Murtipuja never helps one in our adhyatmik progress. It is purely a religious belief! Similar as going to temple never helps one in reaching God, Murtipuja helps one pray to Brahm, treating it as a symbol of God. People all over Bharat used available means to remember God, pray to Brahm!
Poorer families located in far off villages tied a string around a tree branch and prayed to Brahm. Others put Vermillion on a big stone and prayed to God. In absence of a temple in a village, as the means available accordingly people prayed to Brahm.
Since 6 1/2 years of age, I stopped going to temples. I went with my mother to the Jain temple in search of God. When I did not find one, I never went again! By seven years of age I had finally realized that God lived in our heart as our Atman. And thus started my journey towards God.
If one is serious searching for God in this very life, one must indulge in adhyatma that advocates indulging in dhyana and brahmacharya to reach God in one’s lifetime. As the journey towards God begins within our heart, we need not go elsewhere in search of God. Neither to temples, or an ashram!
If we are not able to concentrate on God in the nirakaar form, then we can use any symbol to concentrate on God. It can be a Murti, a photograph depicting picture of any God, even a Banyan tree! From five years of age I directly concentrated on nirakaar form of God (having no form). I never had any problem all my life.
Those indulging in Murtipuja were never interested in adhyatma, reaching God in their lifetime! Going to temples, indulging in singing bhajans, attending kirtans or visiting religious places never helps one get nearer to God. Why indulge and waste our precious time!