Sir/Madam, Very incisive question indeed posed by you. May I add a supplementary to your question to which also I would invite clarification from learned members of this group: Do the Agamas (pAncharAtra or vaikhAnasa) expressly permit installation ("pratishta") and consecration ("avAhanam") of idols for human personages? If the answer is 'Yes' to the above question, and if it is held there is indeed "sAnnidhyam" (immanence) of personages in idols, then would there be anything wrong in constructing a temple exclusively for a human personage (such as a venerable 'achArya' or 'muni' for instance), getting a "kumbhAbhishEkam" performed for it and throwing it open for worship by laity and the public at large? Would having then an "achAryan kOvil" as distinct from a "perUmAl kOvil" be permitted within the framework of Vedic philosophy and theology? Kindly clarify. Thanks and regards, dAsan, Sudarshan --- Veda Venkatesh <veda_venkatesh@xxxx> wrote: > > Sri: > > Respected Bhagavathas, > > I have a doubt regarding the idols of acharyas / alwars that are > installed in temples. I understand that the shastras say that if > an idol of God is installed with the required rituals, the idol is > equivalent to the thirumeni of the Lord. Being omnipresent, of > course, God is present everywhere at the same time. However, all > others, being jivatmas and atomic in nature, are they considered to > be present in the installed idols? if not, why are those idols > installed? Hope my question is not offensive to anyone. > > Respects, > > Vedalakshmi > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com
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