Hinduism - Why so many Gods? is it a Polytheistic religion?

Question One: Why does Hinduism have so many Gods?

A: Hindus all believe in one Supreme God who created the universe. He is all-pervasive. He created many Gods, highly advanced spiritual beings, to be His helpers.


Longer answer: Contrary to prevailing misconceptions, Hindus all worship a one Supreme Being, though by different names. This is because the peoples of India with different languages and cultures have understood the one God in their own distinct way. Through history there arose four principal Hindu denominations—Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and Smartism. For Sai-vites, God is Siva. For Shaktas, Goddess Shakti is supreme. For Vaishnavites, Lord Vishnu is God. For Smartas—who see all Deities as reflections of the One God—the choice of Deity is left to the devotee. This liberal Smarta perspective is well known, but it is not the prevailing Hindu view. Due to this diversity, Hindus are profoundly tolerant of other religions, respecting the fact that each has its own pathway to the one God.

One of the unique understandings in Hinduism is that God is not far away, living in a remote heaven, but is inside each and every soul, in the heart and consciousness, waiting to be discovered. This knowing that God is always with us gives us hope and courage. Knowing the One Great God in this intimate and experiential way is the goal of Hindu spirituality.

Elaboration: Hinduism is both monotheistic and henotheistic. Hindus were never polytheistic, in the sense that there are many equal Gods. Henotheism (literally "one God") better defines the Hindu view. It means the worship of one God without denying the existence of other Gods. We Hindus believe in the one all-pervasive God who energizes the entire universe. We can see Him in the life shining out of the eyes of humans and all creatures. This view of God as existing in and giving life to all things is called panentheism. It is different from pantheism, which is the belief that God is the natural universe and nothing more. It is also different from strict theism which says God is only above the world, apart and transcendent. Panentheism is an all-encompassing concept. It says that God is both in the world and beyond it, both immanent and transcendent. That is the highest Hindu view. Hindus also believe in many Gods who perform various functions, like executives in a large corporation. These should not be confused with the Supreme God. These Divinities are highly advanced beings who have specific duties and powers—not unlike the heavenly spirits, overlords or archangels revered in other faiths. Each denomination worships the Supreme God and its own pantheon of divine beings. What is sometimes confusing to non-Hindus is that Hindus of various sects may call the one God by many different names, according to their denomination or regional tradition. Truth for the Hindu has many names, but that does not make for many truths. Hinduism gives us the freedom to approach God in our own way, encouraging a multiplicity of paths, not asking for conformity to just one.

There is much confusion about this subject, even among Hindus. Learn the right terms and the subtle differences in them, and you can explain the profound ways Hindus look at Divinity. Others will be delighted with the richness of the Indian concepts of God. You may wish to mention that some Hindus believe only in the formless Absolute Reality as God; others believe in God as personal Lord and Creator. This freedom makes the understanding of God in Hinduism, the oldest living religion, the richest in all of Earth's existing faiths.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hindu
• Hinduism
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• Christ
• Christianity
• Allah
• Jehovah
• God
• Sanatana
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[anticonversion]

To get a detailed answer you may wanna google, "10 commonly asked questions about Hinduism" and read in detail...I am sure you will find it there...

BTW - Hindus, Buddhists and some other religions believe that this world is just an illusion, nothing is real and it is all God's play.

[nomadnametab]

I have always felt the God is a multi-fasceted being that is the source of all existance. We and all things are sparks off that force. If it is not of God it does not exist. To me the angels are creations of God, made for special missions. We all are part of God and equal in the universe. Our job is to do good,perform our tasks and once completed rejoin that force. Too many people limit God or try to make a physical figure out of God, this limits God and is an error. God has no limits .

[anticonversion]

Very true,,,..The evolved souls understand what you just said...

[mini0777]

thanks a lot 'anticonversion' u just cleared my mind......i was also looking for the same question, bcoz some ppl just puzzled me saying hinduism is not a religion bcoz we hindus hv so many gods, whereas god is one......thanks man now i can answer them back properly!

[anticonversion]

You might wanna google, "10 commonly asked questions about Hinduism" and get more information. Jai Shri Ram.

[Th3ba1r0n]

What is that song in the backround?

I love that and would like to find it and listen to it x3

[anticonversion]

I have myself taken the video from another website so I am not sure about the background song, sorry. God bless!

[Sharma19801]

I believe that Hinduism is the most oldest religion and the most Ancient. Allt he storis you read in the bible are similar to the stories in Hinduism. I believe that there is only one God and the world made different religions just to separate themselves from other people who are not from their religion.

[defenderofHindus]

Just try to understand the difference between God and gods. These gods work with the power derived from God. And we Hindu respect them for instance sun, earth and so on in a similar manner as one should respect his parents as suggested by almost all the scriptures.

[Playitalready]

anticonversion; see my above comments and if you want to discuss lets find a forum such as groups . myspace . com /humanityawakening or something and others can talk there too

[Playitalready]

-So its imperative they maybe revered more in that respect. There are higher beings that, when revered with certain actions, could give back rewards;God like, but not exactly God, just as Angels in the Bible maybe holy but not God. There is a Supreme Being with a personal form that is referred to as Sri Rama, Vishnu, or Krishna etc. Brahman is just 1 word for the infinite/eternal/total reality and if u seek that u get that impersonal knowledge/peace but no personal relationship (no bliss)

[Playitalready]

the sun is 1 but its rays spread around universe. Hinduism it doesnt say you need to worship many Gods,1 impersonal reality only, or cows. All living creatures come from God, have important significance depending on their situation, and have emotions/feelings, so they should be properly respected. Just as every humans life has its strengths/purpose, cows give milk like a mother does, which is made into dairy products and thus the backbone for a healthy and economically prosperous society...

[in2ennui]

The only true Lord, the Creator, the essence of all is not subject to birth/death and Karma and his abode is accesable to only a few who are of supreme faith and wish to attain him, not the pleasures of heaven or earth (although each is riddled with equivelent miseries)

[anticonversion]

There is a long story and philosophy behind the surface negatives of the two things that someone has told you. Each year during the Ganpati festival an idol of Ganpati is brought home by the people who like it. After worshipping it for 10 days or less, as one wishes, one then immerses the idol into the sea to send the subtle energy into to be back with the ocean. Much of it can be researched on google if you like under "Ganesh festival, its significance".May Godbless. Glass is half full for some