Whom Should We Worship?

 ### **Whom Should We Worship?**

Here a question naturally arises: **Why should we worship the Supreme God?**

What is the need for devotion to God?

Why should we not worship inert objects or limited human beings?

What benefit do we gain from devotion to God?

This question is truly profound and worthy of deep reflection.

The scriptures state that **one becomes like that which one worships**.

Whatever a person constantly contemplates, he is colored by it;

whatever he meditates upon deeply, he gradually imbibes its nature.

Just as an iron ball, when kept in fire for a long time, first becomes warm, then red-hot, and finally takes on the very nature of fire, similarly, a human being who constantly focuses on a particular object or entity gradually assumes its qualities.

If we worship human beings, there is no doubt that we will acquire the qualities of those whom we worship. But since all human beings are limited in knowledge and power and possess weaknesses, it is natural that along with their virtues, their defects also enter into us.

Worship of **inert objects** destroys the subtle, inner consciousness of a person and makes him inert like those objects themselves. Therefore, the Veda declares:

> **“Those who worship ignorance (inert matter) enter into deep darkness.”**

> *(Yajurveda 40.9)*

Many people who worship inert objects gradually become devoid of inner light, like those objects themselves, and wander blindly in darkness. Thus, the inevitable result of worship is that a person becomes colored by that which he worships.

If worship of inert objects could truly grant peace, then those who worship such objects the most—namely the wealthiest and most materially successful—would never be seen suffering. But this is not the case.

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### **Devotion in the Vedas**

When inert objects themselves are devoid of light, peace, and power, how can their worship bestow peace upon a human being? Worship requires **supreme power**, and devotion requires a **supreme, all-pervading, omnipotent, sin-destroying, peace-bestowing Supreme Being**.

For devotion, one needs the **pure, enlightened, liberated, blissful (Sat–Chit–Ānanda) Supreme God**. The Veda proclaims:

> **“He is radiant, bodiless, without wounds, without sinews, pure, untouched by sin;

> He is the seer, the thinker, all-pervading, self-existent,

> who has rightly ordered all things for eternal ages.”**

> *(Yajurveda 40.8)*

The Supreme God is bliss itself. He is free from suffering and wounds, the destroyer of sorrow and the giver of happiness. He is formless, free from disease, beyond bodily limitations, without any physical image. He is pure and the purifier, sinless and the liberator from sin. He is the inner witness (antaryāmī), the knower of all minds, all-pervading, self-existent, and the creator, sustainer, and regulator of the universe.

The Veda teaches that **only by worshipping and devoting oneself to such a Supreme God can human life be fulfilled—otherwise not**. It is a universal principle that worship of the all-powerful naturally makes a person powerful. The deeper and more heartfelt our devotion to the omnipotent God, the stronger and more robust our soul becomes.

The Veda further states:

> **“He who gives the soul, He who gives strength,

> whose command all beings follow,

> whose shadow is immortality and whose ordinance is death—

> to that God we offer our oblations.”**

> *(Yajurveda 25.13)*

The Supreme God alone is the strength of the soul. Why? Because the soul itself is conscious life, and consciousness can never derive strength from inert matter. Worship of lifeless objects can never empower the soul. Only the conscious Supreme Being can do so.

This is the divine law: **life comes only from life, power only from power**. Where there is no life, how can life be imparted? How can inert matter give courage, strength, or vitality to a conscious soul? It cannot.

Therefore, the Veda declares that **only the Supreme God is worthy of devotion**. The ignorant, due to ignorance, worship inert objects. But the wise, the enlightened, those whose hearts shine with knowledge, never worship lifeless things. Day and night, they remain absorbed in devotion to the Supreme God alone.

The Veda says that absorption in His devotion can save a person from death.

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### **What Is Death?**

In simple terms, death is the separation of the soul from the body. If the body dies when separated from the soul, then a soul that is devoid of God—who is the Soul of the soul—also becomes lifeless, even though it may appear conscious. **God alone is the life of the soul**.

The Upaniṣad declares:

> **“He is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind,

> the speech of speech, and the life of life.”**

> *(Kena Upaniṣad 1.2)*

Thus, the Vedic statement—

> **“Whose shadow is immortality and whose ordinance is death”**

—means that experiencing God within oneself, surrendering to Him day and night, and remaining absorbed in His devotion is the true life of the soul. Separation from God—absence of devotion and divine love—is spiritual death.

A mortal human being, trapped in death himself, cannot save another from this spiritual death. Nor can inert objects, which are themselves lifeless. **The life of the soul is God alone**. Through His devotion, surrender, and love, the soul gains life and liberation.

The Upaniṣad says:

> **“This alone is the supreme support; this alone is the highest support.

> Knowing this support, one attains glory in Brahmaloka.”**

> *(Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.17)*

God alone is the true refuge of the soul, its highest and purest support, and its shield against death. One who adopts this divine refuge rises above death and attains liberation.

Now it becomes clear why devotion to God is essential. Worship of inert objects makes us dull, lifeless, and devoid of enthusiasm. Worship of God fills us with life, vigor, radiance, strength, and valor. The more limited the object of worship, the more limited our life becomes; the greater and more powerful the object of worship, the greater we ourselves become.

Therefore, the Vedas teach us to pray daily:

> **“You are radiance—place radiance in me.

> You are strength—place strength in me.

> You are power—place power in me.

> You are vitality—place vitality in me.

> You are endurance—place endurance in me.”**

> *(Yajurveda 12.9)*

That is:

“O Supreme God, I worship You so that I may receive Your radiance, strength, power, vitality, endurance, and justice through devotion to You.”

**Om (ॐ)**

*With gratitude – Swami Satyanand Ji*

*(From the book: Satyopadeśamālā)*

Reproduced by Dr. Vivek Arya