How would you define Hindu Polytheism?

[Dustypuppy]

What are the basic tenets of this?

[David19]

I don't know much about Hinduism so there are probably others who can help you more (i think there are a few Hindu's on this forum or people that worship Hindu gods), but from what i've heard and know, Brahma (or Brahman?) seems to be the being that created the universe, and then the gods came from him/her/it, i think in Hinduism, everything is a manifestation of Brahma or Brahman (like humans, plants, animals, universe, planets, galaxies, whatever, etc).

I've heard there are a thousand's of deities in the Hindu pantheon, as well as nature spirits (deva's, i think) demons (are they always evil?), etc.

That's about as much i know (i've got a book on different religions, i'll try and find out more for you). Anyway, hope i was some help, and like i said, i'm sure there are others here who can help you better than me.

[Paracelsus]

I’m not really sure that there is such a thing as a simple answer - David’s discussion of the complexity certainly pushes us in the right direction. (Though he confuses Brahma – the creator God, with Brahman, the impersonal universal spirit; an easy error to make when there are so many similar words.)

Hinduism is often described as a Polytheistic religion, with an enormous number of deities, but this is, in fact, not really the case. There are, it is true, an enormous number of Gods and Divine Beings in Hinduism, from the great universal Gods like Shiva, to the local spirits who may be acknowledged at sacred trees or stones in villages. To think of Hinduism as Polytheistic is misleading – some Hindus certainly are Polytheistic, recognising a vast number of Gods, and venerating a few. Others are monist, and think only about the impersonal, unknowable Brahman (whom they may venerate through the form of a personal Deity). Other Hindus are Monotheistic, believing that there is, in fact, one creator God, who alone is worthy of worship (and who may manifest in the form of other, less significant deities). The common practice of pancayata-puja, offers worship to five deities (Surya, Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha), and other Hindus talk about the significance of the Trimurti (often rather misleadingly referred to as the “Hindu Trinity”) of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is not at all uncommon for Hindus to offer worship to particular Gods in their household shrines, other Gods in village shrines, and still further groups in large temples – all of these Gods may, or may not, be seen as being aspects of the same divinities. From a Western perspective this vast selection of Gods seems rather strange, and the often seemingly casual relationship of Hindus to their selection of God for Puja is also rather confusing. The concept of Istadevata (literally – Chosen Deity) is alien to the Western view of religion. Hindus are free to choose one or a number of deities with particular resonance and association for them, and worship only those deities, or worship those deities as part of a wider pattern of religious practice. The practice of Bhakti (loving devotion) is a particularly wide spread one in Hinduism, and it usually focuses upon one particular Deity (usually either Shiva or Vishnu), who is understood as the supreme and solitary divine power (often expressed as Brahman Saguna – with qualities). The complexity of this situation may be summed up in the following quotation from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, where the sage Yajnavalkya attempts to explain the nature of the divine:

Then Vidagdha Sakalya questioned him, saying: 'How many Gods are there, Yajnavalkya?' He answered by [reciting] this invocatory formula: 'as many as are mentioned in the invocatory formula in the hymn to the All-Gods,—three hundred and three and three thousand and three (= 3306).'
'Yes (0m), said he, 'but how many Gods are there really), 'Yajnavalkya?' 'Thirty-three.'
'Yes,' he said, 'but how many Gods are there really, Yajnavalkya?'
'Six,'
'Yes, he said, 'but how many Gods are there really, Yajnavalkya?' 'Three.'
'Yes, he said, 'but how many Gods are there really, Yajnavalkya?'
'Two.'
'Yes,' he said, 'but how many Gods are there really, Yajnavalkya?'
'One and a half,'
'Yes,' he said, 'but how many Gods are there really, Yajnavalkya?' 'One.'
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad III, ix, 1.

[Kalika]

"Harm None"

It's one of the most basic principles of the Hindu path.

