Geetaa-On Idol Worship

Besides worship of God, to worship a body made of bones and flesh, in other words, to adorn our bodies with make-up, beautiful ornaments and clothing and building luxurious homes and decorating it with beautiful objects, is nothing but worship of idols which will lead to ruin.

Something Worth Knowing
Generally all the believers hold the opinion that God pervades everywhere; But those who have started worshiping Him through the medium of an idol or the Ved, the Sun, the Peepal, the Tulasee plant or cow etc are really speaking, believers in God's all pervasiveness. Because, those who accept the presence of God in an idol, the Ved, the Sun etc, will on their own, begin to believe in the presence of God everywhere, and in all beings. Those who accept the presence of God only in an idol etc., they have been called "Praakrit" (Beginners) (Bhaagvat Puran, 11/2/47) because they have begun the practice of worshipping God in one place, in other words, they have turned towards (developed inclination for) God. But those who merely say that God pervades everywhere but don't hold any object in reverence, have no divine sentiments of worship and devotion, and they are not really called devotees because they simply articulate "God is
everywhere" but do not really believe it; it means that they have not really turned >towards God.

Worship of God through the medium of an idol is a matter of faith rather than of reasoning. The glory of God is revealed to those who have faith in Him. The >worship and adoration done by these devotees is accepted and partaken by God. Just like God ate the "Khichadee" (cooked rice and lentil) prepared by Karmaa Baaee; God ate the Tikkad (flat bread cake) from devotee Dhannaa; God drank the milk prepared by Meera Baaee etc. It means God manifests Himself in an idol, in front of a devotee who worships Him with faith and devotion.

Question: How do we know whether God accepts and partakes in the food offered to Him by devotees?

Answer: In God's kingdom things do not hold importance, rather it is the sentiments that are important. It is due to sentiments only that God partakes in the food and the actions offered to Him. When a devotee has the sentiments of feeding God from the core of his heart, then God begins to feel hungry. Because of the sentiments of the devotee, the food that is partaken by God, that thing does not remain perishable, rather it becomes Divine. Even if there is some defect in the sentiment of devotion, He is satisfied merely by the offering of food to Him. For God to be satisfied, things and actions are not important, rather only the sentiments are important. The saints also declare that God relishes the simplest dishes offered with devotion but He rejects the most delicious dishes offered without devotion.

As a chaste wife knows when her husband is hungry and thirsty and what dish he will relish so she offers him the same dish and the husband eats it with the greatest love, similarly a devotee also knows when God is hungry and thirsty and how he should serve Him. So when food is offered to God, He becomes hungry and He accepts and partakes in it.
[From a book in Hindi "Gita Darpan" by Swami Ramsukhdasji]