The
question arises whether the idol of Ganesha is meant for worship or it
is only a thought form wrought into a shape. Regarding worship of idols
fanatics will say that it is a blasphemy against God. But there are others
who say that the idol is an epitome of spiritual knowledge or an emblem
of God. Some say that it is an idolum or mental image of God meant for
worship. Pentateuch which is a common heritage for the Jews, Christians
and Muslims says that the God created man in his own image. Such being
the case, it may not be wrong on the part of man to form the image of
God in the light of his own understanding. The worship of such an image
is a corollary following the urge of his own psyche. He should not be
considered as one who has committed blasphemy against God. Nobody has
ever seen God although everybody seems to be having something to say about
Him. Some say he is a spirit. Some say he is an intelligent principle.
Some say he is the supreme Will. Some say he is the creator. Some realising
the difficulty of describing him in positive terms, describe him as 'Neti'
'Neti', 'not this', 'Not this' which is a confession of man's incompetence
to describe him. It is in this background of different conceptions that
different thought forms arose and idols were wrought into to approximate
these thought forms and worshipped. Letters of alphabet are also thought
forms wrought into shapes. But people do not worship letters of alphabet
for the reason that these letters were invented for the communication
of thought, and not to satisfy any inner urge. Still people give some
special meanings to some of these letters and hold them holy or sacred
like the sound elements 'A', 'U' and 'M' of 'OM'; Alif-Lam-mim of Koran
'Amen' of the Bible.
Idolatery indicates a development of mind from the animal stage. Sufi
Gusham-i-Raz has said "If Mussalman knew what idol is, he would have known
that religion is in idolatery. An Idolater becomes an idolater when he
outwardly sees in the idol only the created and thus becomes a Kafir (unbeliever)
The
question arises whether the idol of Ganesha is meant for worship or it
is only a thought form wrought into a shape. Regarding worship of idols
fanatics will say that it is a blasphemy against God. But there are others
who say that the idol is an epitome of spiritual knowledge or an emblem
of God. Some say that it is an idolum or mental image of God meant for
worship. Pentateuch which is a common heritage for the Jews, Christians
and Muslims says that the God created man in his own image. Such being
the case, it may not be wrong on the part of man to form the image of
God in the light of his own understanding. The worship of such an image
is a corollary following the urge of his own psyche. He should not be
considered as one who has committed blasphemy against God. Nobody has
ever seen God although everybody seems to be having something to say about
Him. Some say he is a spirit. Some say he is an intelligent principle.
Some say he is the supreme Will. Some say he is the creator. Some realising
the difficulty of describing him in positive terms, describe him as 'Neti'
'Neti', 'not this', 'Not this' which is a confession of man's incompetence
to describe him. It is in this background of different conceptions that
different thought forms arose and idols were wrought into to approximate
these thought forms and worshipped. Letters of alphabet are also thought
forms wrought into shapes. But people do not worship letters of alphabet
for the reason that these letters were invented for the communication
of thought, and not to satisfy any inner urge. Still people give some
special meanings to some of these letters and hold them holy or sacred
like the sound elements 'A', 'U' and 'M' of 'OM'; Alif-Lam-mim of Koran
'Amen' of the Bible.