between the ideology of islam, and the ideology of hinduism. Our church building was a large auditorium designed for people to listen to biblebased sermons. There is no single scripture as it is in other religions like christianity and islam. Central to hindu worship is the image or icon, and central to hindu belief is the concept of rebirth or reincarnation. Sso basically ive been doing some research on jinns and how they were creating, what they do etc. The deification of celebrities is also a form of idolatry. Worship in hinduism is an act of religious devotion usually directed to one or more hindu deities. Hinduism is the worlds third most popular religion, with around 750 million followers.
The four books of the vedasrig, yajur, sama and atharvainclude over 100,000 verses. The practice of idol worship in hinduism and why hindus pray to idols and. Some people concentrate on the idols, some on the light of candle and some on the rising sun. Image worship is also practiced in buddhism and jainism.
I came across a post here on shiachat that made me question a few points. Vedas and upanishadas are the most authoritative amongst all hindu scriptures and holy books. The masses assume that by worshipping idols, their sins will be forgiven and they will be rewarded in this life as well as after. Why are only catholics and hindus accused of worshipping. Comparison between hinduism and sikhism free essay. His book and the hindus icon are much alike in this way. Western society and abrahamic religions are often dazzled and confused by all the deity worship with in the hinduism. What idolatry means in hinduism hindu american foundation. Again, in the history of hinduism deities have been pictured, in the indus valley seals were found of the yogichorned god and statues of the mother goddess. Idol worship is neither mandatory nor prohibited in hinduism. It is the sin nature of man that causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in reality, forms of self worship. Hinduism download books, sacred, spiritual texts and pdf e. It is a very controversial thing about this verses along the religious websites, especially nonhindu websites, they are claiming that idol worship is prohibited in.
Idol worship murthi puja or image worship in hinduism refers to the worship of the names and forms murti of god, any divinity or reverential person such as a guru or a saint. What is the reason of failure of idol worship outside india. The vedas are not books, they are revealed facts by rishis. We hindus invoke the presence of god, or the gods, from the higher, unseen worlds, into stone. The statues and photos are only models representing the concept, which is knowledge. Hinduism does not have a single holy book, but many ancient texts and scriptures. We invoke the presence of god from the higher, unseen worlds, into the image so that we can commune with him and receive his blessings. Be a proud and staunch hindu never be afraid if someone calls you a communal, whoever say s so, is the pseudosecular or a. Hindus are not idol worshippers in the sense implied. The ancient buddhist, hindu and jaina texts discuss the nature of existence. I was buddhist for 25 years and experimented with hinduism for 4 years. All those who worship demi gods, all those do idol worship, they are materialistic people. From vedas prohibition of idol worship in yajurveda there is no image of him. But for all other religions, it is a must and mandatory.
Rishis are the seers of the mantras, not its authors. Nor is it based on the teachings of a founder or holy book. The different gods and goddesses in the hindu mythology are derived from these books. The temptation to worship ourselves in various ways is a powerful temptation indeed. Vivekananda answers christians about worshiping god idols in. What is the thathwa behind hindus worshiping idols. This holy book is written in the sanskrit language. Buddhist dhammapada, the sikh adi granth, the jewish torah, the christian bible and the muslim koranthe veda is the hindu holy book. In hinduism there are many words to describe the nature of god, and we will refer to them as the need arises, but in this regard, the most. Sep 11, 2008 i liked the key pointman is to become divine by realizing the divine. Is it true, idol worshiping prohibited in hinduism. The idols of rama, sita, lakshmana, krishna, venkateshwara, ganesha, laxmi and many innumerable idols are worshipped all over the world by hindus. And they were all amazed and said to one another, what is this word.
They are rig veda, sama veda, yajur veda and atharva veda. In this way hinduism is the least idol oriented of all the. The following are the most sacred holy books in hinduism. Hindu scriptures and holy books hinduism facts hinduism facts. They may intend to pray for favors already received. Sikhs follow the guru granth their holy book and do not pray to. It is a very controversial thing about this verses along the religious websites, especially non hindu websites, they are claiming that idol worship is prohibited in hinduism. The most holy of the hindu books is written in sanskrit and is referred to as the vedas. In the hindu way of life, the only important thing in human life is his liberation. All religions have their symbols of holiness through which the sacred flows into the mundane. Hinduism is practised by more than 80% of indias population. There are also other holy books like puranas, ramayana, mahabharta etc. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc.