Hinduism For All

Devataaraadhana

Just as a man celebrates the various anniversaries, birthdays and other such happy occasions, there are such days in Hindu Calendars which are considered holy for the worship of specific deities.

But before one goes into the details of such worship, one is left wondering at the sheer number of deities in Hindu pantheon. To understand this conception, one has to understand the reason behind it. It is a sheer lack of under standing and being guided with ulterior motives that, atheists and others criticise the Hindu mode of worship.

In a single voice, Vedas declare that the Supreme Soul, the Creator – Sustainer – Destroyer and

regulator of the universe, the most benign Almighty is one. Nowhere can one come across the word Sat, Brahma, Paramaatma, Purusha used to describe the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Lord in ‘plural’. He is always referred to in ‘singular’. To reconcile the various names by which he is represented as manifest, Vedas voicefully declare – “Ekam Sat, Vipra bahuda Vadanti” i.e. “The Truth (Almighty) is one, the wise call him by many names”. Supreme Lord assumes the numerous form to perform the various functions.

In the stage of Supreme unconditioned form, He is one, but in order to function he assumes multiple forms, without being differentiated in essence. To illustrate, the electricity as a force is one (i.e. the charge caused through the flow of electrons through a medium) but to run the various gadgets it has to be amplified or subdued, but in essence remains the same. On same lines, the One Lord assumes various forms in his functional aspect to operate the world.

GOD

The concept of God as Supreme and the idea of seeing God in everything in the world is very popular.

The Taitreeya Upanishad says –

Maatru Devo Bhava - May the mother be treated as God.

Pitru Devo Bhava - May the father be treated as God.

Aachaarya Devo Bhava - May the teacher be treated as God.

Athithi Devo Bhava - May the guests be treated as God.

i.e. the idea of worship of God as Supreme, but at the same time honouring the manifestation of God in people around us is a unique concept found only in Hinduism.

Every form of the Lord has a subtle metaphysical and spiritual aspect to it. Lord Shiva for instance is described as having five faces, ten hands, fair in complexion, smeared with ashes from burial ground, wearing skull garlands and snakes all over his body, and seated in a meditative trance. The picture would make us shudder and wonder, why at all should Lord be so ‘disgusting’. An insight is needed to understand the ‘Tattva’ i.e. the truth behind the appearance.

The five heads refer to the five-fold actions of creation (Srishti), sustenance (Sthiti), destruction (Samhaara), dissolution to subtle elements (tirodhana) and benevolence (anugraha). These are the functions of the Lord for the welfare of the individual soul. The ten hands refer to the 10 organs of action and knowledge, which should be fully under the control of the mind. The skull garlands etc.,

represents the acceptance of all things likable and deplorable with the equanimous

state of mind, on the part of the devotee, to attain salvation. The ashes on the body are a pointer to the fact that the body or for that matter anything in the world is momentary and is destructable, thus to cling on to the worldly affairs is detrimental for spiritual progress. Every true seeker would discover many such inner-meanings when he searches for God with utmost sincerity.

Hinduism is not pantheistic (belief in many Gods) as misunderstood, but panen-theistic (seeing the same Lord in many).

This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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