Idol worship (Books)

Expressions researched:
"idol is being worshiped" |"idol they are worshiping" |"idol worship" |"idol worshiper" |"idol worshipers" |"idolatrous worshipers" |"idols that we must worship" |"worship an idol" |"worship idol" |"worship idols" |"worshiping an idol" |"worshiping idol" |"worshiping one idol" |"worshiping some idol" |"worshiping the idol"

Notes from the compiler: VedaBase query: "idol* worship*"@5

BG Chapters 7 - 12

Worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form within the temple is not idol worship.

BG 12.5, Purport:

The individual soul is embodied since time immemorial. It is very difficult for him to simply theoretically understand that he is not the body. Therefore, the bhakti-yogī accepts the Deity of Kṛṣṇa as worshipable because there is some bodily conception fixed in the mind, which can thus be applied. Of course, worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form within the temple is not idol worship. There is evidence in the Vedic literature that worship may be saguṇa or nirguṇa—of the Supreme possessing or not possessing attributes. Worship of the Deity in the temple is saguṇa worship, for the Lord is represented by material qualities. But the form of the Lord, though represented by material qualities such as stone, wood or oil paint, is not actually material. That is the absolute nature of the Supreme Lord.