Why Hindus worship Idols?

Namaskar,

Why Hindus worship Idols, when God is everywhere?

Swami Vivekanand once visited the King of Alwar in present day Rajasthan.

The King, in an attempt to mock idol worship, told Swami ji, ” I have no #Faith in Idol worship nor #devotion. How can one worship Stone, wood and metal? I believe people are in illusion and just wasting time!”

Swami Vivekanand ji smiled H asked King’s assistant to take down a picture of the King that was hanging on the wall. Although confused, the assistant did so.. Then Vivekanand ji ordered him, “Spit on the picture !”

The assistant was shocked and looked at both of them. Vivekanand ji repeated his order again and again becoming more stern each time. The King was growing angry and the assistant started trembling. Finally, he cried out,”How can I spit on this? This picture is of our beloved and respected King.”

Swami Ji then told him, “The King is sitting in front of you in person. This picture is merely paper. It does not speak, hear, think or move! But still you did not spit because you see a shadow of your king in it. Spitting on it was like spitting on the King himself.”

The King looked at Swami Vivekanand ji and bowed down, clearly understanding what he was referring to.

This is the essence of idol worship! God is everwhere, but people want to pray to him, thank him, ask for favours, offer Food, tell stories, bathe him, play with him and do what they do in their lives with their children. Creating a human like Idol creates an image of God as a friend and companion, a guide, a protector, a giver, a fellow being and so on.

An Idol is just a concrete representation, where they find him, when I look into the eyes of Idol, I do not see stone or metal, but another pair of eyes looking affectionately at me, smiling and giving me CONFIDENCE to move forward in Life.

Regards Always,