Hinduism is unique in the sense that there are so many gods and as many idols.

To understand this we must have a broad mind and recognize our state of consciousness and understanding. Idols are representations of God. When you see a marble idol, or murti, of Lord Krishna, you do not think of marble but the Lord and his teachings in the Gita. Similarly, the picture of one's mother reminds one of her love, virtues, compassion and other qualities and not merely a picture on Kodak paper. Since we have not reached a stage of consciousness where we can think or visualize her, we need picture. A child needs a toy to play with in spite of his mother; the toy is thus an idol for him.

Idols are not dangerous themselves but help unfold the Inner Self. Everything we do needs an aid,  and that aid becomes an idol. As soon as we have mastered a skill, we can remove the aid. Due to too many distractions in this world, we have forgotten God as our creator and to whom we should be honest and faithful. To be reminded we need symbols to help us think of him because we cannot see God through physical eyes. God is only visible through Spiritual eyes or the eyes of love only.

Idols are not only in the form of pictures or statues but also in the form of creation. The Romans and Greeks have always worshipped idols whereas Hindus have gone beyond the physical body, which is also God's creation. Thus the whole universe is an idol of God. Anything that bears size, shape, name, and form is a manifestation of God.

We do need Idols and it is our attitude toward them that matters. When we grow up in Spirituality and feel's God's love, then there is no need for idols. It is a gradual step to reach the highly evolved stage with the aid of idols.

Those who claim to have no idols in their religions are highly mistaken because even a book or a letter is a representation of God. The Gita, Koran, Bible, a church, a temple, or even a mosque is an idol. Idols can take many forms and no body can realize god without an idol to worship. Even thought at a certain becomes an idol because an idol is formed through thinking. First you conceive and then you create.

Religion without idols is like honey without sweetness or God without love. We shouldn't get too much engrossed in idol worship because we have to advance in Spirituality. Idols should not become an obstacle for our progress in God Realization. Often people adorn them, put ornaments on them, and feed them. But we also know that there are people who need to be fed and sheltered. If we try to provide shelter to the idols in big expensive churches, temples, or mosques, then there are also living beings that need to be fed and cared for. It is better to see living beings as idols of God. Idols are everywhere. Everything you see through your eyes, mind, and intellect are representations of God. Keep Idols simple and useful and have a positive attitude towards them.

--Swami Radhanandaji