Vigraha Pūjā Has No Vedic Basis

Detailed Investigation

​The Kaushitaki Grihya Sutra is a manual for daily householder life tied directly to the Rigvedic tradition. The fact that the Nishkramana ritual commands parents to take a newborn straight to a Devayatanām (abode of the deity) proves that temples were not distant, late-era inventions.

As I have mentioned, Manusmṛti addresses temples and Vigrahas of the Devatās multiple times. Not only that — Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.6.4 states:

vāgyataḥ saha vaidehyā bhūtvā niyatamānasaḥ śrīmatyāyatane viṣṇoḥ śiśye naravarātmajaḥ

— describing Śrī Rāma visiting the temple of Lord Viṣṇu.

For any Hindu who has doubts about the authority of the Manusmriti, consider what Shri Ram Chandra states in Valmiki Ramayana 4.18.30

"This task can be performed by you as well, if you follow Dharma. It is heard that the following two verses, which are dear to those of good character, have been composed by Manu; and I have followed that path."

The constitution of Ram Rajya was based on the Manusmriti.

Mandirs and Vigraha Pūjā were always an inherent part of Vedic Dharma.The Agni Purāṇa and Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa contain detailed chapters on Vigraha iconography, consecration (pratiṣṭhā), and temple architecture.

The rest is nothing but political propaganda