Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.68

v1.c7.68

To the Hindu, the omnipresent God, who is the father of the universe, appears to reside in everything, as much in the loving heart of the devotee as in stocks and stones. His God may or may not be conceived as anthropomorphic; the form of the conception depends upon the stage of advancement of the worshipper in the culture of divine knowledge and spiritual wisdom. To a *yōgin*, who has realised the Supreme Brahman within himself, there is no need of any temple or any divine image for worship; but to those, who have not attained this height of realisation, various physical and mental modes of worship are prescribed, and rules of various kinds are laid down in relation to conduct. The Hindu *śāstras* prescribe image worship to weak unevolved persons in particular.[*] The *Jābāla-upanishad* distinctly asserts that the *yōgin* perceives Śiva in his heart, and that images are meant for ignorant men.[†]