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Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

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    Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

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    Idol Worship prohibited in Hinduism:

    i. Idol worship, which is very common amongst the Hindus, is prohibited in Hinduism.

    It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 verse 20:

    “Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires they worship demigods i.e. idols.(Bhagavad Gita 7:20)

    ii. Yajurved Chapter 32 Verse 3

    “There is no image of Him”

    (Svetashvatara Upanishad 4:19, Yajurved 32:3)

    iii It is also mentioned in

    Yajurveda Chapter 40 verse 9

    “They enter darkness those who worship natural things (for e.g. air, water, fire, etc.). They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti i.e. created things (for e.g. table, chair, car, idol etc.)

    (Yajurved 40:9)


    Also the The Quran says :

    O ye who believe!
    Intoxicants and gambling,
    (Dedication of) Stones,
    And (divination by) arrows,
    Are an abomination
    Of Satan’s handiwork;
    Eschew such (abomination),
    That you may prosper.

    (Al Qur’an 5:90)


    Allah (swt) guides us, through this verse of the Qur’an, which is recited by the Imaam during salaah, that we should not not indulge in idol worship or as this is Satan’s handiwork and we should abstain from these if we wish to prosper.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

    When truth is hurled at falsehood , falsehood perishes. because falsehood by its nature is bound to perish [21:18- Holy quran]
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    You casually insert "i.e. idols", when neither does the word mean the same as 'demigod', nor does the verse hint that it means 'idols'.. literally it actually says 'other gods'.

    The others I'm not familiar with but your track record with the Gita suggests anything involving parentheses and 'e.g' should be taken with a very large grain of salt. An idol would not be catagorized with a table or chair by a Hindu. The inclusion of "car" in the context is just plain silly.

    I suspect correct translations without the adornments will reveal this 'prohibition' as a figment of your imagination.
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    There is no prohibition on idol worship, it just says that it will not lead you to true understanding of God therefore you will not attain Moksha. There is no vile threat of anyone who worships idols will go to a firey hell.

    You need to understand the concept of God clearly in Hinduism to know why idols are used anyway and what those quotes you have mentioned in the original post actually mean.
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    even if idol worship is not prohibited, I never understand the purpose of idol worships.
    Can't you just worship God instead of carved stones, wood, metal objects etc?
    Those idols did not give you life did they?
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    The God they worship isnt the painting or the statue or the rock or whatever, its the relavant imagined deity. They use the pictures as a focus for their prayers. they know that its a painting produced in a factory, just like some moderate catholics understand that the holy toast they eat on sundays is produced in a factory and prefer to see it as a focus rather than the actual body of christ after the magic words are mumbled in latin.

    The best example i could use is the black rock. Its not worshipped, its a sort of focus.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    format_quote Originally Posted by barney View Post
    The God they worship isnt the painting or the statue or the rock or whatever, its the relavant imagined deity. They use the pictures as a focus for their prayers. they know that its a painting produced in a factory, just like some moderate catholics understand that the holy toast they eat on sundays is produced in a factory and prefer to see it as a focus rather than the actual body of christ after the magic words are mumbled in latin.
    what I see the hindus do it is that they don't use the statues etc solely to focus. They do worship them. They put offerings to them, they pray to them etc.
    Same with Buddhists etc.
    No matter how you soften the language, the fact is they worship statues.

    while christians/catholics/paulians believe their god is a middle eastern man and then they create zillions of his image/likeness and put them on pedestal to worship/pray/focus/whathaveyou..


    The best example i could use is the black rock. Its not worshipped, its a sort of focus.
    what black rock?
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    format_quote Originally Posted by barney View Post
    The God they worship isnt the painting or the statue or the rock or whatever, its the relavant imagined deity. They use the pictures as a focus for their prayers. they know that its a painting produced in a factory, just like some moderate catholics understand that the holy toast they eat on sundays is produced in a factory and prefer to see it as a focus rather than the actual body of christ after the magic words are mumbled in latin.

    The best example i could use is the black rock. Its not worshipped, its a sort of focus.
    Comparing a black rock to the Eucharist or Hindu idols is plain silly.

    Black rock is neither a point of focus, nor an object of worship. Eucharist is rather idealized to represent Jesus's blood and flesh. Hindu gods are idealized to contain God's energies. To the extent that Bhakti Hindus literally feed their stone idols believing that God has taken his presence within these idols.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    format_quote Originally Posted by naidamar View Post
    what I see the hindus do it is that they don't use the statues etc solely to focus. They do worship them. They put offerings to them, they pray to them etc.
    Same with Buddhists etc.
    No matter how you soften the language, the fact is they worship statues.

    while christians/catholics/paulians believe their god is a middle eastern man and then they create zillions of his image/likeness and put them on pedestal to worship/pray/focus/whathaveyou..




    what black rock?
    Well i dunno if they actually are thinking of the cross or the statue and imagining its real or theyre thinking of Mary or Jesus or Ganesh. I just know they say they dont. When they put the food down, it is supposed to magicly or symbolicly be seen as some sort of offering or sacrifice or whatever. I dont understand it, makes no sense to me, I just know that they get something from it and that they are supposed to be concentrating on their god rather than a lump of plaster. or a carving of a guy on a cross.

    The Black Rock is a stone at the Kaaba that millions of muslims circle and point to and kiss if they can in respect.


    The current ritual of the Hajj involves pilgrims attempting to kiss the Black Stone seven times (once for each circumambulation of the Kaaba), emulating the actions of Muhammad. When Umar ibn al-Khattab (580-644), the second Caliph, came to kiss the Stone, he said in front of all assembled: "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger [Muhammad] kissing you, I would not have kissed you."[15] Many Muslims follow Umar: they pay their respects to the Stone in a spirit of trust in Muhammad, not with any belief in the Stone itself. This, however, does not indicate their disrespect to the Black Stone but their belief that harm and benefit are in the hands of God, and nothing else.


    The rock isnt thought of as a god, it is a focus.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    You know, we really need some Hindu members on here.
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    I Think this verse is pretty clear, no idol worship. :><:

    In all my years of being a christcian i never once stood before a statue and prayed to it because i simply did not see the logic in it Although the only thing i admired was the skill these men had to make these things
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    You casually insert "i.e. idols", when neither does the word mean the same as 'demigod', nor does the verse hint that it means 'idols'.. literally it actually says 'other gods'.
    Those verses are clear indication that idol worship or a worship of any created things is wrong when he is bodiless and pure

    (Yajurveda 40:8)
    “He is bodiless and pure”.


    Furthermore , it is mentioned

    (Bhagwad Geeta 7:20)
    “He is one only without a second.”

    (Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1)

    Of Him there are neither parents nor Lord.”

    (Shwetashvatara Upanishad 6:9)

    “There is no likeness of Him”.

    (Shwetashvatara Upanishad 4:19

    Simillar thing is written in the Quran 112:1-4

    Say he is God the One and only . God The eternal Absolute, Neither Begets nor begotten . There is nothing like him

    God cant be seen

    “His form cannot be seen, no one sees Him with the eye”.
    (Shwetashvatara Upanishad 4:20)

    This echoes with what has been written in the Quran that God cannot be seen on earth

    When Moses came to the appointed place, the Lord blessed him. Moses prayed: 'O my Lord, let me look at You.' The Lord said, 'You cannot see Me when I manifest My glory. But look upon the mountain; if it stays firm in its place, then you shall see Me. Now turn towards it.' And in an instant the mountain crumbled and became dust. Seeing this, Moses fell down in a swoon. [7:143]


    You polytheist pagans chose not to follow what was written in scriptures and instead believe in multiple Gods like Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva , Ram etc .

    And now The major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim is that while the common Hindu believes in the philosophy of Pantheism, i.e. “everything is God, the Tree is God, the Sun is God, the Moon is God, the Snake is God, the Monkey is God, the Human Being is God”, all Muslims believe that “everything is God’s”.

    The Muslims believe in monotheism and that everything is God’s. GOD with an apostrophe’s’. Everything belongs to the one and only unique eternal God. The tree belongs to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, the snake belongs to God, monkey belongs to God, the human being belongs to God.

