Questions About God
Question: Are there many Gods in Hinduism?
Answer: Hindu Scriptures and gurus teach that there is only one Supreme Godhead. This Supreme Being is the Creator of the entire universe, spiritual and physical, as well as all the beings within them. Hinduism also teaches that God may appear to a devotees in many forms for the benefit of the devotee. Thus Hindus believe that there is only one Supreme God. However He or She may be worshipped in many forms.
Question: What about the Trinity of the Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra mentioned in the Vedas? Doesn’t the Vedas say that there are at least three Gods?
Answer: In the Vedas the name given to our One and only Supreme Godhead is Ishwara or Brahman (different from Brahma). To further explain the nature of Brahman the Vedas divided Brahman into three forms. Brahma—The Creator, Vishnu—The Preserver and Rudra—The Destroyer. Thus in the Vedas Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are not separate Gods themselves but different forms of the One Supreme God—Brahman.
Question: If Hindus believe in only one Supreme God, why is it that many books written by scholars state that Hinduism is polytheistic?
Answer: Polytheistic means belief in the worship of many Supreme Gods. Monotheistic means belief in the worship of one Supreme God. Most scholarly books on Hinduism in English are written by Western scholars. Though many of them are now beginning to understand the concept of one God worshipped in many forms, most scholars still write general books on Hinduism without appreciating the fact that Hinduism is a group of religious sects which are all monotheistic.
Question: Why are there no temples for Brahman or Ishwara?
Answer: Brahman or Ishwara is described in the Vedas as exisiting beyond form in a transcendant state and amorphous state of Divine Love, Pure Energy and Truth. This amorphous state is known as Sat-Chit-Ananda. To fulfill the need of devotees to worship, Brahman appeared in many forms such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Amman, Lakshmi and so forth. Thus all temples are actually temples to Brahman, in His or Her many forms.
Question: If I only worship God Vishnu, does that mean I only worship God’s Preservation Powers and not His other embodiments such as Brahma or Rudra?
Answer: No matter what sect of Hinduism you may be in or what form of God you choose for your worship, you worship Supreme Godhead in His or Her entirety. For a Vaishnavite who beliefs that Vishnu is the Supreme Godhead his or her worship of any form of God Vishnu will reach all the attributes of Supreme Godhead. Likewise, if a person worships any form of God Shiva or Goddess Shakti.
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