How do murtis function?

Answer 1

Murti A clay Ganesha murti, worshipped during Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

In Hinduism, a murti (Devanagari: मूर्ति) typically refers to an image, a deity, in which a Divine Spirit is expressed (murta). Hindus consider a murti worthy of worship after the divine is invoked in it for the purpose of offering worship. Thus the murti is regarded by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists (e.g. Muktinath) during worship as a point of devotional and meditational focus. Puja of murtis is recommended, especially for Dvapara Yuga,[1] and described in Pañcaratra texts.

Contents

• 1 Role of murtis in worship
• 2 Materials used in Murtis
• 3 See also
• 4 Notes
• 5 References
• 6 External links

// Role of murtis in worshipModern murtis representing Balarama (left) and Krishna at the Krishna-Balarama mandira in Vrindavan, India.

Murtis are sometimes abstract, but are almost always representations of gods in anthropomorphic or zoomorphic forms like Shiva, Ganesha, Rama, Kali, etc. Murtis are made according to the prescriptions of the Śilpa Śāstras.[2] The alloy Panchaloga is sometimes used.[3] They are installed by priests through the Prana pratishta ('establishing the life') ceremony.

Devotional (bhakti) practices centered on cultivating a deep and personal bond of love with a god often include veneration of murtis. Some Hindu denominations like Arya Samaj and Satya Mahima Dharma, however, reject it, equating it with an idol worship.[4][5][6]

According to Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, "This is similar to our ability to communicate with others through the telephone. One does not talk to the telephone; rather the telephone is a way to interact with another person. Without the telephone, one could not have a conversation across long distances; and without the sanctified image in the temple, one cannot easily talk with the Deity." [7]

According to the Agamas, the स्थूलमूर्ति / बिम्बमूर्ति (bimbamurti, corporeal idol) is different from the मन्त्रमूर्ति (mantramurti, the idol with power), which is worshipped in classical temples. The mantramurti in the bimbamurti is worshipped only by the use of the right rituals, gestures, hymns and offerings.

Materials used in Murtis

In Southern India, the material used predominantly for murtis is black granite, while material in North India is white marble. [8]