Vedas, as in Advaitha philosophy, describe the Supreme formless God as Nirguna Brahmam. He manifests with His veil of Maya as Saguna Brahmam, in the hundreds of forms that are worshipped in our Temples and houses, so that the common man can understand. Each individual is allowed to pray to any of the manifestations explained in our Agamas, Ithihasas and Puranas. Every Hindu who worships these forms knows very well this truth that all these forms lead to the One Divine Force and the various Images used in the worship are only for the sake of concentration to a figure for rituals. "Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudhah Vadhanthi" -- Truth (The Supreme Reality) is One but the Sages call It (Him) by many names. They all know that God in His true form or nature is far beyond comprehension. The Vaishnavites refer to "Him" as Savisesha Brahmam, as the supreme God who is not without form but without attributes and beyond our understanding.

Each one is allowed to pray to any form after accepting that form as their personal Deity, Ishta Devatha. They develop all the devotion and love to God in that form. They get the rights to perform the rituals after getting trained in the rules by "Adhikaras". Each one gets these training from a guru, teacher, a parent or an elder member in the family. When Hindus pray to their Deities at home or in Temples, they pray to images, statues or pictures. They are often criticized by the ignorant outsiders as senseless "Idol worshippers." However, for the Hindu, it makes all the sense as they worship the formless Divine as Vigrahas. It may be a human figurine, a lamp, fire, water, Sun, a stone or clay shaped like a cone or Linga or just the formless space. It is no different from National Flag for a soldier in war, Cross for a Christian, Kaba for a Muslim or the Holy book for any religion. They are all just various forms of representation of a faith, to respect and worship.

When we help another person in need, we should not wait and expect any favor in return and wait for it; it will come just like the tall coconut tree which takes the plain water poured at its feet [root] returns it back to us as sweet water at its head.

-- [ A Tamil Poem by Poet Saint Avvaiyaar ] --

The effects of all our actions as Karma will be returned back to us properly. But, any action performed with greed, and attachment looking for a return of benefit will lead to pain and grief only. When we help a person ineed, such action will be rewarded at appropriate time in a better form when we are in need of such services.