Chapter#9: Image Worship

Utsavar idol carried by devotees


Religion is essentially based on emotion and inspired by faith. The glorious, beautiful, smiling and enchanting form of the charming Lord evokes admiration, reverence and love. Basic human nature is the feeling of love towards some object or some person hence bhakti, devotion is very close to the human heart.

The Supreme manifests Himself in murti forms in the Divya Desams for the purpose of worship. The places where the Azhwars worshipped and sang in praise of Narayana are called Divya Desams. The lovely personality of the Supreme Lord with adornments and all auspicious attributes like beauty, effulgence, valour, etc. is personally experienced by the devotee in the sacred image.


Moolavar

The Moola Vigraha or main deity in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple is fixed and immobile made generally of stone or saligrama. Admission into the sanctum sanctorum is strictly restricted and only the Brahmin in charge of pooja is allowed. The Brahmin takes bath and performs religious rites before entering the sanctum sanctorum. This is mainly to protect the sanctity of the idol. The Supreme Lord is powerful, however the idol placed is man made. The idol’s power depends on how well it is protected from evil. The clothes are changed periodically and abhishekam’s are done regularly. These don’t increase the power of Lord but increase the power of the idol. Any person visiting the temple should feel peace the moment on seeing the deity.

The Utsava Murti or the festival deity is taken on a parade during festival times. The worship of murtis purifies the mind and elevates the soul to a higher plane of consciousness and existence.