How many gods are there in Hinduism??

Question

Can any literate hindu tell me how many gods are there in this world or how many gods hindu believe????

i guess there are no literate hindus..!! have any one read the vedas???

Answer 1

The most misunderstood religion. Not millions of Gods but different manifestations of the same entity or The one All mighty.
The vastness of the creation (diversity) came from THE ONE(unity)
There are end less angels ( loosely known as Gods for lack of accurate translations) and other forms who all again come under creation.
There are also endless names of the same One God. One of them is NIRAKAR which means formless.Think of that appellation and it should explain a lot.

Answer 2

In Hindu religion, there are three Gods mainly, named Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh or Shankar.Among these God Vishnu reincarnated as Ram in Tretayuga and reincarnated as Krishna in Dwaperyug. These incarnations were for protecting the righteous persons from the tyranny of sinners.There are 330 million semigods also known as Dewata.We humans are one stage below the status of any Dewata.Giving more elaborate description of Gods and semigods in this forum is not possible due to limited space available here.

Answer 3

GOD AND LORDS IN HINDUISM

God is a one being, yet we understand Him in three perfections: Absolute Reality, Pure Consciousness and Primal Soul. As Absolute Reality, God is unmanifest, unchanging and transcendent, the Self God, timeless, formless and spaceless. As Pure Consciousness, God is the manifest primal substance, pure divine love and light flowing through all form, existing everywhere in time and space as infinite intelligence and power. God is all and in all, great beyond our conception, a sacred mystery that can be known in direct communion.

Hindus believe in one Supreme Being. In the Hindu pantheon there are said to be three hundred and thirty-three million Lords(divine beings). The plurality of Lords are perceived as divine creations of that one Being. So, Hinduism has one supreme God, but it has an extensive hierarchy of Lords.
Hinduism views existence as composed of three worlds. The First World is the physical universe; the Second World is the subtle astral or mental plane of existence in which the devas, angels and spirits live; and the Third World is the spiritual universe of the Mahadevas, "great shining beings," our Hindu Lords. Hinduism is the harmonious working together of these three worlds.

Hinduism is a family of four main denominations - Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, Smartism - under a divine hierarchy of Mahadevas. These intelligent beings have evolved through eons of time and are able to help mankind without themselves having to live in a physical body. These great Mahadevas, with their multitudes of angelic devas, live and work constantly and tirelessly for the people of our religion, protecting and guiding them, opening new doors and closing unused ones.

Answer 4

22 million i believe is the last count, almost anything can be a "god" for a Hindu.

***UPDATE***
I am a Christian I have read excerpts of all of the Vedas.

Answer 5

On one plain, there is only ONE Reality, Brahama. All others are His manifestations.

On another, physical plain, every human is a god.

On still another consideration, every object, animate or animate, is pervaded by God, hence a god too.

Answer 6

...why do you ask "Christians" ? (they) had certainly no longer something to do with Gods be conscious... The Scriptures have been written by utilising the Prophets of the Hebrew international locations and a few Jews and Greeks of the 1st Century... God(YHVH) did no longer make "religions" in any respect ! Religions are the "spin of the suggestions of mankind" in a silly attempt to attain as much as God. God is sensible adequate to be attentive to that mankind might desire to never attain as much as Him without His help... so... He made a "way" to attain Him with certainly no faith(s) what-so-ever... (%. the "faith" of your decision...it somewhat is a failed direction to God without His Divine help)... evaluate analyzing the e book of John from the hot testomony (no longer as a non secular text cloth yet as a Divine handbook of a thank you to attain God..."the way") Even being an "A"theist, the analyzing won't harm you in any respect...it is going to easily tutor you "the way" to attain God... it is going to nevertheless be your decision. (elect properly). Pay particular interest to financial ruin 3 vs. sixteen & 17... financial ruin 14 vs. 6 & 7... and financial ruin 20 vs. 24 via 31. (even nonetheless it is all solid)

Answer 7

There is a different between deities and between god. There may be millions of manifestations of god, but there is only one god.

Answer 8

Technically, there is only one god; Brahma. All others are avatars of him and his personality.

