Hindu scriptures point out that whilst God is one, he cannot be fully defined.
To define is to limit. Whatever is limitless defies definition. Total knowledge
about God is beyond human comprehension, so for this reason Hinduism allows
the use of various terms, names, symbols and images to allow people to discover
God in whichever way they want to. This freedom of thought and form of worship
is unique to Hinduism. Some authors, misunderstanding this, have claimed that
Hindus worship many gods.
One western author, H. T. Coolebrooke,
in Essays on the Religion and Philosophy of the Hindus, has warned about this
kind of misunderstanding: 'Hindu theology is consistent with monotheism, though
it contains seeds of polytheism and idolatry'. He further observes that Hindu
texts which declare the unity of Godhead have been misunderstood. Hindu mythology
personifies the abstract and active powers of the divinity, and ascribes sexes
to these mythological beings. He dismisses arguments about multiple Gods as
'vain disputes probably arising from misinterpretation of that mythology'. The
Vedas, recognized as the supreme scriptural authority of Hindus, declare that:
They call him Indra (the resplendent), Mitra (the surveyor), Varuna (the venerable),
Agni (the adorable), and He is the celestial, well-winged Garutmat (the great).
The Truth is one but the learned call it by many names as they speak of the
adorable as Yama (ordainer) and Maatarishvana (cosmic breath). (Rig Veda, 1-164-46)
The key concept of Ekam sat viprah bahuda vadanti, meaning 'the truth is one
but the learned call it by many names', has been repeated in many other scriptures.
is the Lord of all, this is the omniscient of all, this is the source and this
is the beginning and end of all beings.(Mandukya Upanishad, 6th Mantra) who
rules over every single source (Svetasvatara Upanishad) Hindus are not polytheistic.
The different gods and goddesses
are mere representations of the powers and functions of the Hindu one Supreme
God. Hindus believe that God can be worshipped in diverse forms or in his formless
state. There is, therefore, a general misunderstanding that Hindus have innumerable
gods and goddesses. The rationale for the various forms and representations
of the one God is as follows: The mind of man is in a chaotic state and helplessly
runs in all directions seeking fulfilment of all its desires. It thus becomes
agitated, rendering the mind unfit for meditation, an important path to self-realization.
The great Hindu sages and seers saw divinity in everything in this world and
set out what they saw as a way of life to achieve union with God. Hinduism has
developed images, rituals, festivals and ceremonies so that the mind is constantly
reminded of the Supreme Being even when engaged in the pursuit of material objects.
There are numerous gods covering
the entire sphere of human activities, representing in image or symbolic form
the attributes of the one God. Hindu scriptures do not recommend the worship
of an image as God and clearly state that idols (gods or goddesses) are not
a substitute for God, but only a means of making the mind think about God. Mental
worship of the formless God is far superior to worship of images, but all worship
starts with images. Hindus have many forms of God to encompass the wide variety
of pursuits and mental aptitudes of human beings. Even though the Hindu God
is timeless, formless (nirakar), all-pervading, all-knowing and omnipresent
(and therefore impossible to comprehend) it is perfectly acceptable to worship
him in a more 'human' form. So what are these various forms of God in Hinduism,
which are represented by idols?
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