Hinduism: What Really Happenned in India (PDF) - Oration

Hinduism: What Really Happened in India – M. M. Ninan
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the house or in a puja mandir (place of worship in a house), the
very house becomes a place of God's residence, a very sacred
place, a temple by itself. The image that stands there reminds the
devout members of the household to become constantly aware of
the divine presence amidst them and of their religious duties and
responsibilities. It inspires devout men to keep their houses pure
and clean and not to indulge in sacrilegious acts.
5. Aid to concentration: More than any abstract concept, an image
or a symbol (yantra) is the best aid to concentrate and control ones
mind and attention. By keeping the mind concentrated on a
particular image, the mind can be stabilized. Modern science is
slowly unraveling the secrets of the mind and its capacity to
manifest reality. It is now a widely accepted fact that mental
images and forms one entertains in ones mind greatly shape ones
life and destiny and that the mind (especially the subconscious part
of it) has the capacity to realize whatever form or symbol it
concentrates upon. The ancient Hindus were aware of the
potentiality of the mind and therefore they did not object to the
worship of idols. They knew that, it was one of the best ways to
lead the other wise fickle human mind towards God.
6. In idol worship, the "true" worshipper becomes God! The statue
stands symbolically for the whole process of creation. According to
Hinduism, the worlds and beings came into existence when
Purusha (Divine Will and consciousness) entered Prakriti (Nature,
Energy or Matter).
The forms and ideas already exist in the consciousness of
Hiranyagarbha (the world soul, the first creative golden germ) and
He brings them to life by pouring into them His essence. The world
(Viraj) was an idea until the life breath entered into it and brought
it to life. The word "jagat" (the world) means that which is bright,
awake or conscious. When an idol is worshipped with intense love
and devotion, almost a similar process takes place in the mind of
the worshipper. The statue is no doubt inert and inactive piece of
matter at the physical level, but in his mind, the devotee can pour