I'm confused.......do Hindus worship one god or many gods?

Question

One can easily assume that they worship many gods, by looking at all the statues and images....Kali, Shiva, Ganesh, etc. But, I still hear some Hindus say that they only worship one god. Can you explain?

Answer 1

Some people find the concept of the trinity equally confusing.

If one God can be three Gods, then why can't one God be four Gods, or why can't one God be 12 Gods ?

From my understanding, all the different Gods of Hinduism or really just different aspects of the one God.

I have heard the same explanation for the trinity, that the father, son & holy ghost are 3 different aspects of the Christian God, but I have also seen that definition debated amoung Christians.

Answer 2

Though Hinduism is often understood as being polytheistic supposedly recognizing as many as 330 million gods, it also has one "god" that is supreme: Brahma. Brahma is an entity believed to inhabit every portion of reality and existence, throughout the entire universe. Brahma is both impersonal and unknowable, and is often believed to exist in three separate forms as: Brahma--Creator; Vishnu--Preserver; and Shiva--Destroyer. These "facets" of Brahma are also known through many other incarnations of each. But it is admittedly difficult to "pin down" Hindu theology since most every theological system is represented in some way by a Hindu school of some sort. Hinduism can be:

1) Monistic—Only one thing exists; Sankara's school

2) Pantheistic—Only one divine thing exists so that God is identical to the world; Brahmanism

3) Panentheistic—The world is part of God; Ramanuja's School

4) Theistic—Only one God, distinct from Creation; Bhakti Hinduism.

Answer 3

It is an interesting question from an inquiring mind. First of all we should understand that in Hinduism too, there is concept of only one omnipotent God. The awataras/incarnations of Rama, Krishna etc are 'swaroopas' of the same almighty God who have come on earth at different times for different purposes. The concepts of Ganesha, Hanumana or Shiva etc are different manifestations of the same God; who have different attributes. It is just like approaching a govt; but for land we approach one dept; for education another dept. and for service a third. But it the same govt one approaches. This example is rather over simplification of relationship between 'jeeva' and 'permatma' that is God. Even other religions have concepts of more than one God, i.e. 'trinity' though this number is much less than what we find superficially in Hinduism.
If we think that there is need for one creator of this universe and also to guide/direct all its activities; we can justify either one God or many 'sub-ordinate' gods ; it is all up to our thinking and visualizing. With all the sins, crimes and wrong-doings going on all over the globe, to argue which God is superior or more correct is meaningless. For the enlightened mind there is no difference between one supreme god and other manifestations of the same god; just like a person can be a father for his child, husband for his wife and son to his mother; all at the same time.

Answer 4

think of a pair of baby. he's put in a college. First he learns Alphabets, then words, then sentences and then he learns theories etc. What might you assert ? Are the theories stronger than sentences ? Are the sentences stronger than words ? Are the alphabets inferior of all ? certainly, it feels like. yet as you may comprehend right here that if he had not learn what u think of is inferior, he could desire to not learn the flaws u call stronger. that means that each thing has its very own magnitude in life and not something is relatively stronger or inferior. in actuality, same inferior issues come back to you in life if u truly stay. So, Buddhism could desire to probable be a want of the hour while it originated, and of the area and prerequisites the place it originated. All religions have been like this. as a results of fact this international runs on an magnificent equipment of nature. as far as worshipping God is worried, we don't could worship God; we could worship distinctive religious sources like Krishna, like Rama, like Parvati and Shiva, etc. the income isn't worldly, it truly is religious. Religions entice human beings in direction of those sources so as that they could be pushed to spirituality some day. as far as their not helping is worried, they actually under no circumstances help till they see that the guy's concept in them could be truly severe in the event that they help. as a results of fact believing with all your heart is what you like first and maximum, to upward push your self spiritually.

Answer 5

Hindus are in fact pantheists, they believe in one creator name of Brahman and from this creator came 330 million gods and goddesses, that have multiple incarnations. Durga, Kali, Parvati are one person but came in different eras for a cause she in fact has 1027 incarnations and usually always married to Shiva in his different incarnations.

I hope this answers your question

Answer 6

Hindus worship many gods.

Answer 7

It is my understanding that, while there are many gods in their religion, many Hindus do follow only certain ones. While they revere the other gods, they generally worship the one that holds dominion over that persons particular quest in life.

Answer 8

I think it's many in one. There is the God Head and then the aspects of that god. But don't qoute me as I am not Hindu lol

Answer 9

Many. They talk about the oneness of them all but its nothing like the Christian idea of the trinity.

Answer 10

THIS SHOULD SUM IT ALL UP FOR YOU:

Please watch the entire video, and you will learn Hindus actually are supposed to believe in ONE GOD.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xjv9gfcfrU&mode=related&search=

(all the quotes he lists are from Hindu sacred text)