[Dawa Lhamo]

"Harm None"

It's one of the most basic principles of the Hindu path.??? Which one?

Ahimsa (no harm) is the basic principle of Jainism, certainly... and it exists within Hinduism...

But there are many, many expressions of "the Hindu path". If your dharma is to be a warrior, then how does a warrior practice ahimsa and follow his dharma? Which is more important?

And what does ahimsa have to do with Hindu polytheism?

As for the original question, I'm going to have to say ditto to Paracelsus' fine answer.

I've often heard the term "henotheism" in reference to some Hindu beliefs as well. Meaning belief in many gods, but focused devotion to one (or a few particular ones)...

The quote from the Upanishads (in Paracelsus' post) sums it up quite nicely, I think. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

[Kalika]

??? Which one?

Ahimsa (no harm) is the basic principle of Jainism, certainly... and it exists within Hinduism...

But there are many, many expressions of "the Hindu path". If your dharma is to be a warrior, then how does a warrior practice ahimsa and follow his dharma? Which is more important?

And what does ahimsa have to do with Hindu polytheism?

As for the original question, I'm going to have to say ditto to Paracelsus' fine answer.

I've often heard the term "henotheism" in reference to some Hindu beliefs as well. Meaning belief in many gods, but focused devotion to one (or a few particular ones)...

The quote from the Upanishads (in Paracelsus' post) sums it up quite nicely, I think. ^_^

Tashi delek!
Dawa Lhamo

It's a part of them all. :)

'Course... then again... its a part of almost all religions, so that's not saying much! :lol:

[David19]

Are there some Hindu's who view there gods as individual beings as well as an manifestation of Brahman (since if human's are also manifestations and we're still are individuals, then i'm sure the gods could still be individual, although i'm not sure if that makes sense:)).

[Paracelsus]

Harm none eh?
Well, yes, as Dhawe has said, Ahimsa is an important part of many aspects of Hinduism, but notably absent from the Karma Marga view of the Kshatriya dharma - perhaps you could give me a gloss on the following text (I know that Gandhi certainly interpreted this as an internal battle against one's lower nature, but I suspect that to be bending things too far):

Think thou also of thy duty and do not waver. There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight in a righteous war.
There is a war that opens the doors of heaven, Arjuna! Happy the warriors whose fate is to fight such war.
But to forgo this fight for righteousness is to forgo thy duty and honour: is to fall into transgression.
Men will tell of thy dishonour both now and in times to come. And to a man who is in honour, dishonour is more than death.
The great warriors will say that thou hast run from the battle through fear; and those who thought great things of thee will speak of thee in scorn.
And thine enemies will speak of thee in contemptuous words of ill-will and derision, pouring scorn upon thy courage. Can there be for a warrior a more shameful fate?
In death thy glory in heaven, in victory thy glory on earth. Arise therefore, Arjuna, with thy soul ready to fight.
Prepare for war with peace in thy soul. Be in peace in pleasure and pain, in gain and in loss, in victory or in the loss of a battle. In this peace there is no sin.
This is the wisdom of Sankhya - the vision of the Eternal.Hear now the wisdom of Yoga, path of the Eternal and freedom from bondage.
Bhagavad Gita 2: 31-39

[Toby Stimpson]

I agree with both Peracelsus and Dhawa. On the surface, Sanatan Dharma, or more the popularist form of Hinduism we view in the West may appear to be polytheistic. However, one of the marks of Hinduism, or some circles, is that one Deity takes precidence over all others in people's lives and in affect become the High Personality of Godhead. A very popular god in this place might be Krishna, others it is Shiva, others perhaps Devi or Shakti, others Muruga...but the fact that these Gods are all worshipped does not mean that there is polytheism in the theological sense. perhaps on the every day to day folk traditions there may be a sense of polytheism...but on the more widespread and popular Brahmanistic idea this just sint so. I agree with Dhawa and Peracelsus, Henotheism might be a better way to look at it, because among my Hindu friends there is a small group of Gods that they worship...if they were truly polytheistic they would worship them all.

