2006-09-11 05:19:04 · 14 answers · asked by ssss 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The word is henotheism; one ultimate reality seen form many perspectives.
Imagine religion as standing before some ultimate being and taking in what you can manage. As you raise your eyes, you first see feet. Is it wrong to deify those feet? They are an aspect of the infinity before you, and thus infinite themselves. Some people will be able to take in the majesty all the way to the knees. When they deify this vision, it seems to be different, yet includes some of the same qualities (toes, ankle, etc.). An entire pantheon can be produced depending on where you stand and how you look. This is from the side of the worshiper.
Now, the other side of this is God. Any sufficiently developed idea of a deity obviously does not need worship. So the purpose of the worship is to help the worshiper grow. Is a loving deity going to say "No, if you don't have the capacity to see all of me, I won't let you grow into it by worshiping my feet first, then my whole lower leg, etc."?
So Hinduism is simply inclusive of all capacities to worship the one, and ultimately realize that that one reality is all, including the worshiper themselves.
2006-09-11 05:32:24 · answer #1 · answered by neil s 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is formless. However, Hindus provide these forms for a beginning aspirant to focus the mind on something. Also, in the years gone by, when the Moguls were ruling India and did not allow Hinduism to flourish, Hindus came up with some of these to make it seem as though they were passing along story books. In this way, the Moguls allowed the books to be passed through. God cannot be limited by any form however. Murtis etc. are like a signpost giving directions but are not the final destination.
2006-09-11 05:28:43 · answer #2 · answered by Hema 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is Unlimited ..isn't he?
You have a misconception that worship of Hundred of Forms are allowed...
In the Vedic Literatures the Form of God is mentioned and its advised that one can make a Deity in that form for Worship...
It is Stated that Fools worship the Demigods or Angles in-charge or the various service under the Supreme God and hence Only the worship of Supreme God is allowed... You see God does not want to impose something... Love is not imposed, Its voluntary... But when he says fools worship demigods, its implied that he does not want us to worship them...
Still Supreme God also has many Forms according his various incarnations in this universe.. Most of those forms are described and one is advised that one can worship those form only.
2006-09-11 06:27:04 · answer #3 · answered by Parsu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is believed that God takes various forms for different purposes. Think about the governing of a country for example, you have the various ministers for different reasons right? Well if you have a problem with the roads, would you call on the president of the land, maybe, but it will take you very long to get it fixed. However, if you called on the minister in charge of that department, you may get it fix faster. God in Hinduism is like that for different needs.
2006-09-11 05:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kinda makes you wonder.....the religfion is at least 9000 years old...at least, that is when the first oral traditions were first formed.... Couldnt possibly be because they might actually be onto something?
Makes me wonder why anyone else could say that their 2000 year old religion is the "only one true religion in the world." they havent a clue how wrong they are... worshiping a man and a book....
2006-09-11 05:25:28 · answer #5 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Hindu religion is actually the oldest in the world. I think they have a pretty good grasp on theology/philosophy.
A better question...Why do you think Christians worship a MAN (Jesus) or a BOOK (the Bible) compiled & edited by corrupt clergymen with a political motive?
2006-09-11 05:22:29 · answer #6 · answered by Red 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
As human beings we all have different aspirations according to our mental and spiritual state of mind .
To reflect and worship therefore many forms of god were discovered time to time .
But one god .
2006-09-11 06:55:49 · answer #7 · answered by KLM 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are hundreds of emotions, states of being, human roles in society, animals, etc.. The easiest way to honor them is to give them a Name. When you give them names, they can be personified.
Examples:
the Angry God
the Cow god
the Mother goddess
the Sensuous goddess...
2006-09-11 05:22:50 · answer #8 · answered by Angela M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They see the divine (God) in every ting in this world and since everything is different it turned into several Gods with different personalities and purposes.
2006-09-11 05:27:16 · answer #9 · answered by *duh* 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why have you hundreds of planes to go to the same place?
2006-09-11 05:21:17 · answer #10 · answered by baheramgor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