In this video Pujya Deepakbhai explains to us the reasons why idol worship is necessary. He says that until you attain the amurta (the formless, the Self i.e. the Soul), do not let go of the murti. The murti will always give the (benefit of) murta (that which has form). The murti does not give amurta (the Soul). He further says that in reality this idol is the symbol of that which has manifested within these Lords. For example, when you look at Lord Krishna's idol, though we are praying to Lord Krishna who is in the idol form but in reality, we should acknowledge him as a pure soul which had manifested within him and pray directly to that soul. We can become like one whom we worship. Hence, if we worship Lord Krishna in a soul form, we will also attain those attributes gradually. Pujya Deepakbhai explains that these Lords have become Vitraags (free from abhorrence and hate) and their style of sitting in Padmasan with folded hands is a symbolism of that.
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