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Within Hinduism a large number of personalities, or 'forms', are worshipped as Deities or Murti s. The belief is that these beings are either aspects of the supreme Brahman ; Avatar s of the supreme being ( Bhagavan ); or significantly powerful entities known as Devas . The exact nature of belief in regards to each deity varies between different Hindu traditions and Philosophies . Often these beings are depicted in humanoid, or partially humanoid forms, complete with a set of unique and complex Iconography in each case. ISHVARA '' Bhagavan '' is a word used to refer to the personal aspect of God in general; it is not specific to a particular deity. Bhagavan transcends gender, yet can be looked upon as both father and mother, child, or sweetheart.Swami Bhaskarananda, ''Essentials of Hinduism'' (Viveka Press 1994) ISBN 1-884852-02-5 Most Hindus, in their daily devotional practices, worship some form of this personal aspect of God, although they believe in the more abstract concept of Brahman as well. This may mean worshipping God through an image or a picture, or simply thinking of God as a personal being. Different names and, frequently, different images of God will be used, depending on which aspect of is being discussed. For instance, when God is talked about in the aspect as the creator, God is called . When referred to in the capacity as destroyer of the world, God is called Shiva . Many of these individual aspects of God also have other names and images. For example, Krishna and Rama are considered forms of Vishnu . All the various deities and images one finds in Hinduism are considered manifestations of the same God, called in the personal aspect and Brahman when referred to as an abstract concept. In their personal religious practices, Hindus may worship primarily one or another of these deities, known as their "ishta devatā," or chosen deity.Karel Werner, ''A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism'' at 80 (Curzon Press 1994) ISBN 0-7007-0279-2 The particular form of God worshipped as one's chosen ideal is a matter of individual preference.Harman, William, "Hindu Devotion" 106 in ''Contemporary Hinduism'', Robin Rinehard, ed. (2004) ISBN 1-57607-905-8 Regional and family traditions can play a large part in influencing this choice.Harman, William, "Hindu Devotion" 104 in ''Contemporary Hinduism'', Robin Rinehard, ed. (2004) ISBN 1-57607-905-8 Hindus may also take guidance about this choice from scriptures. Although Hindus do worship deities other than their chosen deity from time to time, depending on the occasion and their personal inclinations, it is not expected that they will worship, or even know about, every form of God. Hindus generally choose one concept of God (popular choices include Krishna , Rama , Shiva , or Kali ), and cultivate devotion to that chosen form, while at the same time respecting the chosen ideals of other people.Louis Renou, ''The Nature of Hinduism'' 55 (New York 1962) AVATARAS (INCARNATIONS OF GOD) See Also: Avatar Many denominations of Hinduism, such as Vaishnavism and Smartism , teach that occasionally, God comes to Earth as a human being to help humans in their struggle toward enlightenment and salvation ( Moksha ). Such an incarnation of God is called an Avatāra . In some respects, the Hindu concept of avatara is similar to the belief found in Christianity that God came to the earth in the form of Jesus . However, whereas most Christians believe that God has assumed a human body only once, Hinduism teaches that there have been ''multiple'' avatars throughout history and that there will be more. Thus Krishna , who is not only viewed as an incarnation but also source of all incarnations, says:
The most famous of the divine incarnations are Rama , whose life is depicted in the Ramayana , and Krishna , whose life is depicted in the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavad Gita , which contains the spiritual teachings of Krishna , is one of the most widely-read scriptures in Hinduism. DEVAS AND DEVIS Brahma is described within the Puranas as the God Of Creation The Hindu religion speaks of many individual deities. Gods are called '' Devas ''. Goddesses are called '' Devīs ''. The various devas and devīs are personifications of various aspects of one and the same God ( Ishvara ).Swami Bhaskarananda, ''Essentials of Hindusim'' 73-74 (Viveka Press 1994) ISBN 1-884852-02-5 For instance, when a Hindu thinks of Ishvara as the giver of knowledge and learning, that aspect of Ishvara is personified as the deity Saraswati . In the same manner, the deity Lakshmi personifies Ishvara as the giver of wealth and prosperity.Swami Bhaskarananda, ''Essentials of Hindusim'' 73-74 (Viveka Press 1994) ISBN 1-884852-02-5 This does not imply that Ishvara is the Lord of all the other