    Thus the major difference between the Hindus and the Muslims is the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says, “everything is GOD”. The Muslim says, “everything is God’s”, GOD with an Apostrophe ‘s’. If we can solve the difference of the Apostrophe ‘s’, the Hindus and the Muslims will be united.

    The others I'm not familiar with but your track record with the Gita suggests anything involving parentheses and 'e.g' should be taken with a very large grain of salt.

    No its the hilarious behavior of some of your "Gods" which must be taken with a UNIVERSE of salt

    The lord Shiva supposedly- "the allknowing and all powerful god" could not even recognise his own son ganesha and killed him and then stuck an elephant head instead of restoring the human head .
    And If he cant recognise his own son , how in the hell can he recognise you on Judgement day ????
    Last edited by Predator; 03-03-2010 at 07:44 PM.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    Isn't Brahma the all powerful god in Hinduism?

    We really need a Hindu member.

    Oh, and this thread's title keeps making me thinking about the Prohibition of alcohol in 1920s America...
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    Prophet Ibrahim
    The father of the Prophets

    The birth of a Great Prophet

    Ibrahim was born in a house of idolaters, in the kingdom of Babylon. His father Aazar was a well known idol sculptor that his people worshipped. As a young child, Ibrahim used to watch his father sculpting these idols from stones or wood. When his father was done with them, Ibrahim would use them as toys, riding on their backs, and kicking them at times. Then after a while, he would see these same statues in the temple, and people prostrating in front of them! Ibrahim asked his father: "Why do you take these toys to the temple?" His father said: "They are statues that represent our gods. We worship them, we ask favors from them, and we offer them presents." Ibrahim's mind rejected this idea, and he felt a repulsion towards the idols.


    In search for the Truth

    Time went by, and Ibrahim became a young man. He still could not believe that his people were worshipping the statues. He laughed whenever he saw them entering the temple, lowering their heads, silently offering the statues the best of their food, crying and asking forgiveness from them. He started feeling angry towards his people, who could not realize that these are only stones that could neither benefit nor harm them. They could not be gods, they have no power. God is Greater than what his people were worshipping, Most Powerful, Most Magnificent. One could not find Him sitting on a table in a temple!

    One night, Ibrahim went up to the mountain, leaned against a rock, and looked up to the sky. He saw a shining star, and told his people: "Could this be my Lord?" But when it set he said: "I don't like those that set." The star has disappeared, it could not be God. God is always present. Then he saw the moon rising in splendor and told them: "Could this be my Lord?" But it also set. At daybreak, he saw the sun rising and said: t "Could this be my Lord, this is bigger?" But when the sun set he said: "O my people I am free from all that you join as partners with Allah! I have turned my face towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah." Our Lord is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything. He has the power to make the stars rise and set. Ibrahim then heard Allah calling him: "O Ibrahim!" Ibrahim said trembling: "Here I am O my Lord!" "Submit to Me! Be a Muslim!" Ibrahim fell on the ground, prostrating and crying, he said: "I submit to the Lord of the universe!" Ibrahim kept prostrating until night came again. He got up and went back to his home, in t peace, full of conviction that Allah has guided him to the Truth.


    Ibrahim invites his father to Islam



    A new life started for Ibrahim. His mission now was to call his people to the Truth. He would start with his father who was the closest person to him, and whom he loved so much. He said to him in the softest and kindest voice: "O father! Why do you worship that which doesn't hear, doesn't see, and cannot avail you in anything? O father, I have got knowledge which you have not, so follow me. I will guide you to a straight path." His father replied angrily: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim? If you don't stop I will stone you. Get away from me before I punish you." Ibrahim said: "Peace be on you! I will ask forgiveness of my Lord for you."


    Ibrahim confronts his people and rejects their idols

    He left his father after he lost hope to convert him to the right path, and directed his efforts towards the people of the town, but they rejected his call and threatened him. By Allah, he said, I shall plot a plan to destroy their idols. He knew that a big celebration was coming soon, where everybody would leave town for a big feast on the riverbank. After making sure that nobody was left in town, Ibrahim went towards the temple armed with an ax. Statues of all shapes and sizes were sitting there adorned with decorations. Plates of food were offered to them, but the food was untouched. "Well, why don't you eat? The food is getting cold." He said to the statues, joking; then with his ax he destroyed all the statues except one, the biggest of them. He hung the ax around its neck and left.

