Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children is now freely available.
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We examine the impact of the current colonial-racist discourse around Hindu Dharma on Indians across the world and prove that this discourse causes psychological effects similar to those caused by racism: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a detachment from our cultural heritage.

Idols

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda


An idol is an external symbol that enlivens the living presence of the deity it represents. It is exactly same as the photograph of a person that represents him. The idol of a deity is prepared as per the directions given in the dhyānaśloka[1] of the deity, revealed to sages during their depths of mystical meditation.

When an idol is consecrated by the process of prāṇapratiṣṭhā,[2] it becomes ‘alive’ by the subtle presence of that deity and can then be worshiped. It is like connecting an electric bulb with the source of electricity and putting the switch on. The scriptures are the final authority in these matters.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Dhyānaśloka means hymn of meditation.
  2. ↑ Prāṇapratiṣṭhā means infilling with life.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti, Apurva Mahendra Bhangdia

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