The simplification of the chanakya's shlokas
when an icon is carved according to the iconographical dictates of the Āgama śāstra it is a symbol of the divine.
When brahmins perform the elaborate prāṇa-pratiṣṭha rites according to the Āgama/Tantra, then the Supreme Being by dint of his/her omnipresence and omni-benevolence energizes and locates itself within the sacred icon in order to be a link between the two realms of sakala and nishkala.
The Āgama says:–
bhagavat sānidhyam arcakasya tapo balāt
The presence of the Divine in the icon is dependent upon the meditative powers of the attendant priest.
Hindus don’t HAVE to worship anything since we have been gracefully spared any commandments from on high!! We can commune with the Divine as we please without compulsion. We have a far more informal and intimate association with the Lord or lady of the Universe treating Him/Her as our most intimate lover and friend! He/She doesn’t demand from us any worship and gracefully accepts whatever worship we care to offer.
We can recite mantras with the use of rosaries - just like Muslims and Catholics.
We can meditate like the Buddhists and Taoists
We can dance like the dervishes
We can sing like the gospel choirs
We can prostrate and fast like Muslims
We can do all of these or none of these.
The purpose of idols or rather ICONS to be less offensive, is simply to focus the mind.
Our exterior ritual technology consists of 3 basic instruments:—
yantra — geometrical designs
mantras — sacred texts chanted aloud
mūrti — icons of various sorts
Interior spiritual practice is visualization in meditation which is considered the highest of all practices.
Our condolences to all those seekers and devotees who have been constrained and limited in the scope of their spiritual practices! Come and join us and be liberated!!
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