    How big was the shock when the people entered the temple! They gathered inside watching in awe their gods broken in pieces. They wondered who might have done this? Then they all remembered that the young Ibrahim was talking evil of their idols. They brought him to the temple and asked him: "Are you the one who has done this to our gods?" Ibrahim said: "No, this statue, the biggest of them has done it. Ask them if they can speak." "You know well that these idols don't speak!" They said impatiently. "Then how come you worship things that can neither speak nor see, nor even fend for themselves? Have you lost your minds?"

    They kept silent for a while, for he got a point there. Their minds and their senses were telling them that the Truth is with Ibrahim, but their pride prevented them to accept it, and reject the idols they were worshipping for generations. This they thought would be total defeat. They started yelling at him and shouting: "Burn him! Burn him! Take revenge for your gods !"


    The Miracle: Allah saves Ibrahim from the fire.

    The decision to burn Ibrahim to death was affirmed by the priests and the king of Babylon, Nimrod. The news spread like a fire in the kingdom, and people were coming from all places to watch the execution. A huge pit was dug up and a large quantity of wood was piled up. Then the biggest fire people ever witnessed was lit. The fire flames were so high up in the sky that the birds could not fly over it for fear of being burned ! Ibrahim's hands and feet were chained, and he was put in a catapult to throw him into the fire. At that time, Angel Jibreel came to him and said: "O Ibrahim! Is there anything you wish for?" Ibrahim could have asked to be saved from the fire, to be taken away, but no, he said: "I only wish that Allah be pleased with me." The catapult was released, and Ibrahim was thrown in the heart of the fire. But Allah would not allow His Prophet to be killed, He ordered the fire: "O fire! Be coolness and safety for Ibrahim!" And the miracle happened. The fire obeyed and burned only his chains. Ibrahim came out from it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful, his face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes. People watched in shock and said: "Amazing ! Ibrahim' s God has saved him from the fire!"


    Ibrahim debates the Babylonian king, Nimrod

    Ibrahim's notoriety grew bigger after this event and the king of Babylon felt that his throne was in danger, and that he was loosing power, because he was pretending that he was a god. He sent for Ibrahim. He wanted to debate with him and show his people that he, the king is indeed the god, and Ibrahim was a liar. He asked Ibrahim: What can your god do that I cannot?

    -My Lord is He Who gives life and death." Ibrahim said
    -I give life and death. I can bring a person from the street and have him executed, and I can grant my pardon to a person who was sentenced to death and save his life." The king said proudly
    -Well my Lord Allah makes the sun rise from the East. Can you make it rise from the West?
    The king was confounded. He was beaten at his own game, on his own territory, in front of his own people! Ibrahim left him there speechless and went back to his important mission, calling people to worship the one and only God, Allah.


    Allah blesses Ibrahim with a son to become a prophet

    Only a woman named Sarah and a man named Lot believed in Allah, and followed Ibrahim. He realized that nobody else would listen to him, and decided to emigrate for the cause of Allah, and to spread His Message elsewhere. Before leaving, he tried once again to convert his father to Islam, but to no avail. Ibrahim said to his father and his people: "We are free of you and of whatever you worship besides Allah. We have rejected you and there has arisen between us and you enmity and hatred forever unless you believe in Allah and Him alone."

    Ibrahim, Lot and Sarah started their long travel. They crossed Babylon, went through Syria and Palestine calling people to Allah, helping the poor and doing good deeds. By that time Ibrahim married Sarah. Their hope was to have children who would spread the Message of Allah after their death. As for Lot, he emigrated to the land of Sodom and settled there.