Answer 9

Due of misinterpretation, many people believe that there are many gods, or that many gods have manifested from one Brahman. Sanatana Dharma is a lot more complex than man-made religions which simply say, 'God created everything'.

I shall attempt to provide the truth here.

As far as Brahman is concerned, Vedas say this about Him:

"Narayana is ever-present and eternal; He is omnipotent and omnipresent; Brahma, Siva, Indra, all are Narayana. He indeed, is all forms of time, space and direction. All directions of up, down, sides, in and out are His shadow-cast. All that is existing and the ones to come into existence are Narayana Himself. The Single Supreme Being, devoid of any form of impurity, which cannot be expressed in words, and which is the purest of all pure, is Narayana. There is nothing above Him and no second power than His. That one who understands this as such becomes Narayana."

~ Yajur Veda Upanishad

A few important points from this: It is clear that Brahman is Sriman Narayana. It says Brahma, Siva, Indra, etc are Narayana. So from this people think that all Gods are a manifestation of Narayana and that they are equal in power.

This is false. Brahman is Narayana, but the Gods are not equal. I shall come to that point later.

Now, it says, one who knows Narayana becomes Narayana. Actually, many people think this means they will become God or merge with Him on realisation. Not true. The real meaning is this: If one realises Narayana is supreme, He attains qualities such as detachment, spirituality, goodness, etc. These are the qualities of the Narayana.

The living soul cannot become Narayana Himself, because it cannot create, preserve or destroy. It can attain some of Narayana's auspicious qualities. That is the purport of the above verses.

DEMI-GODS

A lot of confusion prevails. Now, we know Sriman Narayana is Supreme. But who is He? Are all Demi-Gods like Rudra, Indra, etc. Narayana? or is He one separate from the rest?

A few verses here say:

Homage to Rudra, the Lord of all sentient-beings.
Homage to the blue-necked one, and to the white-throated.
Homage to the wearer of braids, and to him of shaven hair.
Homage to him of a thousand eyes, and to him of a hundred bows.
Homage to him who haunteth the mountains, and to Çipivista

~ Shri Rudram.

Here it calls Rudra as the 'Lord of all Beings'. So is Rudra Narayana?

In another place in the Vedas, it says:

1) Narayana is Vishnu.
2) Vishnu's abode is the Highest.
3) Of the Devas, Vishnu is the Oldest and Agni is the Youngest.
4) Vishnu is the Lord of all 3 Worlds.

From this, some people think Rudra and Vishnu are equal. Thus, three schools of thought have emerged: Vaishnavism, Smartism and Shaivism. So who is Narayana? Is He Vishnu, or Rudra, or is He both?

Now, look at these verses:

1) Narayana is Supreme.
2) Narayana created Brahma (Do not confuse Brahma with Brahman).
3) From Brahma, came Rudra.

So here, we have contradictory verses: One says Narayana is Rudra and Vishnu, another says Narayana created Rudra. So what does this mean?

Here is the answer: In the beginning, was Narayana. He created a being called Brahma, who is a Demi-God. Brahma then begot himself a son.

This son was given certain special powers by Narayana.

Brahma named this son 'Rudra'. Rudra means 'Howler' or 'Destroyer of Evil' or 'Praiseworthy'. Another name for Rudra is Shiva, which means 'Auspicious'. And Shambhu which means 'Blissful'.

Now, here is the summary of the truth:

The being who is the son of Brahma was NAMED Rudra. Hence, Rudra is a common noun meaning 'Praiseworthy'. So the verse that calls Rudra as 'Lord of all' does NOT mean this created Rudra. It refers to Narayana because Narayana is Praiseworthy. Hence, the name 'Rudra' can be given to Narayana also.

Hence, Narayana is praiseworthy. so, Narayana is 'Rudra'. but just like we name ourselves Narayana, and yet cannot become Narayana, similarly, that son of Brahma named himself as 'Rudra'.

So, in some places vedas says 'Rudra is lord'. It means 'the Lord is Praiseworthy. In other places, it says 'Shiva is Lord'. Shiva means Auspicious. Hence, It means 'Lord is auspicious'. In others, it says 'Shambhu is the beginning'. Shambhu means 'Blissful' and hence, it means 'The Blissful one is the beginning'.

