Universal Concepts About The Supreme Being or God (cont.)

Just as a candle flame emerges from a point source and assumes an oval
form, mystics and saints throughout the passage of time have had visions of
God as a point of self-luminous light with an oval aura.

*Most religions have images, idols or memorials, having one name or the
other to represent God as light or as an oval shape.

*Throughout India there are statues of an oval-shaped image. They are
called Shivalingas, and are thought to represent the Creator Himself. The
names of the temples of Shiva confirm this: Somnath, the Lord of Nectar;
Vishwanath, The Lord of the Universe; Mukteshwara, the Lord of Liberation,
etc.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, it is mentioned that Moses had a vision
of light as a burning bush in the desert. Jesus also referred to God as
light. In some Christian ceremonies, during the ceremonies, an ostensorio
is held up. The ostensorio is a golden ball with many rays radiating from
it. Perhaps this is a symbolic representation of God.

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism called Him "Ek Omkar, Nirakar", the one
non-physical (bodiless) being or soul.

According to Islamic legend, when Adam left paradise he came to a low hill
upon which he saw a shining white oval stone. Around this stone he circled
seven times praising God. He then built the Kaaba. By the time of Abraham
it needed to be rebuilt as a temple to honour the one God. The town of
Mecca grew around this spot. This oval stone, later called Sang-e-aswad and
now 'blackened' by the kisses of millions of sinners, so they say, is the
only object of worship in the whole of Islam.

(To be continued tomorrow ...)