Do Hinduism believe in one God or many Gods | Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic | Does Hindu have multiple gods? | How many Gods can a Hindu worship? | Who is the main God in Hinduism? | Does Hinduism have 3 Gods? | Are there 33 million gods in Hinduism | How many gods do Hindus believe in
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Just before going to “Do Hinduism believe in one God or many Gods | Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic | Does Hindu have multiple gods? | How many Gods can a Hindu worship? | Who is the main God in Hinduism? | Does Hinduism have 3 Gods? | Are there 33 million gods in Hinduism | How many gods do Hindus believe in“, let us know a brief, basic and very important information.
This question is raised only since around 200 – 300 years and not before. Before the entry of Europeans to our country (India), there were no such questions discussed earlier. They have given the great Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) the word ‘Mythology’, which is completely against the Hindu Texts.
Europeans and especially the British or English started to add this question into the Indians mind. They always wanted to cut India into religion basis, so that it will be easy for them to rule all over India.
But Europeans were never-ever were able to succeed in this. Earlier to the entry of Europeans, we Indians (Bharata vaasis) were always discussing about Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, etc. as per once own capability.
Now, let us move to our main question about: Why does Hinduism has many Gods – Monotheism or Polytheism?
First let us understand who is Bhagavan / Parabrahma / God is and also let us understand what is the meaning of Bhagavan / Parabrahma / God in simple words as per Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism):
Bhagavan / Parabrahma / Brahman / God is the one, who is present since the adi samayam (before grand infinite period), who is present today and who will be present until the ananta samayam (after grand infinite period).
Bhagavan or Brahman or God is the one who don’t take birth. Bhagavan or God is the one who doesn’t have parents. Bhagavan or God is the one who doesn’t depends on anybody or anything. Bhagavan or God is the one who don’t need anything from anybody or anything.
Bhagavan or Brahman or God is one who is completely independent of anything or everything or everybody. Bhagavan or God should be a “atma kaama”, means, he doesn’t need anybody or anything to satisfy his needs.
AND SOMEONE WHO HAS INFINITE NUMBER OF THESE TYPES OF QUALITIES IS THE TRUE BHAGAVAN OR GOD AS PER SANATANA DHARMA (HINDUISM).
To know about hierarchy in Hinduism, we must know what is the difference between Bhagavan (God) and Devatas / Demigods. Bhagavan or God is different and Devatas (Demigods) are different.
Bhagavan or Brahman or God is one, but Devatas (Demigods) are many. All the other Devatas (Demigods) are completely dependent on Bhagavan or Brahman or God. Many people around the world think all Hindu Gods are same.
Many say that in Hindu Dharma there are millions and millions (koti koti) of Gods (Crores of Gods). Many think that Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari) is same as Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva). Many think that Lord Shiva is nothing but Lord Sri Vishnu himself.
Many have written that Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva) is same as Lord Sri Hanuman, means, Lord Sri Hanuman is an avatar of Lord Shiva (Sri Rudra Deva). Many think that since Lord Shiva has got the name Lord Sri Mahadeva, he is the ultimate.
But, people don’t understand the real meaning of this name Lord Sri Mahadeva. Here Lord Sri Mahadeva means the Demigod (Devatas) who is greatest among all the other Demigods (Devatas).
This means, Mahadeva (Mahadev) is greatest among the Demigods (Devatas) starting from Goddess Sri Parvati Devi, Lord Sri Indra Deva and who are below to Lord Sri Indra Deva.
But, at the same we must also be aware that svayam Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva), Lord Sri Brahma, Goddess Durga Devi etc. are great Vaishnavas. They themselves accept that they are a great devotees of Lord Sri Rama / Sri Vishnu (Hari) / Sri Krishna (All the avatars of Lord Sri Vishnu).
In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva) says to his consort Goddess Sri Parvati Devi as: “sri raama raama raameti, rame raame manorame, sahasra naama tat-tulyam raama naama varaanane”.
This means, if anybody chants one name of Lor Sri Rama (Raama) is equal to thousand names of Lord Sri Vishnu as given in the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama.
This is the power of Sri Raama / Sri Vishnu. If we chant just any one name of Lord Sri Vishnu, we will get the real moksha / mukti. But to enter such stage we need to have a “nirmala” (Pure intellect), “nishkaama” (without expectation) devotion towards Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari).
