What is God? A sentient being that is the creator or ruler of the universe, that is the object of worship (of believers), Christ, Buddha, Allah or whatever name people use, every religion's God is one being who satisfies three criteria:
So basically, according to this universal definition, there can be only one God. But the Hindus have so many Gods, thirty three million, as it is popularly said. So who is God in Hinduism? Does Hinduism really have a God?
Yes, it does. It has a God. Or rather, it has One God. That being which cannot be described is referred to as Brahman or Ishvara by the Vedas (Brahman is separate from brahmin, the caste or varna of certain people). As said in the Upanishads "Auṃ – That supreme Brahman is infinite, and this conditioned Brahman is infinite. The infinite proceeds from infinite. If you subtract the infinite from the infinite, the infinite remains alone." Brahman is the ultimate infinite power that encompasses all reality. Brahman is neither male nor female, has no form. Despite the fact that Hindus worship so many Gods, despite Hinduism being called a pagan religion by the West, Hinduism has one God, that being Ishvara or Brahman. Then who are the rest - the ones that are worshiped?
Mahadeva
The Trimurti (Three Beings), also called Mahadevas are manifestations of Brahman, each personifying the three aspects of God. But really, Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (Destroyer) are all three manifestations of Brahman. So, if Brahman is neutral, why does it show itself as three males (albeit divine!)? The answer is simple: Brahman is also Adi parashakti, which manifests as three Goddesses, called the Tridevi, each serving as the source of energy for their male counterparts. To create one needs knowledge. So Brahma (the Creator) has Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge) as his wife. To maintain anything, one need resources and wealth. So Vishnu (the Preserver of the Universe) has Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) as his wife. Now you can work out the final case: to destroy, you need power. Hence, Shakti, the personification of Power is the consort of Shiva, the eternal Destroyer.
These Mahadevas and Devis are the deities that are worshiped by most devotees, in either their Godly forms or as their Avatars.
Deva
Even though the term Deva commonly means God, a Deva in Hinduism is an immortal deity having awesome power. How is a Deva different from a God? Unlike God, a Deva directly interacts and interferes with various worldly affairs, often to serve their own agendas (mostly they are good and are favored of the Mahadevas). And powerful though they are, they aren't all-powerful as they have often been defeated by their enemies, the asuras, and can even be killed (rarely though). During the Rigvedic period, the Devas were worshiped as they were the only deities in Hinduism.
- Omnipresence: God is present in every place, in every plane, sphere, in every object or being and there is no place inaccessible to God.
- Omnipotence: God is the most powerful in all reality; God is the one above all. No being can surpass God in power which is limitless; everything that happens is God's will.
- Omniscience: God is aware of everything that transpires, everything that we think of; are about to do. God can view the past, present and future simultaneously.
So basically, according to this universal definition, there can be only one God. But the Hindus have so many Gods, thirty three million, as it is popularly said. So who is God in Hinduism? Does Hinduism really have a God?
Yes, it does. It has a God. Or rather, it has One God. That being which cannot be described is referred to as Brahman or Ishvara by the Vedas (Brahman is separate from brahmin, the caste or varna of certain people). As said in the Upanishads "Auṃ – That supreme Brahman is infinite, and this conditioned Brahman is infinite. The infinite proceeds from infinite. If you subtract the infinite from the infinite, the infinite remains alone." Brahman is the ultimate infinite power that encompasses all reality. Brahman is neither male nor female, has no form. Despite the fact that Hindus worship so many Gods, despite Hinduism being called a pagan religion by the West, Hinduism has one God, that being Ishvara or Brahman. Then who are the rest - the ones that are worshiped?
Mahadeva
The Trimurti (Three Beings), also called Mahadevas are manifestations of Brahman, each personifying the three aspects of God. But really, Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (Destroyer) are all three manifestations of Brahman. So, if Brahman is neutral, why does it show itself as three males (albeit divine!)? The answer is simple: Brahman is also Adi parashakti, which manifests as three Goddesses, called the Tridevi, each serving as the source of energy for their male counterparts. To create one needs knowledge. So Brahma (the Creator) has Saraswati (Goddess of knowledge) as his wife. To maintain anything, one need resources and wealth. So Vishnu (the Preserver of the Universe) has Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) as his wife. Now you can work out the final case: to destroy, you need power. Hence, Shakti, the personification of Power is the consort of Shiva, the eternal Destroyer.
These Mahadevas and Devis are the deities that are worshiped by most devotees, in either their Godly forms or as their Avatars.
Even though the term Deva commonly means God, a Deva in Hinduism is an immortal deity having awesome power. How is a Deva different from a God? Unlike God, a Deva directly interacts and interferes with various worldly affairs, often to serve their own agendas (mostly they are good and are favored of the Mahadevas). And powerful though they are, they aren't all-powerful as they have often been defeated by their enemies, the asuras, and can even be killed (rarely though). During the Rigvedic period, the Devas were worshiped as they were the only deities in Hinduism.
Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has both monotheistic (has Brahman as the Ultimate power) as well as pagan aspects (has so many Devas like the Greek or Norse Gods).
Feel free to comment about your opinions.
