25
Liberation Via An Image Worship From Here
Questioner: But Dada, does Simandhar Swami sense that you are doing His work?
Dadashri: It is not like that. If you pray to Simandhar Swami, you reap benefits. If you do the same with the Siddha Bhagwan those who have already attained moksha, you do not get anything. Simandhar Swami has a physical body. You can go there in just one more lifetime and you can actually touch Him.
Questioner: Wow Dada! Will we get that chance?
Dadashri: You will have all the opportunities, why not? You are in deep praise of His name and you pay obeisance to Him. We have to go there, and that is why we say to the Lord,“ Lord, although You are there and we cannot see You, but through the worship of your image idol we are doing your darshan”. Here in India people have enormous idols of the tirthankaras who have departed. Even if you sit there all day, you will not achieve anything. What is the use of worshipping the deity of those who can no longer help you? It is better to worship the deity of a living tirthankara. This is the arihant Lord. He will help you.
Questioner: When we were all chanting,‘ Dada Bhagwan Na Aseem jai Jaikar Ho’, you too were chanting something. Whose name were you chanting?
Dadashri: I too was chanting the same. I too bow down to Dada Bhagwan. Dada Bhagwan is at 360 degrees and I am at 356 degrees. I lack four degrees and that is why I too chant His name also so that others will do the same. They too are lacking.
Questioner: What is the relationship between‘ Dada Bhagwan’ whose name you make us chant and Simandhar Swami?