Religious displeasure erects a potent hurdle among the nation nowadays. I know not whether I have the right or not, but I am writing it down. According to the Vedas, in Hinduism, “God is formless, unembodied”. The Vedas also mention that it is not said one has to worship idols, and, if anyone does it no one can put a single word against him. In orthodox philosophy, there is no place for belief in ‘polytheism’, rather, they are the believers in ‘monotheism’. According to Hindu Shastra God is almighty, he is the sovereign, he is the one and unique. So if he is the almighty, though he is formless, he has the power to be an idol, numerous images of his can be in the minds and fingers of peoples and architects.
In Chicago, on September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda gave lectures on ‘Universal Religion’. On being questioned upon worshipping the deities, he apparently said, “Hindus are not the idol worshipers. But are ideal worshipers”. I take that to mean they are not the worshipers of idols only. According to them, deities are symbols of ideas. They don’t utter those as their God, but, symbols of their God.
Vivekananda also said, “The Hindu Religion not only tolerates all the beliefs of different religions but also accepts all of them in their truest sense of the term”. Fervently, He declared all the beliefs of different religions are true. Being a pioneer of youth, he wanted to have the vigor until the death knell rings, among the young. From the womb of fanaticism, he wanted to behoof the above all faith, which is humanity.
But I feel we all are on a wrong track, besides obeying our own religion, own belief, we all have to respect other religions, other’s beliefs. We can worship in many ways, but those are all going to the same Source, Master Almighty!
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