Hindus: Is Hinduism mono or polytheistic

[AFB]

Views of God

Within Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism (as it is commonly called), a variety of lesser gods are seen as aspects of the one impersonal divine ground, Brahman (not Brahma). Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent the absolute infinite existence, the sum total of all that ever is, was, or ever shall be. Brahman is not a God in the monotheistic since, as it is not imbued with any limiting characteristics, not even those of being and non-being, and this is reflected in the fact that in Sanskrit, the word brahman is of neuter (as opposed to masculine or feminine) gender.

Vedanta is a branch of Hindu philosophy which gives this matter a greater focus. Yoga is the primary focus in many ways of a Hindu's religious activities, being somewhere between meditation, prayer and healthful exercise.

Some of Hinduism's adherents are monists, seeing in multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheism. It is seen as one unity, with the personal Gods differents aspects of only one Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colours by a prism, and seen by some as valid to worship. Some of the Hindu aspects of God include Devi, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Siva. Hindus believe that God, in whatever form they prefer, (or as monists prefer to call, "Ishta Devata,", i.e., the prefered form of God,) can grant worshippers grace to bring them closer to Moksha, end of the cycle of rebirth.

Wikipedia

Comments?

[Kishan]

its polytheistic. Just don't go around to other Hindus and tell them, "Hey I know about your culture. You guys belive in more than 1 god, meaning you are polytheistic." I had this done throughout high school, and people think they are smart since they can read a 9th grade textbook. No offense OP, just a PSA
Kishan

[AFB]

Originally posted by: KPSHAH316
its polytheistic. Just don't go around to other Hindus and tell them, "Hey I know about your culture. You guys belive in more than 1 god, meaning you are polytheistic." I had this done throughout high school, and people think they are smart since they can read a 9th grade textbook. No offense OP, just a PSA
Kishan

That's why I was asking "Hindus"

[MDE]

Many gods = polytheistic. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp.

[AFB]

Originally posted by: MDE
Many gods = polytheistic. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp.

Some of Hinduism's adherents are monists, seeing in multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheism. It is seen as one unity, with the personal Gods differents aspects of only one Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colours by a prism, and seen by some as valid to worship.

So I guess I should rephrase the question.

[ShotgunSteven]

Vishnu, Shiva, Kali... well, it isn't monotheistic.

[AFB]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Vishnu, Shiva, Kali... well, it isn't monotheistic.

My point was if they are all just different aspects, wouldn't that make Christianity polytheistic also because of the Holy Trinity?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

[Legendary]

My parents are Hindu but I never embraced my religion so I can't be entirely sure, but it is my belief that Hindus believe all the lower gods to be a representation of the one God.

edit: technicality.

[MDE]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

My point was if they are all just different aspects, wouldn't that make Christianity polytheistic also because of the Holy Trinity?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

Christians believe in one God but also the son of that god and whatever the Holy Spirit is.

[Stark]

hinuism has been around so long because it can absorb just about any other religious ideas it comes in contact with. if ideas about monotheism are introduced, it can become monotheistic.

Because the ultimate goal has nothing to do with a god or gods (ie release from rebirth/existence = nirvana), they don't get hung up on the details.

[Kishan]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

My point was if they are all just different aspects, wouldn't that make Christianity polytheistic also because of the Holy Trinity?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

Unlike Cathloism, Hinduism will not make you understand something, and set you by so many guidelines, even if they contradict each other.

[chiwawa626]

Polytheistic = The worship of or belief in more than one god.

Hinduism is monotheistic, Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer), and Brahma (creator) are actually manifestations of the same god. (Learned that in hindu school when i was younger).

More...

First of all you need to realize God is omnipresent. Hinduism believe that God can take any shape, size or form as needed to insinuate people about His existence. As is pointed out in Rig-Veda "Truth is one, and the learned call it by many names". In fact Hindus believe in one God, that is "Param Brahma" with millions of forms.

More...
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=300780

[Kishan]

Originally posted by: Legendary
My parents are Hindu but I never embraced my religion so I can't be entirely sure, but it is my belief that Hindus believe all the lower gods to be a representation of the one God.

edit: technicality.

what do you mean by embrace the religion. I don't follow in all traditions, but I believe in a basic faith. When it comes down to it, being a good person is following your religion, not just going to some BS mass, sacrament, whatever. Thats the things your family pushes on you for reasons they do not understand. Sorry this became somewhat of a rant.

[Legendary]

Originally posted by: KPSHAH316

what do you mean by embrace the religion. I don't follow in all traditions, but I believe in a basic faith. When it comes down to it, being a good person is following your religion, not just going to some BS mass, sacrament, whatever. Thats the things your family pushes on you for reasons they do not understand. Sorry this became somewhat of a rant.

Aka I'm an atheist.
I didn't want to mention it in the thread because the simple word brings about flames but since you asked, there you go.

[zerocool1]

its both....
We attach to God a form to visualize qualities, here's where polytheism is. But after a certain level you don't need the idol, you realize that God is all pervading, in everything around us. Since God created the universe, He is in it, it is his Essense. There is a deep philosophy to all of it. Monists say that there is no separation between God and ourselves, we just haven't completely realized it yet. In Hindu Monism, reality is an illusion, Maya, because reality is constantly changing so you shouldn't become attached to it. The dualists say yes there is, but I can become one with God. Most other Hindus from what I gather are Dualists.

[timosyy]

It seems like I'm the only one who voted "not hindu : monotheistic."

As far as I know, the deities are different qualities of the same "God", or Brahman, which is in all things. Think of it as a diamond with a light shining through it ... the different deities are all glints off the same source. Different yes, but the same.

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: Stark
hinuism has been around so long because it can absorb just about any other religious ideas it comes in contact with. if ideas about monotheism are introduced, it can become monotheistic.

Because the ultimate goal has nothing to do with a god or gods (ie release from rebirth/existence = nirvana), they don't get hung up on the details.

nirvana is a buddhist term, its moksha that you're thinking about.

and, God is separated into different forms for the qualities but there is still one God, according the the belief of nirgun-nirakar, which is formless.

[Shawn]

> 1

[Lyfer]

I believe in humanism.

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Depends how you see it

I'm hindu and was taught we believe in many different forms of the same god

[deftron]

What's the difference between Krishna and Hinduism ?

[chiwawa626]

Originally posted by: deftron
What's the difference between Krishna and Hinduism ?

Krishna is a avtar of the god vishnu. Hinduism is a religion. ... people who usualy ask questions like that have a followup, and here is the answer to it: Ghandi was a person not a god or the name of an ethnicity/race.

[maziwanka]

i thought that all those gods were manifestations of the same, one god. therefore i voted monotheistic.

[Mo0o]

Mono, alot of Hindus have it wrong also. All the "gods" are just different manifestations of the same god

[Mo0o]

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