MURTI

In Hinduism, a 'murti' (Devanagari: मूर्ति) typically refers to an image in which the Divine Spirit is 'murta', or expressed. Hindus consider a murti worthy of worship after the divine is invoked in it for the purpose of offering worship. Thus the murti is regarded by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as a point of devotional and meditational focus.

Contents

Role of murtis in worship

See also

Notes

References

External links

Role of murtis in worship

Murtis are sometimes abstract, but are almost always representations of God in anthropomorphic or zoomorphic forms like Shiva, Ganesha, Rama, Kali etc. Murtis are made according to the prescriptions of the Śilpa Śāstras.^[1] The alloy Panchaloga is sometimes used. They are installed by priests through the Prana pratishta ('establishing the life') ceremony.
Devotional (Bhakti) practices centered on cultivating a deep and personal bond of love with God often include veneration of murtis. Some Hindu denominations like Arya Samaj, however, reject image worship.
Some say that the presence of murtis in Hindu temples and shrines provide a mystical form of communication with Devas. According to Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, “This is similar to our ability to communicate with others through the telephone. One does not talk to the telephone; rather the telephone is a way to interact with another person. Without the telephone, one could not have a conversation across long distances; and without the sanctified image in the temple, one cannot easily talk with the Deity.” ^[2]

See also

★ icon

★ Ishta-Deva

Notes

1. For Śilpa Śāstras as basis for iconographic standards, see: Hopkins, p. 113.
2. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, "''Ten Questions people ask About Hinduism …and ten terrific answers!''" (p. 7) [1]

References

★ The Hindu Religious Tradition, , Thomas J., Hopkins, Dickenson Publishing Company, 1971,

External links

★ Deity worship site (ISKCON, Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya)

★ Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvami Maharaja on difference between idol and murti