#HinduDialogues: Importance of Murti Puja | Q&A | Part 1| Shankar B Khandavalli | #SangamTalks

Hinduism, with its rich tapestry of rituals and practices, places a profound emphasis on worshiping the Devata, transcending the physicality of idols. The core tenet revolves around recognizing the omnipresence of the divine, which can be invoked and worshiped anywhere. Temples and idols, while integral to Hindu worship, are viewed as tools that enhance the worship experience, creating a concentrated presence of divinity.

Achyamarga, the path of idol worship, harmonizes with the principles of karma yoga and incorporates elements of dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (union with the divine). The ultimate goal of Hindu worship extends beyond rituals, aiming to manifest the divine presence in all aspects of life and society, contributing to loka kalyana or world welfare. Sacred geography plays a pivotal role, highlighting places where the divine is more palpably present. The understanding that divinity exists both inside and outside transcends the illusory distinction between the two. Devata, accessible in physical forms such as idols, is also believed to reside within oneself.

In the expansive worldview of Hinduism, divinity is universally present, and the distinctions between internal and external realms are considered mithya or illusory. The essence of Hindu worship lies in the recognition that the sacred permeates every aspect of existence, inviting individuals to connect with the divine both within and beyond the physicality of idols.

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