Why do sanatanis(Hindus) practice idol worship?

Some people question the idol worship practiced by Sanatanis (Hindus), asking, “What’s the use of worshipping a stone?” However, no follower of any religion has ever worshipped God directly in a tangible form. Therefore, this question itself is meaningless. Even those who do not worship any object eventually pray to God in the sky, or in solitude, or in a place where no one is present, or before an idol. The essence remains the same: expressing devotion or prayer and feeling it sincerely.

A story about idol worship is relevant here. Once, in India, there was a Mughal empire, and one of its kings was Akbar. His prime minister was Birbal, and the tales of Akbar and Birbal are very popular in the region. King Akbar and Birbal belonged to different religious communities. Akbar asked Birbal, “You worship idols. What do you gain by worshipping a stone? What can a stone do?” Birbal promised to give an answer in a few days and left.

In that kingdom, there was an elderly woman who had immense devotion to King Akbar. Birbal knew about her. He had a large stone on a street carved with a picture of King Akbar. When the elderly woman saw it, she joined her hands and began to pray in front of the picture of King Akbar. Birbal reported this to the king. When King Akbar learned of this, he called the elderly woman to the royal palace and rewarded her.

After this, Birbal said to King Akbar, “Why did you reward her? She was praying to a stone, wasn’t she?” The king then realized that he had already received the answer to his question.

Even if one prays to God without any object present, mentally forming an image of God and praying to it is the same. Worshipping a stone or a photograph is essentially praying to God; the main element is devotion. God does not manifest physically, so it is the sentiment that counts. Therefore, atheism is a separate matter, but if someone is a believer, such questions are irrelevant. Every religion has different ways of praying, but the feeling remains the same: faith, trust, and devotion toward God.

Respecting a stone, photograph, or idol is similar to how we honor humans. When a famous person who contributed significantly to society dies, statues are built in their memory, and people occasionally pay respect to the statue. The respect is not for the statue itself but for the person’s contributions; the statue is merely a medium to convey appreciation.

If God truly exists, worshipping a stone, a photograph, or an empty place is ultimately directed to Him. Since God does not appear physically, humans use whatever medium they can to express devotion. Criticizing someone else’s method is meaningless.

Indian philosophers have said that if someone stands in front of a stone and prays, do not dismiss it by asking, “What does the stone do?” For that person, it could be life, breath, or everything. What matters is the sentiment behind the act. God understands feelings, not words. This also shows that temple visits, stone worship, or prayers are initially tools to help humans cultivate divine sentiment. Once the sentiment deepens, one does not need a temple, idol, or photograph. Many ascetics have gone into caves and forests for meditation after reaching this stage.

From this perspective, idol worship is effective because idols make it easier to develop devotion. Not only that, seeing an idol or a photograph sometimes triggers devotion spontaneously. Those who do not believe in idols must remind themselves mentally, but those who do worship idols or photographs may experience devotion suddenly upon seeing them. In this sense, the worship practices of Sanatanis are comparatively more developed.

One may also ask why stone idols are used instead of other materials. Most Sanatan temples house stone idols, although people nowadays also keep metal idols at home. The simple reason is that stone is readily available everywhere, inexpensive, easy to shape without specialized tools, fireproof, water-resistant, and durable. Once created, it lasts forever.

The main point is that no follower of any religion has the ability to pray or worship God in His direct form. Memory, devotion, and contemplation are key. Stone worship aids these mental processes and has special importance in spiritual practice, making devotion easier and more accessible. Comparatively, this method is more advanced. However, the practices of other religions must also be respected, provided they do not negatively impact others.