    Time went by and no children were born to Sarah. She realized she was sterile. She accepted her fate and submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim and Sarah moved to Egypt where the king gave Sarah a woman to be her servant. The woman's name was Hajar. Sarah was seeing Ibrahim' s hair getting white, and it grieved her to see his chance of having any child slipping away. She offered Hajar her servant as a wife to her husband, and prayed Allah to bless Hajar and Ibrahim with a child. And so came Ismail, a baby boy born to Hajar. How unselfish Sarah was! For her, the need to have an offspring who would carry the Message after Ibrahim was greater than her pride. Fourteen years later Allah rewarded Sarah with a son, Ishaq in spite of her old age.


    Young Ismail and his mother alone in the desert of Makkah

    Ibrahim woke up one day and asked Hajar to prepare herself and baby Ismail for a long travel. Ibrahim and Hajar kept walking, crossed a fertile land followed by barren mountains till they arrived at the Arabian desert. Ibrahim brought Hajar to a high hill called al-Marwa, made her and her baby sit under a tree, placed a bag of dates and some water near her, and set out homeward. Hajar ran after him and said: "Are you going to leave us in this desert where there is no one to keep us company?" She repeated this many times but he would not look back at her. She asked: "Has Allah ordered you to do so?" He said yes. "Then He will not neglect us." She said. Ibrahim walked away until he got out of their sight, he raised his hands and prayed Allah: "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring dwell in a valley with no cultivation, by Your Sacred House, in order that they may offer prayers. So fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and provide them with fruits, so that they may give thanks."


    Zamzam

    Hajar went on nursing Ismail and drinking from the water until it was all used up. She became very thirsty and the child was crying. She left him on the al-Marwa hill and hurried to the nearest hill, as-Safa. She stood there and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She descended from as-Safa, crossed the valley running and reached al-Marwa hill. She stood and started looking but could see nobody. She kept running between as-Safa and al-Marwa seven times. When she reached al-Marwa for the last time, she was exhausted, she sat next to the baby. Then she heard a voice. She stood up and said: "O whoever you might be! Have you got something to help me?' She saw an angel, Angel Jibreel, digging the earth until water flowed ! She built a little basin around it. She scooped water with her hands, drank, filled her water-skin, and nursed her baby. The place from which water flowed was Zamzam. Muslims till this day drink from the holy water of Zamzam, and during Hajj they walk between as-Safa and al-Marwa seven times to commemorate this event.

    Some Arabs traveling through Makkah saw birds flying around alMarwa. "They must be flying around water." They said. When they arrived at the water, they found Hajar and asked her: "Would you allow us to stay with you, and use the water from your well?" She agreed and was pleased by their company. The people sent for their families, settled there and became permanent residents. The whole valley became alive. Ismail grew up, learned Arabic, and later married a woman from amongst the Arabs.

    Meanwhile, Ibrahim who had not seen his son since he was a baby, came back to Makkah to visit him. Upon arriving, he heard that Hajar had died, but Ismail was still living there. Ibrahim was yearning to see his son whom he loved and missed a lot. He saw Ismail under a tree near Zamzam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw his father, Ismail rose up, hugged him and greeted him. It was the happiest moment for both father and son. But Allah wanted to put them to test, and it was a tough test indeed. During one night, Ibrahim had a dream. He came to Ismail and said: "O my son ! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you as a sacrifice to Allah, so what do you think?" They both realized that this was an order from Allah. Ismail said without hesitation: "Do what you are commanded, you shall find me very patient insha Allah." They had both submitted to the will of Allah. Ibrahim laid his son prostrate, put his forehead on the ground and directed a sharp knife towards his neck. At this very moment, Allah called him: "O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream! Thus do We reward the good doers !" A big sheep was sent down from heaven to be slaughtered instead of Ismail, which Ibrahim did, and they both had a big celebration that day. This event is celebrated every year by all Muslims. It is Eid al-Adha where we slaughter the sacrificial sheep.

