Download The Hindu View of God

THE HINDU
VIEW OF
GOD
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO
DESCRIBE HINDUISM AS
MONOTHEISTIC, POLYTHEISTIC
AND MONISTIC?
GOD IN HINDU SCRIPTURES
• The view of the Ultimate Reality is expressed in the
following revelation of the Rig Veda, the oldest Hindu
scripture:
"Ekam sat vipraha, bahudha vadanti."
"Truth is one, the wise call It by various names.“
• God is beyond definitions and cannot be limited to one
name or form.
THE TRIMURTRI
The Hindu trinity (or Trimurtri) connects to the view that
creation is cyclical:
Brahma –creator (with Saraswati) –not typically
worshipped
Vishnu –preserver (with Lakshmi)
Shiva –destroyer (with Parvati)
THE HINDU PANTHEON
Read the articles, “The Hindu Pantheon” and “Hindu
Gods and their Cults” and pages 120-122 and 145-146 in
Exploring World Religions (stop at “The Arya Samaj
Movement”) and do the following:
Summarize each heading, combining knowledge from
both sources - describe the deity (appearance,
mythology, consort), and the worship of the deity –
include the “top 10 Hindu deities”
Vishnu/Vaishnavas/Vaishnavites – be sure to include the
term avatar, and the names of the scriptures where
avatars of Vishnu appear
Shiva/Siva/Shaivites – include the different forms that
Shiva is depicted in (e.g. Nataraja)
Shaktis – include names of main Shakti goddesses and
what they represent
“EXPLANATION OF THE HINDU GODS”
VIDEO
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that
symbolize the one abstract supreme being or Brahman.
1. Ganesha
• elephant-deity riding a
mouse
• son of Shiva and Parvati
• lord of success and
destroyer of obstacles
• very popular.
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
2. Shiva
most powerful, complex deity
in Hinduism
known by many names Mahadeva, Nataraja
separate from those of other
deities in temple
Is sometimes worshipped as
a phallic symbol called the
‘Shiva Lingam
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
3. Krishna
9th avatar of Vishnu
very popular
blue-skinned, sometimes
depicted as a baby
main character of the
Bhagavad Gita – most
popular of Hindu
scriptures
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
4. Rama
avatar of Vishnu,
very popular symbol of chivalry
and virtue - ideal son, husband
widely believed to be a historical
figure - "tribal hero of ancient
India”
Main character Hindu epic of
Ramayana
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
5. Hanuman
helped Rama defeat evil, rescue Sita
(Ramayana)
one of the most popular
avatar of Lord Shiva
symbol of physical strength and
devotion
In times of trouble, Hindus will chant his
name, sing his hymn.
temples are among the most common
public shrines found in India.
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
6. Vishnu
peace-loving, Preserver or Sustainer
of life
values order and truth
When these values are under threat,
Vishnu emerges to restore peace
There are 10 major incarnations of
Vishnu
The devout followers of Vishnu are
called Vaishnavas
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
7. Lakshmi
Name means "Good Luck“
goddess of wealth
Goddess of householders, favourite
of women
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
8. Durga
The Mother Goddess (Mahadevi
Shakti) — known variously as Durga,
Parvati and other names
represents the fiery powers of the
gods
Durga is the divine “shakti” energy
of Shiva
usually portrayed as riding a lion,
and carrying weapons in her many
arms
She is the protector of the righteous,
and destroyer of evil.
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
9. Kali
Kali (dark goddess) is the ferocious
form of mother goddess Durga
was born from the brow
of Durga during a battle
with evil forces
She stands on the chest
of her husband, Shiva.
She carries weapons and
wears a necklace of
human skulls and a skirt
of arms
TOP 10 HINDU
DEITIES
10. Saraswati
goddess of knowledge and learning
Veda lessons often begin with
chants to her - mother of the Vedas
The goddess of art and music
daughter of Shiva and Durga
She endows human beings with
speech, wisdom and learning.