Hinduism: Understanding Image and Temple Worship

Image and temple worship form the center practice for many Hindus. However the strange rituals and ideas can often be judged as primitive and pagan. But as this video explains, Hindus see God not only as transcendent but immanent in creation. Through the science of ritual and faith the infinite and omnipresent Divinity can be awakened and enlivened even in inanimate objects. The ancient Upanishad scriptures provide the theological and spiritual basis upon which Image worship is based; and once this is understood the reasons for seeing the Murthi (temple image) as Divine becomes clear. The beauty of this, is that by seeing the Murthi as God and not just a statue, the devotee is gifted a portal through which he can contact the Divine first hand.