[ajay00]

Originally Posted by Shivani Devi

Conditioning can work both ways. Allow me to provide an example:

If you believe the knowledge and teachings of Krishna and Rama is equal to or surpasses those of the founding members of the Brahma Kumaris movement, then you must be dreaming!

Both Krishna and Rama are seen to be worshipping the Shivalingam.

In the ancient Guruvayur temple, it is stated that one must visit the Mammiyur Shiva temple before visiting the Sri Krishna Guruvayur temple, as Krishna's Ishtadevata is considered to be Shivalingam. In the ancient Sri Rama temple nearby in Triprayar, one similarly ought to visit the Melthrikovil Shiva temple before visiting the Sri Rama temple as Rama's Ishtadevata is the Shivalingam.

Similarly, in Rameshwaram, as per tradition, Rama is said to have built the Shiva temple with Shivalingam. The Shivalingam over there is also known as Ramanathaswamy, which mean's Rama's Lord Shiva, 'Natha' meaning Lord.

Rameshwaram means Rama's Eshwar or Rama's God Shiva.

The Shiva temple at Rameshwaram is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, with Jyoti meaning light and Linga meaning mark, that is, a mark of light.

This is exactly what the Brahmakumaris state of Shiva being a point of light. . This is also what the Vedic teachings in the Atharva Veda says, as emphasized by Swami Vivekananda and the Shiva Puranas too.


Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, also emphasizes this fact....


https://www.artofliving.org/worshiping-gods

In the ancient age, there was no form of Lord Shiva holding a Trishul (Trident), or anything like that. In ancient days, there was only a Pind (a stone) that was kept and then by chanting mantras, the Chaitanya Shakti (energy pervading all of the Divine Consciousness) was awakened and manifested in the Pind. So this is how it was worshiped. -
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Even earlier, in the Sanatan Dharma (referring to an earlier name for Hinduism) there were no idols or idol worship as such, but only Havans (ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action) were performed and Lord Shiva’s pind would be placed to establish his presence. That was it, nothing else would be done.

It was only later that the custom of installing idols came up. -
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Now, why did the practice of having idols begin?

This was because by seeing the idol a feeling of devotion would arise from within.

The other reason is that when Buddhists and Jains made their temples they would place such beautiful idols at the altar. So then those who followed Sanatan Dharma felt that they should also do something like this. So they also followed the same and began to establish different idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna.

You will not find any mention of a practice of installing idols for worship in the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana.

Only the Shiva Linga was installed. That is why only the Shiva Linga was there in the ancient period, which was worshiped by Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and everyone else. - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar