Acharya Prashant addresses a questioner's confusion arising from the conflict between traditional devotional practices and the path of knowledge (Vedanta). The questioner finds peace in worshipping deities like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, and Hanuman, believing it to be the path to liberation, but is perplexed by the speaker's assertion that gods and goddesses are illusions. Acharya Prashant clarifies that the meanings people commonly derive from idols and deities are indeed mythical. The true starting point for spirituality is to ask, "Who am I, and what do I want?" We are a fallen consciousness that needs to rise, and anything that helps in this ascent is beneficial. He uses the analogy of an alarm clock to explain the role of deities and scriptures. If an idol or a story can act as an alarm to wake you from your slumber of unconsciousness, it is good for you. However, the problem arises when, instead of waking up, one starts worshipping the alarm clock itself—adorning it with flowers, performing rituals, and so on. This is what has happened with our reverence for Ram and Krishna. They are meant to awaken us, but we have made them a part of our unconsciousness, using them to fulfill our desires rather than for liberation. We have cleverly devised ways to ensure they do not wake us up but instead become helpers in our slumber. Acharya Prashant further explains that all elements in religion are symbols, not literal facts. One must understand what these symbols point towards. For instance, Westerners might call Hanuman a 'monkey god' because they miss the symbolism. We are all 'vanars' (monkeys) in our physical, animalistic nature. Hanuman represents the potential of this animalistic self to move towards the divine (Ram), even while retaining a sense of humor and lightheartedness. Without understanding this symbolism, devotion to Hanuman is misused, such as chanting his name merely to ward off ghosts. Similarly, the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata are not just historical accounts but allegories for the inner journey. To understand their true meaning, one needs the key of Vedanta. Vedanta is not a set of doctrines but an intense curiosity to know the Self. It is the key that unlocks the true meaning of all scriptures and religions, including the Bible and the Quran. Vedanta does not oppose idol worship but is against its ignorant practice. It asserts that temples should be centers of spiritual education, for without knowledge, they are mere spectacles.