If God is Within, Why Do We Spend Time Worshipping External Forms of God?

In so many faith traditions, murtis – statues – of God and the saints and rishis adorn each temple and mandir and church. From a design standpoint, they are beautiful, and enliven and enrich the sanctified environment of our sacred spaces. But, these same faith traditions all profess that God dwells within. So, if that’s the case, why do we spend so much time and energy worshipping those statues? Why not simply go directly to the God within?

In this beautiful teaching from the Divine Satsang, Pujya Sadhviji shares the words of Bhagwan Krishna: “In whatever way the devotee worships me, I will come to him or her in that form.” For many, the focus on a murti is a way to focus their attention on God, even though they recognize that that murti is not, in fact, God. The important thing about worship, Sadhviji concludes, isn’t the actual act – it’s the resulting connection to the Divine that matters!