Murti Worship

Different sects of Hinduism, especially devotional/bhakti and tantric ones, have their own particular monotheistic conception of supreme Godhead from whom all other deities and principles emanate (such as Vishnu or Shiva, Krishna or Devi). Most Hindus, based on belief of many as one, will often worship many Gods and Goddesses. They are seen as different aspects of the same manifested reality. This worship is largely done through the use of murtis. Murtis are statues or images used as windows or points of devotional and meditational focus. They are sometimes abstract, but more often different representations of Gods and Goddesses like Shiva or Ganesh, Ram or Krishna, Saraswati or Kali. The idea that deities are powerful conduits of faith and representations of Truth is known as ishta devata, or chosen deity. Since the mind is in turbulence (vritti) and unable to focus on the formless God, God is seen in form. Hindus (i.e., Smartas,) see these Gods as either being various manifestations of the one true formless Brahman (principle, Divine Ground) or ultimate personality of God (typically represented as either Vishnu or Shiva.). (Note other denominations don't believe entirely in such concept; see Ishta-Deva; )

Devotional (Bhakti) practices are very centered on cultivating a deep and personal bond of love with god through one of his or her forms, and often makes use of murtis.

Murti worship has been construed as idolatrous by many followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This view of murtis' being idols imposes many misapplied Judeo-Christian ideas onto Hindu practices; such accusations do not reflect actual Vedic philosophy and Hindu belief. The Hindu belief of murti worship is far closer to that of the icon, and consists of veneration of the image or statue as representative of a higher ideal or principle rather than objectifying divinity as the material object itself.

• See icon
• See Ishta-Deva