Bigger the Murti More Powerful the God?

Last updated on: April 26, 2016 at 9:48 pm by Ambaa Choate

Bigger the Murti More Powerful the God? 2016-04-26T21:48:30-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I heard someone ask this question and I was intrigued because it had never occurred to me. Do we measure divinity by the physical space that something occupies? If God is in everything, is there more God in a boulder than in a pebble? If a pebble is one part divinity, is the boulder 500 parts divinity?

I don’t think so, personally, but it’s a very interesting idea.

I am reminded of a story I was told growing up. A poor man in a village is getting completely destitute. Some of his only possessions are a gold murti of Ganesha and his mouse. The mouse statue is larger so Ganesha can ride upon it. He reluctantly decides that he’s going to have to sell these precious possessions. But when he takes them to a shop, the owner offers him more for the mouse than for Ganesha himself. The man says to himself, “How can the mouse be worth more than the God?” He is so insulted at the idea that he doesn’t sell them after all.

This is a great example of how there are different ways to measure value. Size is one that we use a lot in day-to-day life but it isn’t necessarily the whole picture. I feel like using size to measure value is something that is very connected to maya and this limited world rather than reality.

It also reminds me of when I learned that there are infinities all over the place. A friend who is great at math showed me in middle school how there is an infinity in between every number. It’s rather mind-blowing.

What do you think? Does more divinity fit in a larger murti?

Previous Post

April 22, 2016

Is it still patience if you have no choice?

Next Post

April 28, 2016 The Temple and Women's Periods

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Christian symbol looks like a fish and spells "ichthys" in Greek?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Jesus Fish The dove The anchor The triangle