deities. Ishvara is just the name used to refer to the personal God in general, when no ''particular'' deity is being referred to. The ''devas'' (also called '''') constitute an integral part of the colorful Hindu culture. These various forms of God are depicted in innumerable paintings, statues, murals, and scriptural stories that can be found in temples, homes, businesses, and other places. In Hinduism the scriptures recommend that for the satisfaction of a particular material desire a person may worship a particular deity.''Bhagavata Purana'' 2.3.1-9. {Link without Title} For example, shopkeepers frequently keep a statue or picture of the devi Lakshmi in their shops. The elephant-headed deva known as Ganesha is worshipped before commencing any undertaking, as he represents God's aspect as the remover of obstacles. Students and scholars may propitiate Saraswati , the devi of learning, before taking an exam or giving a lecture. The most ancient Vedic ''devas'' included '' Indra '', '' Agni '', '' Soma '', '' Varuna '', '' Mitra '', '' Savitri '', '' Rudra '', '' Prajapati '', '' Vishnu '', '' Aryaman '' and the '' Ashvin s''; important '''' were '' Sarasvati '', '' Ushas '' and '' Prithvi ''. Later scriptures called the '' Puranas '' recount traditional stories about each individual deity. '' Vishnu '' and '' Shiva '' are not regarded as ordinary ''devas'' but as '''' ("Great Gods" ) because of their central positions in worship and mythology.C.J. Fuller, ''The Camphor Flame'' 32 (Princeton 2004) ISBN 0-691-12048-X The '' Puranas '' also laud other ''devas,'' such as '' Ganesha '' and '' Hanumān ,'' and '' Avatar '' such as '' Rama '' and '' Krishna '' (see below). Goddesses are worshiped when God is thought of as the Universal Mother. Particular forms of the Universal Mother include '' Lakshmi '', '' Sarasvati '' and '' Parvati ,'' '' Durga '', and '' Kali ''. There are some Hindus who consider the various deities not as forms of the one Ishwara , but as independently existing entities, and may thus be properly considered Polytheist ic to some extent. TRIMURTI In Hinduism , the Trimurti (also called ''the Hindu Trinity '') are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva . POPULAR GODS Some other popular Hindu aspects of God include Devi , Krishna , Ganesh , Hanuman , Murugan , Rama chandra and Lakshmi . Smarta Hindus believe that God, in any form ("'' Ishta Devata '',", i.e., the preferred form of God) can grant worshipers grace to bring them closer to Moksha , the end of the Cycle Of Rebirth . The great Hindu saint Ramakrishna studied and embraced other religions, such as Christianity and Islam , and came to the same conclusion proclaimed by the Vedas , "Truth is One; the wise call it by various names. (Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti)''' DENOMINATIONS OF HINDUISM Contemporary Hinduism traditionally has four major divisions, Saivism , Shaktism , Vaishnavism , and ''' Smarthism .''' However the Shakti sect connects God as Lord Shiva also, as the Aparabrahm while Shakti is the Parabrahm. Further the Saura sect connects itself with Lord Vishnu, one of the 12 Adityas (solar deities.) Ganesha worshippers would connect themselves with Lord Shiva as Lord Shiva is the Father of Lord Ganesha and hence, Lord Ganesha is a Shaiv deity. Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion. Each of its four denominations shares Rituals , Beliefs , traditions and personal Gods with one another, but each sect have a same and different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal ( Moksa , liberation). For example a person can be a Shiv devotee and a Vishnu devotee but they can practice the Advaita Vedanta philosophy (Darshana) which believes there is no difference between the Brahman and the Soul. Conversely a Hindu may follow the Dvaita philosophy which stresses that Brahman and the Soul are not the same. But each denomination fundamentally believes in different methods of self-realisation and in different aspects of the One Supreme God. However, each denomination respects and accepts all others, and conflict of any kind is rare. Vaishnavism , Saivism and Shaktism , respectively believe in a monotheistic ideal of Vishnu (often as Krishna ), Shiva , or Devi ; this view does not exclude other personal Gods, as they are understood to be aspects of the chosen ideal (e.g., to many devotees of Krishna, Shiva is seen as having sprung from Krishna's creative force). Often, the monad Brahman is seen as the one source, with all other gods emanating therefrom. Thus, with all Hindus, there is a strong belief in all paths being true religions that lead to one God or source, whatever one chooses to call the ultimate truth. Even Vaisnavites, like other Hindus, have tolerance for other beliefs because Lord Krishna , Avatar of Vishnu, said so in the Gita. Krishna said: "I am in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship some demigod, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to that particular deity. Endowed with such a faith, he endeavors to worship a particular demigod and obtains his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone." Another quote in the Gita states: "Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way." Even a Vedic verse illustrates this theme of tolerance. The Vedas are revered in Hinduism, regardless of denomination. For example, a well-known Rig Vedic hymn stemming from Hinduism states that "Truth is One, though the sages know it variously." This is in contrast with some other religious traditions, where one must believe in only one form of God and to totally reject or disdain other beliefs. POLYTHEISTIC GODS Although the Pantheistic system allowed only a subordinate rank to the old Polytheist ic Gods , and the actual religious belief of the people was probably but little affected by their existence, they continued to occupy an important place in the affections of the Poet , and were still represented as exercising considerable influence on the destinies of man. The most prominent of them were regarded as the appointed Loka palas, or guardians of the world; and as such they were made to preside over the four cardinal and (according to some authorities) the intermediate points of the compass. Thus , an aspect of Siva is regarded as the regent of the northeast and Nirrti the regent of the southwest.) In the institutes of Manu the Loka palas are represented as standing in close relation to the ruling King , who is Saki to be composed of particles of these his tutelary deities. The retinue of Indra consists chiefly of the Devas(angels), Gandharvas , a class of Genii , considered in the epics as the celestial Musician s; and Apsaras , lovely Nymph s, who are frequently employed by the gods to make the pious devotee desist from carrying his austere practices to an extent that might render him dangerous to their power. Narada , an ancient sage (probably a personification of the cloud, the water-giver), is considered as the messenger between the gods and men, and as having sprung from the forehead of Brahma. The interesting office of the god of love is held by Kamadeva , also called Ananga, the bodyless, because, as the myth relates, having once tried by the power of his mischievous arrow to make Siva fall in love with Parvati, whilst he was engaged in devotional practices, the urchin was reduced to ashes by a glance of the angry god. Two other mythological figures of some importance are considered as sons of Siva and Parvati, viz. Karttikeya or Skanda, the leader of the heavenly armies, who was supposed to have been fostered by the six Knittikas or Pleiades; and Ganesha ( lord of troops ), the elephant-headed god of wisdom, and at the same time the leader of the dii minorum gentium. SMARTISM Smartism , a denomination of Hinduism is a Monist as well as a Monotheist Religion that understands different Deities as representing various aspects and principles of one supreme entity, Brahman or parabrahman. Teachers such as Swami Vivekananda , who brought Hinduism to the West, held beliefs like those found in Smartism, although he usually referred to his religion as Vedanta . Other denominations of Hinduism do not strictly hold this belief. A Smartist would have no problem worshiping Shiva or Vishnu together as he views the different aspects of God as leading to the same One God. It is the Smarta view that dominates the view of Hinduism in the West. By contrast, a Vaishnavite considers Vishnu as the one true God, worthy of worship and other forms as subordinate. See for example, an illustration of the Vaishnavite view of Vishnu as the one true God, at this link . Accordingly, many Vaishnavites, for example, believe that only also hold similar beliefs, as illustrated at at this link and at this link . DEVAS IN THE VEDAS The pantheon in the Śrauta Tradition consists of various gods and goddesses. However, these entities may not hold the traditional meaning of Gods and Goddesses in English. Instead the ''devas'' (which is the Sanskrit word used to represent these entities) represent certain forces. For instance, the Deva Agni has one aspect as the flame. but this flame symbolises the psychological power associated with Agni namely the power of will. Agni can be called God-will. Similarly Indra is the God-mind; Sarasvati is the Power of Inspiration, not merely of learning.Essentials of Krishna and Shukla Yajurveda- RL Kashyap; SAKSI, Bangalore, Karnataka ISBN 81-7994-032-2 The main Devas are (vide 6th Anuvaka of Chamakam ):
The main aspects of Devi (goddesses) are: ''See Also : Śrauta '' THE 10 AVATARS (DASHAVATAR) OF VISHNU illustration of Lord Rama.]]
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