How does idol worship help us and how can we do it properly?

[A satsaṅga took place between Swami and several devotees who visited Him on January 16, 2021. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[A question by Smt. Anita Renkuntla]

Swāmi replied: Idol worship increases theoretical devotion towards God. Some practices such as, bathing the idol and decorating it, help our mind to focus on God for a long time. The mind gets attracted to the beauty of God. But do not use any food commodities like milk to clean the idols. Use only water. If you use any food item for abhiśekam (bathing the idol), then you should serve it as prasādam, to devotees, without wasting it. Milk is said to be the complete food and that milk is getting wasted when you pour it into ant hills, where snakes are supposed to live. No snake drinks that milk. The Veda says that we should not waste food. In olden days, people used to light oil lamps because there were neither electric bulbs nor even kerosene lamps. There was no sin in burning oil in the oil lamps, in those days, because there was no alternative. But today, electricity is available day and night. Hence, it becomes a sin to light oil lamps. God is the cause of the entire creation and is the source of every light in this creation. It is an insult to put a small light before Him so that He can see us. Electric bulbs are there for you to see. Moreover, no lamp or light is required during the day. With the same expense incurred in buying oil for burning in oil lamps, you can buy food for beggars and the poor. God will be pleased with you. God is the Father of every soul, as said in the Gītā. If you give food to your starving brothers and sisters, the Father-God will be really happy and He will bless you. Otherwise, the smoke emitted from the lakhs of oil lamps is causing pollution and is stopping rains. This also angers God. If you do pūjā without serving food to beggars and the poor, God will not be happy with you.

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