Value of a statue!

Well. I was rather surprised to read an article in a newspaper which started as follows: "Installing a statue follows the yogic priniple of Dharana (concentration). It is the same philosophy from which the idol worship is born and has the same benefits in connecting the mind to the supreme consciousness, if it is an idol of god." It also advised people to stand before the statue and spend some time before it thinking of the persons responsible for erecting it, and the person who lived once done something in this mundane world and now standing as a statue. In the same article exerts were given from what Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi spoke. He quoted SIVA VAKKIAR, a Siddh Mahapurush who said:

"You guys put flowers to stone planted on the ground;
call it god and go around muttering mantras:
Will that stone talk when the divine is with you"
The meaning of this sloka counters idol worship. (It suggests Dhyana, meditation for Self realization.) Atheists often misquote it for their arguments.

The "Agama Sashtra" by our ancient RISHIs explain idol worship in a different angle. The idol should be consecrated by a known RISHI, Acharya or a pious religious leader whose credentials are widely accepted in the circle of Bakthas. He should be selfless. Then all the good people, bakthas should daily visit the temple and worship them. (Always good people are in majority. Bad people are minority) They should worship the omnipresent, omnipotent God through this idol; in this idol. The collective strength of good thoughts, prayer, manthras and Dhyana Sakthi goes to the idol. If a man with wavering mind comes to the temle and offers prayer at the idol, the god through this idol blesses him with peace and tranquility. So the power (Sakthi) goes from Bakthas to the idol and comes back to the people who worship the idol. It is a cycle. (Agama Sashtra as explained by Sri Swami Vivekananda).

Therefore these kind of statues standing in the road erected with an eye on votes or to disturb certain groups of people would never give you any Dharana (concentration) of mind.