The Most Effective Way to Worship God

The world is how we see it or we see the world not as it is but as we are, these are some of the most relevant and practical quotes, which explain that the word, universe or existence is how we visualize it with our minds, eyes and senses and not how it actually is in reality.

Similarly, God is how we perceive him to be and not what he actually is in reality or we see God through the image of God that we have constructed in our minds and not how he actually is in reality.

In the verse from the Shri Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulsidas, wishes to tell the world that “God will come to us, in the way we visualize his as”

जाकी रही भावना जैसी, प्रभु मूरत देखी तिन तैसी ||

Jaki Rahi Bhavana Jaisi, Prabhu Murat Dekhi Tin Taisi ||

The verse also implies that the fruits of the Bhakti will depend upon the thoughts, feelings, emotions or intensity with which you have tried to worship or invoke God.

For the advanced Sadhak or practitioner of Mantra Vidya, it implies that you will get only those Siddhis or powers, which you truly believe are attainable from the bottom of your heart. If there is even a slight hint of disbelief or doubt in the mind, then the Siddhi, which you are striving to gain will be beyond your reach.

In a recently published post, I had explained that it was of utmost importance not to restrict or confine God as being someone who is bound by rules or is limited or restricted. By doing this the worshiper has unknowingly limited the power of God. Ishta Devta is the favored deity or the deity one identifies most as God. That post can be seen here – The importance of making your Ishta Devta Powerful

Goswami Tulsidas was one of the greatest devotees of Shri Ram and apart from the Shri Ramcharitmanas, he also composed other most popular scriptures and prayers, like the Hanuman Chalisa, Sankatmochan Hanuman Ashtak and Hanuman Bahuk.

Goswami Tulsidas visualized Shri Ram as the Supreme Being and most probably identified himself with Hanuman.

Thus, the Hanuman visualized by Tulsidas is most likely to differ from actual Hanuman who was the Rudraavatar or fearsome manifestation of Lord Shiva and second to none. He was present in the Ramayana to play a per-defined role and help Shri Ram in defeating Ravana. As a manifestation of Shiva he was in all respects the equal of Shri Ram who was an Avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu.

Thus, if you have an Ishta Devta or favored deity, then the best and most powerful and effective method of invoking or worshiping him is to visualize him as the Supreme Being or God who transcends everything else, including the universe.

In the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, it is explained that the real form of God is so vast, immense and radiant that no one, including the greatest and most advanced of saints, yogis or spiritualists is capable of visualizing it with his senses.

It is true that one can experience God, because as has been said earlier on this site “We live inside the thing and the thing lives inside us” meaning in a more appropriate way “We live inside God and God lives inside us”

The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra also states that the images of God, which are present in temples, including the most sacred and ancient temples are only to make people identify or connect with God, they are only representations of God because the actual nature of God, transcends everything and is impossible to be visualized by the sense organs.