    Ibrahim and Ismail kept on calling people to worship Allah. At that time there was no place built for the worship of Allah. Ibrahim wished there could be such a place where people would be in peace, and concentrate solely for the worship of Allah. His wish was answered when Allah ordered him to build the Sacred House, the Ka'bah. Ibrahim said to Ismail: "O Ismail, Allah has given me an order, will you help me execute it?" "Yes I will." Ismail said. "Allah has ordered me to build a house here." He said, pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it. They went towards the place and started building the foundations of the Ka'bah Ismail brought the stones and Ibrahim built the walls, and when the walls became high, Ismail brought a large stone and put it in front of his father who stood over it and carried on building, while Ismail was handing him the stones. Both of them went on building and going around the Ka'bah, saying: "O our Lord accept this service from us." When they finished the building, Angel Jibreel descended from heaven and showed Ibrahim the rituals of Hajj. Then Ibrahim stepped on the stone and called on people: "O people obey your Lord." This large stone which Ibrahim stepped on is still there to this day near the Ka'bah. It is called Makam Ibrahim.

    Thus ends the story of Ibrahim, the father of the prophets. From him descended all the prophets who came later, including Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Ibrahim devoted all his life calling others to the True religion: Islam. Alone he stood against his people, his father, and even the mighty king of Babylon, and never flinched. Yet his method was always to gradually persuade them by bringing irrefutable proofs, that most often embarrassed those who refused to accept the Truth, but as Allah said: "Any whom Allah leaves to stray, there is none to guide !"
    Last edited by Predator; 03-03-2010 at 08:37 PM.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

    When truth is hurled at falsehood , falsehood perishes. because falsehood by its nature is bound to perish [21:18- Holy quran]
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    Although i am not a hindu, i live in india and i can speak with some idea as most of my friends are hindus and since childhood i have been seeing all the rituals and have read some books about hinduism.

    People see idols differently, some hindus believe them to contain magical powers while some use it as a focus as a friend said here.I say this because , they believe *every* cow is holy and bow to every cow. It actually depends on the person to person.But in general they all do believe in multiple gods and some favour one god over the other.

    Here is a more detailed description about concept of god and its misconceptions in hinduism (courtesy: irf.net)

    The major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim perception of God is the common Hindus’ belief in the philosophy of Pantheism. Pantheism considers everything, living and non-living, to be Divine and Sacred. The common Hindu, therefore, considers everything as God. He considers the trees as God, the sun as God, the moon as God, the monkey as God, the snake as God and even human beings as manifestations of God!

    Islam, on the contrary, exhorts man to consider himself and his surroundings as examples of Divine Creation rather than as divinity itself. Muslims therefore believe that everything is God’s i.e. the word ‘God’ with an apostrophe ‘s’. In other words the Muslims believe that everything belongs to God.
    The trees belong to God, the sun belongs to God, the moon belongs to God, the monkey belongs to God, the snake belongs to God, the human beings belong to God and everything in this universe belongs to God.

    Thus the major difference between the Hindu and the Muslim beliefs is the difference of the apostrophe ‘s’. The Hindu says everything is God. The Muslim says everything is God’s.

    2. Concept of God according to Hindu Scriptures:

    We can gain a better understanding of the concept of God in Hinduism by analysing Hindu scriptures.

    BHAGAVAD GITA:

    The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita.
    Consider the following verse from the Gita:

    "Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
    [Bhagavad Gita 7:20]

    The Gita states that people who are materialistic worship demigods i.e. ‘gods’ besides the True God.

    UPANISHADS:

    The Upanishads are considered sacred scriptures by the Hindus.

    The following verses from the Upanishads refer to the Concept of God:

    1. "Ekam evadvitiyam"
    "He is One only without a second."
    [Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]1

    2. "Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah."
    "Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."
    [Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9]2

    3. "Na tasya pratima asti"
    "There is no likeness of Him."
    [Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]3

    4. The following verses from the Upanishad allude to the inability of man to imagine God in a particular form:

    "Na samdrse tisthati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam."

    "His form is not to be seen; no one sees Him with the eye."
    [Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:20]4

    1[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 447 and 448]
    [Sacred Books of the East, volume 1 ‘The Upanishads part I’ page 93]

    2[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 745]
    [Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page 263.]

    3[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 736 & 737]
    [Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page no 253]

    4[The Principal Upanishad by S. Radhakrishnan page 737]
    [Sacred Books of the East, volume 15, ‘The Upanishads part II’ page no 253]

    THE VEDAS
    Vedas are considered the most sacred of all the Hindu scriptures. There are four principal Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Atharvaveda.

