One of my Hindu friends asked me this, and I said that we do it out of our desire to treat God as a the most honored guest. But he says that's not really why. But I don't understand why then.
What do you think?
2007-06-09 14:08:28 · 6 answers · asked by Heron By The Sea 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The concept of Idol worship in Hinduism is having wonderful meanings.
The process is to `remember` everything which was given by God to us.
1) He put life inside the matter...........To remember this, we perform *Prana Prathita*
2) He created five basic elements which are
a) Bhoomi - The Earth
b) Aap - The Water
c) Anala - The fire
d) Anila - The Air
e) Nabha - The Space
The performance to remember this:
a) The offering of food- *Naivedya* (representing Earth)
b) The offering of bath - *Abhisheka( " Water)
c) The offering of light - *Arati ( " Fire)
d) The offering of sound- *Mantra ( " Air)
e) The offering of silence *Mouna ( " Space)
I think you got the answer.
2007-06-09 15:48:14 · answer #1 · answered by Shripathi Krishna Acharya 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When you analyse all these scriptures in Hinduism, you shall see an art of addressing many people in many layers of existence with varying tastes and intersts in a single statement or word.
It is for each one to meditate upon it and find out the meanings for one self. One's understanding of it need not be in line with the understanding of another and yet one can not be also not called wrong. That's why its said, "Ekam Sath, Viprath Bahuda Vadanti", meaning "There is only One Truth and different scholars interpret THAT differently."
Abhishekam could be an offering with Devotion for One and It can also be just like the the purpose of Bathing, the removal of impurities from the Deiti addressing in many levels as the Tantrics may try explaining.
May be its all the "Da" of Brahma Dev.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-xXSjjhg7er9d7VyaCsYH4qyJveacMoF0?p=64
SAI RAM
2007-06-10 16:44:41 · answer #2 · answered by jayakrishnaathmavidya 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
not sure this is the same thing at one of the ashrams i visited , they did a ceremony of [ instillation ]... were they invited the presents of the saint into the statue. so when the saint entered the statue they treated the statue like a human being offering it food and bathing it and changing its cloths, out of respect.
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2007-06-09 14:42:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
although I am not sure of this particular tradition
( i did have a quick google at images though )
I would imagine you are correct
wasn't it common place once to wash the feet of guests , in the same way that Christians would bathe Christs feet....
respect , humbleness and devotion
I hope someone from your faith can help you better sweetie xx
2007-06-09 14:14:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You treat God as if He is the closest person to you. Bathing the deity is one of the greatest form of service, considering that you have to bring yourself to clean the dirt and grime off of of it.
God doesn't actually need to be bathed, He represents the epitome of purity. It is the act of bathing that shows that you consider Him so close to you that you are willing to bathe Him.
2007-06-09 18:29:21 · answer #5 · answered by lotusmoon01 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it is symbolically washing ourselves of whatever needs to be washed away by washing the statue.
2007-06-09 17:46:24 · answer #6 · answered by Pen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