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It is precisely because of this reason (the form of the murti not being
important) that there exist so many different shapes and forms! If it
were important, wouldn't it be logical to conclude that there would have
been only one (at least of each kind)?
> Why give any special sanctity to the ancient images we have in
> our holy shrines? Why lend any validity to our saints'
> rapturous descriptions of the physical beauty of the Lord's
> temple mUrti?
>
Each of the murtis has a lot of history associated with it. There could
be any number of reasons why one particular temple is held to be more
sanctified than others. Maybe someone's wishes were fulfilled
(by coincidence or by divine grace) when he/she prayed at a particular
temple
and that has become a family tradition.
> Frankly, you have been lied to. The unique characteristics
> of each mUrti are very relevant. Some mUrtis we believe to
> be the very descent into material substance of God Himself,
> on His own volition; others have been consecrated by humans,
> usually according to strict guidelines in the manuals of
> temple worship (Agamas).
>
> Our saints delight in the unique forms the Lord takes in
> the temple. Time and time again they have said, "You stand in
> Tirupati and lovingly grace me with that beautiful form of
> yours", or "You recline beautifully in Sri Rangam where the
> fishes swim with abandon." Each manifestation of the Lord
> is a particular way of experiencing His divine beauty on
> earthly terms.
Nothing in the above paragraphs translates to saying that the murti
itself is God.
>
> There is no place in our ancient manuals of worship where
> these particularized manifestations of the Lord are declared
> irrelevant, or declared to be means of concentration. In
> other words, the image is not a "channel to God" -- the image
> is God Himself, in His most gracious and worshippable form.
>
I have not read all the scriptures, and you may be right! But I am
pretty sure the non-existence
of such a declaration does not, following the same logic, make the
opposite true.
> Mani
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Mail posts to: ghen@netcom.com : http://www.hindunet.org/srh_home/
Srinivas
-- ---------- Srinivas Saraswatula Network Computing Application Development ****************** All opinions expressed are mine
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