    1. Yajurveda
    The following verses from the Yajurveda echo a similar concept of God:

    1. "na tasya pratima asti"
    "There is no image of Him."
    [Yajurveda 32:3]5

    2. "shudhama poapvidham"
    "He is bodyless and pure."
    [Yajurveda 40:8]6

    3. "Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"
    "They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink
    deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti."
    [Yajurveda 40:9]7

    4. Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc.

    The Yajurveda contains the following prayer:
    "Lead us to the good path and remove the sin that makes us stray and wander."
    [Yajurveda 40:16]8

    5[Yajurveda by Devi Chand M.A. page 377]

    6[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith page 538]

    7[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith page 538]

    8[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Griffith page 541]

    2. Atharvaveda

    The Atharvaveda praises God in Book 20, hymn 58 and verse 3:
    1. "Dev maha osi"
    "God is verily great"
    [Atharvaveda 20:58:3]9

    3. Rigveda
    1. The oldest of all the vedas is Rigveda. It is also the one considered most sacred by the Hindus.
    The Rigveda states in Book 1, hymn 164 and verse 46: "Sages (learned Priests) call one God by many
    names."
    [Rigveda 1:164:46]

    2. The Rigveda gives several different attributes to Almighty God. Many of these are mentioned in
    Rigveda Book 2 hymn 1.

    Among the various attributes of God, one of the beautiful attributes mentioned in the Rigveda Book II hymn 1 verse 3, is Brahma. Brahma means ‘The Creator’. Translated into Arabic it means Khaaliq. Muslims can have no objection if Almighty God is referred to as Khaaliq or ‘Creator’ or Brahma. However if it is said that Brahma is Almighty God who has four heads with each head having a crown, Muslims take strong exception to it.

    Describing Almighty God in anthropomorphic terms also goes against the following verse of Yajurveda:

    "Na tasya Pratima asti"
    "There is no image of Him."
    [Yajurveda 32:3]

    Another beautiful attribute of God mentioned in the Rigveda Book II hymn 1 verse 3 is Vishnu. Vishnu means ‘The Sustainer’. Translated into Arabic it means Rabb. Again, Muslims can have no objection if Almighty God is referred to as Rabb or 'Sustainer' or Vishnu. But the popular image of

    9[Atharveda Samhita vol 2 William Dwight Whitney page 910]

    Vishnu among Hindus, is that of a God who has four arms, with one of the right arms holding the Chakra, i.e. a discus and one of the left arms holding a ‘conch shell’, or riding a bird or reclining on a snake couch. Muslims can never accept any image of God. As mentioned earlier this also goes against Svetasvatara Upanishad Chapter 4 verse 19.

    "Na tasya pratima asti"
    "There is no likeness of Him"

    The following verse from the Rigveda Book 8, hymn 1, verse 1 refer to the Unity and Glory of the Supreme Being:

    3. "Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata"
    "O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the Divine One. Praise Him alone."
    [Rigveda 8:1:1]10

    4. "Devasya samituk parishtutih"
    "Verily, great is the glory of the Divine Creator."
    [Rigveda 5:1:81]11

    Brahma Sutra of Hinduism:

    The Brahma Sutra of Hinduism is:

    "Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan"

    "There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in the least bit."

    Thus only a dispassionate study of the Hindu scriptures can help one understand the concept of God in Hinduism.

    0[Rigveda Samhita vol. 9, pages 2810 and 2811 by Swami Satya Prakash Sarasvati and Satyakam Vidyalankar]

    11[Rigveda Samhita vol. 6, pages 1802 and 1803 by Swami Satya Prakash Saraswati and Satyakam Vidyalankar]

    as from the sun." The Prophecy confirms:

    1. The name of the Prophet as Ahmed since Ahmed is an Arabic name. Many translators misunderstood it to be ‘Ahm at hi’ and translated the mantra as "I alone have acquired the real wisdom of my father".

    2. Prophet was given eternal law, i.e. the Shariah.

    3. The Rishi was enlightened by the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an says in Surah Saba Chapter 34 verse 28 (34:28):

    "We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not."
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    Thank you so much for the article, zakirs. Very interesting read.
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    format_quote Originally Posted by Supreme View Post
    Isn't Brahma the all powerful god in Hinduism?

