33 Crore Gods of Hindus

33 Crore Gods of HindusGods or deities can be understood by following
For the believers of God, it is an accepted faithfamous Hindu saying:
across the globe that God is one. Hindus too believe'Matri Devo Bhawa, Pitra Devo Bhawa, Guru Devo
so, but then there remains a question often shapedBhawa, Atithi Devo Bhawa'
as a mockery over Hindus about the variousMeaning: Mother, Father, Guru and Guest are form of
practices of worship rendered to innumerous God indeity. At first this seems meaningless. But there is
their faith. And this question is often thrown bydepth to this - and the depth takes to deep enough
people, who are philosophically and religiouslyto explore even God. A person as per Hindu
recognized. How come Hindu religion has 33 crorephilosophy is said to be of divine nature, if he has
Gods? Is it sensible at all to believe and practice this?absorbed energies from these people. From mother
I have a question - How can one decide what isone absorbs the individuality ('Sanskar'), which is the
sensible and what is not, particularly when none ofbasis of his developing attitude. From father one
those great thinkers have attained perfection inabsorbs the identity ('Pratap') which builds his
realization of God, none of them have seen God,Personality. From Guru, one absorbs the true
none of them have heard God. There are numerousKnowledge, which adds to one's intellect. And from
instances where religion, religious books and theirGuest ('Atithi') one absorbs humanity, an attribute of
beliefs have tried to define God. Criticism is an easyGodly creation that allows him to behave in
thing to do but we have coins with two sides always.perfection in nature. The concept of Guest is far
Realization of the positive side and its practice is notdifferent and superior among Hindus than in any
only hard to recognize but difficult to accept as well.other community of the world. A Guest has two
Criticism is the negative side, where ego, arroganceforms in Hindus - 'Mehmaan' and 'Atithi'. The
and envy exist with an intention to force boundaries'Mehmaan' form, as known to the world, are those
upon people outside the boundary.who are visit upon invitation and are known to the
We require realizing and understanding God firsthost of their arrival - A Hindu would respect him in all
completely before condemning any belief that is inpossible way and make him feel warm. But the 'Atithi'
line with God. If God is within creatures, we requireform, as not known to the world, are those who
realizing first ourselves, within ourselves, which is inarrive uninformed as Guests (may be known one or
very vicinity to us. If God is not within the creatures,may be unknown). They hold extra importance, their
then where is he - if the answer is we do not know;importance being a form of deity (not they), because
then do not fight? We are physically a body withlike God they do not have a date of arrival - and
senses, mind and soul. But behaviorally, we are a sumhence, a treatment of highest form towards them
of our own thoughts represented by our overallsignifies that Hindus in their behavior excels western
behaviors or actions.understanding. Thus, deities in Hindu are not only
Most of our behaviors or actions are around ourthose natural powers like fire, air, water, etc., but
kindred ones. Even the recognition of God in our lifealso the immaterial that constitute our existence. This
persists more to support this behavior. Our behaviorsis detailed in the chapter 'The Hindu God'.
mostly are aligned to deliver responsibilities towardsHindus realize that this world would be beautiful if
our relationships. And relationships have names. Wethese natural powers are respected and utilized in
have so many names despite of the fact that wetheir natural form, unlike the realization that
are still the one person.materialistic science has discovered against the natural
My son calls me 'Father'. My wife calls me 'Husband'.laws. And hence, where they seem to be providing
My father calls me 'Son'. My sisters and brothers calladvancement they are actually leading the world
me 'Brother'. I am a 'Grand Child' for some and timetowards huge devastation. As a simple example, we
makes me a 'Grand father' for some. I am an 'in law'can consider Fire as a power of nature; it can burn
for few others. I prove to be a 'friend' for many.anything in this world. And this burn has positive as
Aren't all these Nouns, as my name itself? Yet mywell as negative impacts (actually the impact is same
name is there. But I am recognized more by theand uniform, its realization as creatures varies). Thus,
Nouns of relations among my kindred, rather than myfood burnt (cooked) produces varieties of tastes and
name. I find that every other relation has a differenteating enjoyable. Metal burnt helps to get molded to
name for me. And these names are not confined toshapes and size desired. Burning sun and lamps
a particular country or religious believers. This isproduces light and source of energy. But the same
universal. And these nouns of relations are just notfire, burns houses devastating lives inside. It can burn
names; they are actual vision which immediatelyjungles thus devastating vegetation, animals and
