Why idols and avatars

‘‘What do you mean, what does ritual have to do with religion?’’ snorts HH Kanchi. ‘‘Are you saying there’s any ‘religion’ left today? All a person can do is shut his eyes, think of Mathura-Vrindavan and hope for grace’’. ‘‘Great copy from the Hindu pontiff!’’ I grin and start scribbling, but he dashes the cup from my lips. ‘‘Just kidding!’’ he backpedals in colloquial Tamil. His devotees stir restlessly and a few glare at me. ‘‘I’m like a thorn in their midst. Sorry to spoil their mood!’’ I say. ‘‘No, you’re a flower, too. But you’re a rose, while my devotees are jasmines. They offer only sweetness, but you journalists come packaged with thorns. Well, you’re just doing your job!’’ he laughs.

‘‘I got teased in Kashmir last month about why we Hindus worship idols and avatars. What would you have said?’’ I ask. ‘‘We don’t claim to be anything but weak human beings’’, he snaps, but follows it up with a smile of great sweetness. ‘‘We cannot grasp the Infinite just like that. We need steps. Ritual creates discipline, it builds focus. Whoever says we ‘worship’ idols does not understand us. Hindus created some of the most abstract concepts in the history of thought. Are we stupid, that we think mud, metal or stone is Divine, except as part of Creation? But we can try to understand Divinity bit by bit through the meditative habit of prayer and puja. Avatars are functional aspects of God. The belief is that they came at certain times to do certain jobs, but they are not the whole picture of Nirgun (the Formless One). How can they be? They are evolutionary steps towards understanding the Mystery. We can question and adapt without fear, because such concepts are culturally rooted in this soil. They are ours to use without needing anybody’s explanation or approval’’.