Perhaps if you were more interested, looking at the tribval religiosn of the Khonds or the Bhils might be better for you. I have seen some interpretations of their beliefs which state that they are polytheistic.

Namaste

Tobias

[Starz123]

Hiya,

Well, from a more say, practical perspective, they are correct in stating that most Hindus may worship and follow the rituals of a few gods and goddesses, but in the end, we believe they are all incarnations of one god. Now, who believes who to be the Supreme Personality, that also varies, but majority believe in Lord Vishnu.

Whereever you go in India for example, be it the South, North, Lord Vishnu is worshipped in various forms and names, for example, Lord Balaji in the South is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. But you will notice in the end, even though many observes the other Gods and Goddesses days, etc, they will still firmly believe and be strong followers of one.

An example, in my family, we all believe Lord Krishna as the Lord and Supreme Being. But we all also pray and observe various other religious days and Gods and Goddesses. But the extent of each of our beliefs also varies. My dad for example observes Lord Ganesha more strongly and I, Devi Mata. In the end we stil believe one thing. So yes, many Hindus do observe the various Gods but for us, they are all incarnations of One God and are there to teach us about various aspects of life. I am actually finding it a bit difficult to explain this more precisely but Hinduism is quite complex.

Hope this helps! :lookwhats

Cheers,
Starz

[David19]

Perhaps if you were more interested, looking at the tribval religiosn of the Khonds or the Bhils might be better for you. I have seen some interpretations of their beliefs which state that they are polytheistic.

Namaste

Tobias

When you say polytheistic, do you mean in the sense that the god are individual beings with their own personalities, because that's something that i believe (although there's nothing wrong with the Brahmaist(sp) approach either). Is there any information available on te tribal religions of the Khonds & the Bhils? also do they worship the same Hindu deities or different ones?

Thanks.

[Toby Stimpson]

Well being that these tribes are older and as a result come from the pagan era, their religions are both affected but affecting Hinduism. I havnt done much looking into their belief system but it certainly is not as extensive as Brahmanic and Puranic Hinduism...but they do hold the polytheistic idea that there are seperate deities. Although these deities seem to be mixtures of prevedic Dravidian deities and some ancient Gods that have been accepted into the Hindu fold. For example, I believe it is the Bhils who worship a god called Bhagavan, which is an accepted epithet of krishna/Vishnu. I found these websites:

http://nandurbar.nic.in/htmldocs/culture_and_religion.htm

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/india/tribal.html

http://countrystudies.us/india/57.htm

http://www.indianchild.com/indian_religions_tribal.htm

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiareligion.html (this highlights a few of the smaller and minor religions in india, and has soem info on the tribal religions)

If you look on Google, just type any of the tribes found above and you'll be able to find some more

Namaste

Tobias

[David19]

Well being that these tribes are older and as a result come from the pagan era, their religions are both affected but affecting Hinduism. I havnt done much looking into their belief system but it certainly is not as extensive as Brahmanic and Puranic Hinduism...but they do hold the polytheistic idea that there are seperate deities. Although these deities seem to be mixtures of prevedic Dravidian deities and some ancient Gods that have been accepted into the Hindu fold. For example, I believe it is the Bhils who worship a god called Bhagavan, which is an accepted epithet of krishna/Vishnu. I found these websites:

http://nandurbar.nic.in/htmldocs/culture_and_religion.htm

http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/india/tribal.html

http://countrystudies.us/india/57.htm

http://www.indianchild.com/indian_religions_tribal.htm

http://www.crystalinks.com/indiareligion.html (this highlights a few of the smaller and minor religions in india, and has soem info on the tribal religions)

If you look on Google, just type any of the tribes found above and you'll be able to find some more

Namaste

Tobias

Thanks for the links and help :).