acintya

This blog shares my experience of a Vedantic session. Please excuse any errors or misunderstandings in my depiction or interpretation. Last week, I attended a Vedanta Śravaṇa session, and one of the questions that came up was whether vigraha puja , or murti worship, is really necessary if Ishvara is everywhere. On the surface, it sounds logical — if God is all-pervading, why focus on a particular form? But as the discussion went on, I began to see why our tradition places so much emphasis on vigraha puja, and it started to make sense to me in a very practical way. We often say that Ishvara is everywhere, but how many of us actually experience it? If I were to ask someone, “Do you really see or feel God everywhere?”, most of us would probably go silent. It usually remains an idea, not a living experience. It is like how one might know the recipe for upma by heart, list out the ingredients and method, and even explain it to others. But unless one actually goes into the kitchen, cooks it,...

This blog is a space for my personal reflections and ideas. While I strive for accuracy, please be aware that my opinions may sometimes be incorrect or subject to error. I apologize in advance for any misinformation. There's something curious about human nature. You can tell someone "You're already free from the very things that worry you most," and they'll often respond with "Interesting!" — then immediately return to worrying about those exact things.  Why? Sometimes I wonder: is this teaching not for everyone, or am I just so fond of it that I want everyone to discover what I've found meaningful? There's something humbling about watching people walk away from what feels like the most liberating insight imaginable. But then I remember what the texts say. The Vivekachudamani opens with this striking verse: दुर्लभं त्रयमेवैतद्देवानुग्रहहेतुकम् । मनुष्यत्वं मुमुक्षुत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रयः ॥ ३ ॥ "These three things are rare and come through divi...