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beliefs or viewpoint through your mind, speech and action) and so there will be no difference of opinion with anyone.
Questioner: Why do we have bells in the temples?
Dadashri: The idol has no need for the bell. The bells are used to help focus the worshiper’ s chit; they also help drown out other noises. The incense and the aromatic dhoop are also utilized to help people focus.
Jinamudra- The posture of the Omniscient
The vitarag Lords state,“ We do not accept anything you give us and whatever you offer is returned to you with thanks. If you offer twenty-five cents, you will get many more in return. If you offer a flower, you will get many more flowers in return and if you insult us, you will receive many more insults in return.” Just once surrender your all through your mind, speech and body to the vitarag Lord and see for yourself the abundant results. The idol of the vitarag Lord is very unique. Have you seen such a posture( mudra) in an idol of any others? No other idol posture is comparable. Whatever the level of one’ s spiritual development, such will be one’ s idol.
What is the message of the posture of the idol of the vitarag Lord? It is saying,“ If you want liberation then at least in this life, sit like me with ceased internal machinery and folded arms and legs. Even with this posture in life, all your functions of life will continue well.”
What is there to see in an idol? Is it the stone? Is it the eyes? The idols are meant to instill internal devotional feelings( bhaav) in the worshipper:‘ This is the idol of Lord Mahavir! How wonderful was Lord Mahavir! What vitaragata( absolute dispassion) he had.’ Nowadays such internal feelings do not arise within the worshippers and so they have resorted to decorating the idols. If the idol is decorated beautifully then at least the chit( inner component of knowledge and vision) will