Note, that names like Rudra (Praiseworthy), Shambhu (Bliss-giver) and Shiva (auspicious) are common nouns. They can be used for Brahman, as he possesses all those qualities. And we know Brahman is Narayana.

Thus, the created Rudra is not Narayana., but named after Narayana.

When it says 'Narayana created Brahma and Brahma created Rudra', THEN it is the demi-god Rudra. Any other places that say 'Rudra is Supreme' indicates the common noun 'Praiseworthy' and is Narayana.

Similarly, the names Indra, Brahma, Agni are also called 'Supreme' because they also are just common nouns and have different meanings. They all apply only to Narayana and not to the demi-gods.

There are certain demi-gods NAMED Indra, Agni, etc. But these names are all the names of Narayana. Out of respect, they named themselves after Brahman.

ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT

If you ignore the common noun names, Vedas always say that Narayana is Indra or Rudra. Even if you take it as the demi-gods, Vedas NEVER say the Demi-God Rudra is Narayana. Because the demi-god Rudra has certain powers bestowed on Him by Narayana. Hence, a fragment of Narayana is In Him. So, technically, Narayana can call Himself Rudra. But since Rudra does not have all the powers of Narayana, He is not Narayana.

Furthermore, the names 'Brahma' and 'Rudra' are like a post. Every 311 trillion years, a new being becomes the creator Brahma and the destroyer Rudra, when Narayana appoints them. the current Rudra and Brahma will die and attain Salvation after this period. So, anyone can be Brahma and Rudra if they have the powers.

This leaves us with Lord Vishnu. The Vedas clearly say that 'Vishnu is the Oldest' and His abode is the Highest (Parama Padam). Thus, Narayana is Vishnu. There are two reasons why the created Rudra is not equal to Vishnu:

1) Vishnu was not created. The Vedas call Him 'Lord of Three Worlds.

2) Vishnu means 'All-Pervading', hence only Narayana can be all-pervading. you cannot have two all-pervading deities.

3) Some people may argue that Vishnu also named Himself after the all-pervading Narayana. Not true, because nowhere in the Vedas does it say that Vishnu was created by Narayana, although Rudra and Brahma, as well as other Devas, have been mentioned to be living souls created by Him. The texts also say that Vishnu is the Lord of all 3 Worlds and that His abode is the highest. Hence, Vishnu is completely Narayana.

Furthermore, one of the Incarnations of Narayana is said to be in Vaikuntha. This 'Vaikuntha' is the name of Lord Vishnu's abode. It is also mentioned that by achieving the abode of Vishnu, a person attains Salvation.

Also, the name 'Vishnu' is etymologically linked with the 'NAkaara' in Narayana. Hence, it is inseparable from Narayana. Whereas Rudra, Indra, etc. are general terms.

From Puranas and Ithihasas, we gather that many devotees of Vishnu attained Salvation. But no Demi-God like Rudra, Indra has ever been able to grant Salvation to anyone, although they can give wealth, health, etc.

Theoretically, Narayana's full incarnation with all 6 Gunas and infinite qualities is Vishnu. Hence, Vishnu is not different from Narayana. From Vishnu's navel, came Brahma and then the Son of Brahma, Rudra. These Demi-Gods are endowed with a few powers, but are not Supreme. It is just for the sake of division of labor, as the Lord wants everyone to have a duty.

Hence, there is one Lord, Vishnu-Narayana. All others such as Brahma, Shiva etc. are demi-gods.

Now, we have solved it. Vishnu is Narayana, but is He personal or Impersonal?

The Vedas say 'Brahman is Formless and Incorporeal'. In another place, they also say 'His body is effulgence' and other such sayings.

This means that Vishnu has a form, but is materially formless, ie, His body is free from Material Contaminations. Hence, He has a body, but it is not made of organic stuff. That is the purport of the Vedas.

He has a very good Personal Form and an Impersonal form. We get love from His personal form, so that is preferred. He has four hands, with conch, mace, lotus and discus. That doesn't mean He is human. His body is Transcendental.
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Many schools of thought exist. But Vaishnavism is the absolute truth.