Question
Why did Adi Shankara promote idol worship?
Answer
Adi Shankaracharya came down to uplift humankind through different ways and one such way is idol worship. Unlike the yogic/tantric/karma paths, one can enjoy the fruits of this idol worship soon.
For a layman, to worship God who is; formless, nameless, and without any predominant character is very difficult. So, noble forms of Almighty with various names and forms are adopted for idol worship. Rituals like alankara, abhisheka etc. associated with each deity are specified in the holy scriptures.
Upon intense worship of these idols, one finds it easy to mediate on image of such deity. Out of love, devotion and affection the mind can be submerged with God in meditation. The personification of god makes devote develop strong relation with ease.
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