Also many might not be aware that Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva) had taken avatar in Dvapara Yuga as “Sri Ashwatthama” (son of Guru Sri Dronacharya Ji) and he was a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharata period.
Only Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari) is the “antaryami” (present inside all) in everybody. He is everywhere. Can we see a place, where Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari) is not present?
In “Naarasimha Purana” Sri Prahlada Maharaja says, “Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari) is present is my every anu/cell”.” What more proof we need to have to know that Lord Sri Vishnu (Hari) is the only Bhagavan / God / Ishvara / Parameshvara.
Many people think that Goddess Sri Durga Devi is the supreme. Many people think that Goddess Sri Kaali Devi is the supreme. Moreover, many people think that Lord Sri Ganesha, Lord Sri Kartikeya, Lord Sri Surya Deva, etc. are the greatest.
Also many say some belong to Shaiva, some belong to Shakti, some belong to Ganapatya, some belong to Skaanda, some belong to this and some belong to that and many other things.
If Lord Shiva himself is a great Vaishnava, if Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi Devi, Goddess Sri Sarasvati Devi and Goddess Sri Parvati Devi they themselves are great Vaishnavas, then how come there are so many different beliefs.
We should remember all these are man-made. Man always wanted to be greedy, want to be powerful, he wants everything under the Sun. Thus man has made so many varieties of beliefs as per his own likes and dislikes.
If all the Gods are greatest, then who is the real greatest? Who is the supreme Bhagavan or God? Who is the real Bhagavan or God? Who is the real Sri Mahadeva (Mahadev)? Who is the real Sri Aadi Deva?
Let us understand this as given here: When nothing was there Lord Sri Hari / Lord Sri Vishnu / Lord Sri Narayana was there. He is the ultimate. He is the supreme. He is the greatest. He is the real Bhagavan or God and all others are his followers (Devatas) and only Lord Sri Vishnu is the Bhagavan or God.
Yes, Lord Sri Brahma Deva has the great capability of creating the universe. But without Lord Sri Vishnu’s help, even Lord Sri Brahma Deva is nothing. Lord Sri Vishnu who is called as the antaryami, sits inside Lord Sri Brahma Deva and does all the creation.
Yes, Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva) has the great capability of destroying anything and everything at the end of the Kalpa but who does this. (Remember in our Sanatana Dharma, after every end, we have a fresh new start also. Means, after that particular Kalpa, again another new and fresh Kalpa will get started).
Lord Sri Vishnu who is the antaryami, sits inside the Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva) and does all the destruction. Yes, Goddess Sri Durga Devi has the great capability of multiple things. But who does this?
Lord Sri Vishnu who is the antaryami sits inside Goddess Sri Durga Devi and does everything as per the requirement. Similarly the varsha (rain) is brought down to earth through Lord Sri Indra Deva, but not alone, instead with the help of the antaryami Lord Sri Vishnu.
Vayu (air) is there due to Lord Sri Vayu Deva, but Lord Sri Vishnu is the antaryami of Lord Sri Vayu Deva. Lord Sri Varuna Deva (Ocean God) is there, but Lord Sri Vishnu is the antaryami of Lord Sri Varuna Deva.
Lord Sri Agni Deva is there, but Lord Sri Vishnu is the antaryami is Sri Agni Deva. Similarly according to Bharatiya Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) there are various, various number of Demigods (Devatas). But all are only followers of Lord Sri Krishna / Sri Rama (other names of Lord Sri Vishnu / Hari).
Anything and everything is completely dependent on Lord Sri Vishnu / Hari / Narayana / Rama / Krishna (All his avatars are one and the same).
Because: He is the Sri Parabrahma (Ultimate God). He is the Sri Paramatma (Ultimate Soul). He is the Sri Paramamoola (Ultimate Source). He is the Sri Bhagavan (God). He is the Aadi moola (Grand First Source).
He is the Aadi Deva (Grand First God). He is the Aadi Beeja (Grand First Seed). He is the real Sri Mahadeva (Greatest of All The Devatas / Demigods). He is the real Sri Parameshvara (Ultimate Holder of Knowledge).
