Constant Remembrance of God
What is an idol (Pratima). An idol can be compared to a measure or a weight. You may call it the unit of measurement. When the measuring weight is small, the result will be great. Suppose the measuring weight is a quarter, the result of it will be four units. When the measuring weight is one- sixteenth, the result will be sixteen units. Now, we have to see what the Pratika and the Pratima (external objects and idols) in the Hindu religion are. They are units of measure to estimate the greatness of God. In Hindu religion, the great Sun and the Moon are also the forms of Pratika (external object) to form an estimation of God. Next to them are also Guru (religious teacher), Brahmana (Man of realization) , cows, Garuda (the biggest bird) Pipala, Tulasi, Kailasa (one of the high peaks of the Himalaya) the Ganga, etc. etc. Besides these, the short round black stone (salagrama) has also been taken as a form of Pratima, the measure. Was the smallest Pratika or Pratima (the unit of measure) only meant to make God look small? No. Not at all. In taking a small unit of measure it was aimed to enhance the estimation of God consciousness and Divine vision. When even the smallest stone has been accepted as Divinity, all the other things and the entire world will be nothing but Divinity. But, he who worships the idol with limited ideal that it alone is Divinity is steeped in ignorance. Such a man can well be compared to the 'worm' which is confined to the stone only.
- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
- (Source Shri Sai Padananda October 1992)
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