    We really need a Hindu member.

    Oh, and this thread's title keeps making me thinking about the Prohibition of alcohol in 1920s America...
    No, Brahma is the creator in the Trimurti. Brahman is the actual Supreme God, from which all manifestations arise i.e/ Shiva, Krishna, Raam, etc.

    Brahman at the absolute level has no form, no image, is impersonal and is unknowable and infinite. Only due to the illusion of Maya (material universe) does Brahman appear as with form such as Shiva and Raam. These figures are knowable, personal and are worshiped. Ultimatley they all stem from Brahman as he is the source of eveything material and immaterial but since you cannot know the infinite Brahman with the finite human mind, his avatars are worshiped.

    This is an illusion however that God has become man. He hasn't become man, because the material universe is false, like a curtain which sheilds humans from God and seperates them from Him. These avatars such as Krishna are birthless because the Atman(soul) is infinite, it is never created and isn't destroyed, only the material body is. The bodies do not suffer because they are born with no ego and are already enlightned.

    All those quotes from the original post are describing Brahman and not his avatars.

    Hope this has helped on the concept of God in Hinduism.
    Last edited by Charzhino; 03-04-2010 at 12:23 AM.
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    I thought that the reason that we face the Black Rock is more for unity then anything else...

    Going back to the topic. I mean no offence, and the answer that is given is fine by me -- whatever it may be due to [Quran 109:6] -- what benefit can be obtained from worshipping something that is created? In my mind it makes sense to worship that which created us. But anyway...
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    Not only do hindus differ with us in concept of God. They also differ in concept of Life after death.Unlike all abrahamic religions where we die and then pay for our sins or get rewards , In hinduism after you die you again take a new life.The form which you take in new life depends on your actions in past life.A bad guy may take form of a dog and a good guy might be born in a noble family.

    This cycle of birth and rebirth goes on till they attain moksha.The concept of how to attain moksha is a whole subject in itself.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?

    format_quote Originally Posted by zakirs View Post
    Not only do hindus differ with us in concept of God. They also differ in concept of Life after death.Unlike all abrahamic religions where we die and then pay for our sins or get rewards , In hinduism after you die you again take a new life.The form which you take in new life depends on your actions in past life.A bad guy may take form of a dog and a good guy might be born in a noble family.

    This cycle of birth and rebirth goes on till they attain moksha.The concept of how to attain moksha is a whole subject in itself.
    Whats with their obession with cows ?They aim to ban cow slaughter and beef in the country, but they eat it dungs and drik urine instead

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle5707554.ece

    http://thesop.org/story/business/200...cing-power.php

    Is it mentioned in their book to eat and drink filth like cow urine and cow dung ? Was it a commandment from God ?
    Last edited by Predator; 03-06-2010 at 01:07 PM.
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

    When truth is hurled at falsehood , falsehood perishes. because falsehood by its nature is bound to perish [21:18- Holy quran]
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    Re: Despite prohibition,why is idol worship still followed in Hinduism ?



    The Concept of God in Hinduism and Islam

    In the light of sacred scripturesTook place in Bangalore in front of a jam packed crowd of about 50000, at the Palace Grounds on 21st Jan 2006.

    "The difference between Hindus and Muslims happens to be just a small apostrophe in the way they think.

    Hindus think that everything — sun, moon, stars, water, snake, earth and all — is God. Muslims, on the other hand, think that everything is God’s creation. Hence the difference between the two is just the apostrophe." This is how Dr Zakir Naik began the dialogue.


    Event went live on Peace TV worldwide.
    More than 125 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia can tune into PEACE TV.
    Contact your cable operator.
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    Telecast to the rest of the world will begin shortly.

    Audio, Transcript and Video Clips now available for Download

    http://www.thetruecall.com/home/modu...rticle&sid=167
    Despite prohibition,why  is idol worship still  followed in Hinduism ?

    Christ will never be proud to reject to be a slave to God .....holy Quran, chapter Women , 4: 172

    recitation:http://quran.jalisi.com
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