He is there everywhere (Sarva Vyapti). He is inside everything (Antaryami). He is not the Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi Devi, He is not the Lord Sri Brahma Deva, He is not Sri Mukhya Prana Deva (next Lord Sri Brahma Deva),
He is not the Goddess Sri Sarasvati Devi, He is not the Goddess Sri Bharati Devi (next Goddess Sri Sarasvati Devi), He is not the Lord Sri Rudra Deva (Shiva), He is not the Goddess Sri Tulasi Devi,
He is not the Goddess Sri Parvati Devi, He is not the Goddess Varuni Devi, He is not the Goddess Sauparni Devi, He is not the Lord Sri Indra Deva, He is not the Goddess Sachi Devi, He is not the Lord Sri Surya Deva (Sun God),
He is not the Lord Sri Agni Deva (Fire God), He is not the Lord Sri Ganesha, He is not the Lord Sri Kartikeya, He is not the Sri Ashwini Kumaras, He is not any Devata (Demigod). But he is present as Antaryami in everyone, everything and everywhere.
Now let us all understand the real hierarchy of the Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma) God and about other Devatas (Demigods).
1. Lord Sri Hari / Lord Sri Vishnu / Lord Sri Krishna / Lord Sri Rama (Parabrahma, Aadi beeja / Aadi moola / Aadi deva / Bhagavan / God / Paramaatma / Parameshvara etc.) All the avatars of Lord Sri Vishnu are one and the same.
2. Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi Devi / Goddess Sri Rukmini Devi / Goddess Sri Sita Devi / Goddess Dharini Devi / Goddess Sri Padmavati Devi / Goddess Sri Sridevi or All the avatars of Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi are one and the same.
3. Lord Sri Brahma Deva and Lord Sri Mukhya Prana Deva (both are at the same level). Lord Sri Mukhya Prana Deva is the next Lord Sri Brahma Deva in the next Brahma Kalpa.
4. Goddess Sri Sarasvati Devi and Goddess Sri Bharati Devi (Both are at the same level). Goddess Sri Bharati Devi is the next Goddess Sri Sarasvati Devi in the next Brahma Kalpa.
5. Lord Sri Rudra Deva, Lord Sri Adishesha Deva and Lord Sri Garuda Deva. All are at the same level.
6. Shanmahishis [(Jambavati – She is Sri Tulasi Devi, Nila, Bhadra, Mitravinda, Kalindi and Lakshana]. All are at the same level.
7. Goddess Sauparni Devi (Lord Garuda consort), Goddess Varuni (Lord Adishesha consort), Goddess Parvati (Lord Shiva consort). All are at the same level.
8. Lord Sri Indra Deva and Lord Sri Kama Deva (Manmatha). Both are at the same level. 9. Ahankarika Prana. 10. Aniruddha, Shachi, Rati, Svayambhuva Manu, Bruhaspati, Daksha Prajapati.
11. Pravaha Vayu. 12. Surya, Chandra, Yama, Shatarupa. 13. Lord Sri Varuna (Ocean God). 14. Narada (Devarishi). 15. Maharishi Bhrigu, Agni, Prasuti. 16. Vishvamitra, Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishta, Vaivasvata Manu
17. Mitra, Tara, Nirruti, Pravahi. 18. Vishvaksena, Aswini Devatas, Ganapati, Kubera, 7 Vasus, 10 Rudras, 6 Adityas, 47 Maruts, 10 Vishvedevatas, 1 Rubhu, 2 Dyavaprithivi, 3 Pitrus
19. Karmaja Devatas (Sanatkumaras, 7 Indras, Grahas, Gandharvas, Manus, Apsaras, etc.) 20. Ganga, Parjanya, Sanjna, Rohini, Shyamala, Virat. 21. Anakhyata Devatas. 22. Svaha.
23. Budha (planet). 24. Usha (wife of Ashvini Devatas). 25. Shani. 26. Pushkara. 27. Ajanaja Devatas. 28. Chira Pitrus. 29. Deva Gandharvas. 30. Manushya Gandharvas. 31. Antardarshi Kings. 32. Uttama Manushyas.
After this, the manushyas (people) who live on this earth come. With us also there is huge amount of hierarchy.
I am not worried about who is the real Bhagavan / Ishvara / God is. But can anybody give me one such authentic example that Lord Sri Vishnu is not Bhagavan / Ishvara / God. Or any other Devatas (Demigod) are the real Parabrahma or God or Brahman? If you have one / many answers, please let me know.
Continue reading about “Who is Supreme God (Shiva or Vishnu or Brahma or Shakti) (Hinduism) (As per Hindu texts)“.
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