Namaste,
Worshiping Murtis of Vishnu, Shiva, Mother Goddess etc. whether in temples of or at home is in the blood of more than 90 % of Hindus. However, what I find that this has no support in Shruti or even Smritis, as far as I could know. My understanding based on whatever I have read makes me believe that it has basically come from AgmAs which elaborate on Temple construction and Murti-pooja. Today's Hinduism cannot be seen divided on AgamA-followers and Veda followers as over time, both traditions have got mixed and have given us the form of Hindu Dharma as we find today.
I could find a few references in Upanishads which suggests that this tradition of Murti-worship is not new to Hindus but has ancient history. However, it has not been given a very respectable status as comparison to other ways Hindus worship God. These are some of the ways we worship God(s) :
a) Invoking Gods with mantras and performing sacrifices for them in holy fire --- This has very strong support in Veda-samhitA.
b) Chanting the name(s) of God and doing bhajan and kirtans (Support in Bhagwad Gita)
c) Doing Japa in mind silently
d) Meditating on form of God, Meditating on Mantra dedicated to God
e) Meditating on Self (JnAna-Margis) (Support in Upanishads and Bhagwad Gita)
f) Worshiping God in forms
In spite of strong support for other forms of worship in the VedAs SamhitAs, VedAnta and Bhagwad Gita and very weak support to Murti-pooja, the most popular form of worship to Hindus today has become Murti-pooja which surprises me.
I would like to know how others see it.
OM
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