View source for Arca means the form of the Lord established in some temple and worshiped. That is also incarnation of God. That is not idol worship. People who do not know that this is an authorized process of realizing God, they cannot understand

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{{terms|"Arcā means the form of the Lord situated, I mean to say, established in some temple and worshiped. That is also incarnation of God. That is not idol worship. People who do not know that this is an authorized process of realizing God, or they have never tasted or practiced it, they cannot understand"}}
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{{compiler|SharmisthaK}}
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[[Category:Arca]]
[[Category:Meaning of Sanskrit Words]]
[[Category:God's Form]]
[[Category:Establishing God]]
[[Category:Some]]
[[Category:Temples]]
[[Category:Worshiping God]]
[[Category:That Is]]
[[Category:Is Also]]
[[Category:God's Incarnations]]
[[Category:That Is Not]]
[[Category:Idol Worship]]
[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Do Not Know]]
[[Category:This Is An]]
[[Category:Authorized Process]]
[[Category:Realizing God]]
[[Category:Cannot Understand]]
[[Category:Pages Needing Audio - SHARMISTHA]]
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<h2>Lectures</h2>
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<h3>General Lectures</h3>
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Lord is not only incarnation in a sound form; He is incarnated in many other forms. In many other forms. Just like arcā. Arcā means the form of the Lord situated, I mean to say, established in some temple and worshiped. That is also incarnation of God. That is not idol worship. People who do not know that this is an authorized process of realizing God, or they have never tasted or practiced it, they cannot understand. They say it is idol worship. No. It is not idol worship. It is not idol worship.
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[[Vanisource:660909 - Lecture Maha-mantra - New York|660909 - Lecture Maha-mantra - New York]]
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Lord is not only incarnation in a sound form; He is incarnated in many other forms. In many other forms. Just like arcā. Arcā means the form of the Lord situated, I mean to say, established in some temple and worshiped. That is also incarnation of God. That is not idol worship. People who do not know that this is an authorized process of realizing God, or they have never tasted or practiced it, they cannot understand. They say it is idol worship. No. It is not idol worship. It is not idol worship.

I'll give you one example. Just like in the front of your door there is a box, "US Mail," it is written. And you put your letters within that box, and after few days you get reply from your friend that, "I have received your letter, and this is such and such, such and such." Now, if somebody puts another box like that, exactly imitation: "Then why shall I spend postage to putting letters in this box, US Mail? I require postage. But then why shall I not put up a box like that? Let me prepare a box like that so that it can go without postage. I want to save postage." Now, he is going on, putting letters in that without postage. And after some time he sees all the letters are lying there; it has not been dispatched—because it is imitation. And the box which is supplied by the post office, that is authorized. In the matter, in material, you will find this box and that imitation box is the same thing.

So this is a science. You see? Although we find that "This form of the Lord . . . the Hindus, they have established one statue in the temple, and they are worshiping as the Lord? How is that? Is it Lord is a stone? It is wood?" But he does not know that because it is authorized, because it is authorizedly worshiped, therefore even it is stone or wood, it can act. It can act. Just like the authorized post office, although seemingly it is a box which I can prepare, but it is acting, because it is authorized, similarly, the authorized, authorized symbol or representation of God is also God. He's not different from God.

Then why God is like that? It is His mercy. Because I cannot see God with my these eyes—I can see stone and wood and material things—therefore God is kind enough (to appear) in a form suitable to my seeing and accept my service. It is His kindness. And besides that, if everything is God, because everything has link with the God, with the Supreme Truth, then God, being omnipotent, why He cannot represent Himself win . . . everything? Everything is God, everything is emanation of God, then God has got the power to manifest Himself in everything. That is His omnipotency. So these are consideration.
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