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This cannot be further from the truth. Many if not most
orthodox Hindu traditions as well as most lay worshippers
believe that the image of God in the temple is indistinguishable
from God. God manifests Himself as the temple image to
grace His devotees in the most convenient way possible.
The sacred texts that prescribe the use of images in temple
and home worship specifically state that the image is
a manifestation of God. In this sense, the image literally *is*
God; in countless Vaishnava and Saiva holy books, this image
of God is described as an "arca-avatara", an _incarnation_
of God in the form of an idol. It is written that worshippers
commit a grave error by seeing an essential distinction between the
idol and the Supreme Lord, for they are the same. This is why, in the
major temples, the idol is not supposed to have been sculpted by human
hand -- it is a mysterious manifestation of God Itself. In
this sense, it is far more than a mere "reminder" or simply a
"means for concentrating." People who think in such a manner
have completely missed out on the purpose of temple worship.
Christians (save the Orthodox sects), on the other hand, view the
image/icon as much more of a symbol. They wouldn't mind taking a
cross into the bathroom, for example, whereas that is a major
offense for Hindus, other cultural differences aside. Burning a
cross is offensive, not because Jesus is being burnt, but the
*symbol* of Jesus is being burnt. Hindus, on the contrary,
believe that spitting on the idol constitutes spitting on the
Lord Himself! This is how we get stories of Lord Venkateshvara
(the Lord of Tirupati) coming in the form of a boy, being hit in
the face, and the bruise taking shape on His face in His
manifestation as an idol.
I write this as one who practices and firmly believes in idol
worship.
It is offensive to me as a practicing Hindu to be
told that the idol that I worship is a mere "means for concentration".
It is all the more offensive when the author's aim is to spread
the "truth" about Hinduism. There is no need to shy away from
the term "idol". Yes, we Hindus practice idol worship, and how
blessed we are! God, the all-pervasive Supreme Lord, has deigned
to make His imperceptible essence visible in concrete form
so that we can partake more easily of His gracious presence.
This is nothing to be ashamed of.
Mani
P.S. Lest one think that this form of temple worship is isolated
to a few small pockets of Hinduism, I should point out that most if
not all Vaishnava and Saiva temples in India believe in the
transsubstantiation of the idol. The most well-attended shrine
in all of India, Tirumala/Tirupati, is a perfect example. For
countless years it has been believed by worshippers and priests
that the image is a literal manifestation of God Himself, not just
a block of stone used by worshippers as a reminder. Most Siva
temples believe the same about the lingams that are enshrined
within.
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