Introduction

Hinduism is often mistakenly regarded as a religion full of little understood rituals and inc antations. However, Hinduism is uniquely important in that it is the only religion that does not ask us to accept God with blind faith or enter into lengthy debates about His existence but rather invites us to experience Him directly.

It is not only the world's oldest religion but is also a way of life. Hinduism reflects the principles of Sanataan Dharma which means the Eternal Way or the Eternal Path of Righteousness. (The word Dharma is derived from the Sanskrit word "Dhri" meaning to hold together, to sustain.) The words denote by their very nature that Hinduism is devoid of any sectarianism or ideological divisions thus reflecting God’s own nature of wholeness or indivisibility.

A Hindu believes that he is atman (spirit or soul) which is temporarily from time to time located in a body. What is the nature of this atman? “Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible. No one is able to destroy the imperishable soul." Bhagavad Gita Ch. 2 verse 17 and again “The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. Unbreakable and insoluble can be neither burned nor dried, everlasting, all-pervading, unchangeable, immovable and eternally the same." Bhagavad Gita Ch. 2 verse 23 & 24.

So given these lofty principles why do Hindus make idolsrepresenting God and why are rituals necessary?

We are spirits temporarily attached to a body – hence envisioning the unembodied spirit is necessarily very difficult. In the words of Sri Krishna “For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome. To make progress in that discipline is always difficult for those who are embodied."

Concentrating on the Lord –even with a form –is very difficult. Arjuna “For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind." Bhagavad Gita Ch. 6 verse 34. If difficult for Arjuna, one of Sri Krishna’s greatest devotees, how much more difficult is it for us? And here is the Lord’s response “O mighty - armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment." Bhagavad Gita Ch.6 verse 35. Rituals are merely an aid to enable us to concentrate on the Lord since while we are performing the ritual it is likely that we have to think of the ritual and the Lord to perform it correctly.