pervades in accordance to the relation when one callsnatural balance. Burning impact is still uniform, but
us by our name. So, if my mother calls me by name,applications are different and hence realization is
she doesn't realize me as a father of a son ordifferent. Thus, it is important for the most advanced
husband of a wife; she immediately envisions me ascreature, as humans, to understand the different
her son. And it is these names that alter myusage of fire and use it only in a manner that is
behaviors with respect to the name variance. I findagreeable and beneficial to all. To make its usage
that my responsibility towards each of these relationsoverall positive, it requires a mass attitude shift - how
is different. For example, the relation that I enjoywould this be achieved? This can be achieved only
with my wife is quite different from all otherthrough respect towards this power. Respect is a
relations. This means, the same person - myself, isboundary, a boundary that has maximum benefits,
having different names, different authorities, differentminimum negative impacts. Thus, the methodology of
responsibilities and different recognized power. I owerealizing fire as a source of useful energy and an
them all and render them all.important essence of life, a meaning of respect was
Is GOD only a father? If someone says 'yes', then Iadded to it by the word 'deity' - The Fire Deity (Agni
have something to ask him. Is GOD having onlyDeva) by Hindus. Worship is simply a methodology of
limited power to be a father only? I believe 'NO'. GODconveying regards to this energy and using it in a
is omnipresent and omni-powered. We call him GODharmless manner. I do not understand what is wrong
because we expect anything and everything fromin this. In fact, there is nothing wrong in this - hence,
him. He can take any role and responsibility which wethe Hindu society is a peaceful society. We can also
cannot render or whenever we require it. At least,find the sense of equality in the property of Fire, i.e.,
when we are failing in life towards any of our roles,its qualities and identity cannot be changed - no
we pray GOD to fulfill that. Hence, GOD just cannotscience can diminish the power of Sun. Hence, Fire
be a father. If I am unable to serve my father forfor a Hindu qualifies as a Natural power to be given a
some purpose which is important enough to bringform of Deity.
tears in my eyes, I can rely on GOD to play the roleWhile I do not find even in Science unfolding the
for me and fill the gap. Hence, virtually GOD is a sonimportance of moon for existence of life, Hindus
then - son of my father realized through me. GODhave gone to identify the secrets held by nature in
can be my friend. GOD can be any of the relation Ihaving moon as one of the facilitation in support of
chose him to be for the reason of prayers and forlife system on earth. And since, attributes of moon
the reason of fulfilling my actions. In fact, GOD cando not exist under prejudice and is uniform for all, it
hold any relation, any position and any situation forqualifies as a deity. The life would not exist if water
me as long as there is the undoubted faith and deepand air is not there. All these are natural energies, and
routed love for him. More sincerely, Love is oneimportant for life to exist. And any effort to
relation that is true for GOD as well for us; it is achallenge these energies would devastate life itself.
relation that enriches our heart and mind withWho will disagree to this, even scientifically? So why
complete faith and it is this Love which is required tois the question raised on the community which knows
be realized in our life for humans as well.its best utilization through the methodology of
Hence, I believe Hindus are advanced enough toworship? The reality is that people, who attack
recognize 33 crore such responsibilities executed byHindus for their 33 Crore Gods or Idol worship, have
GOD. And not all these responsibilities are towardsactually executed immense violence, unnecessary
humans. Every creation across the Universe lies as akillings, forced decisions, and deceitful conversions.
manifestation of same GOD and all of them areAnd as per the same relativity theory of Hindus, the
rendered support by the same relative GOD withbad cannot tolerate the good. They will have a
varied names and powers. When it comes tonature to attack and win over good. But thousands
worshipping these powers of God, there is muchof years have failed to do so. Other thousands of
more to this, than names and responsibilities foryears would again fail to do so.
Hindus. Why it is that despite of these countlessIf this is not clear yet, we can take any deity of a
diversities in names, Hindus do not fight amongHindu and ask a question - what power or energy
themselves and practice perfect religious harmony indoes it imply? If anyone does not have the answer
huge variance? In contrast, we find this throughoutto it, feel free to write to me and I will let him know,
the world in all other religions that if there is evenhow a deity is categorized as a deity in Hindu
slight diversity; people tend to challenge each otherphilosophy. Under the universal theory of relativity,
for even their lives; E.g., Shiya and Sunny of Islam.each of these energies will bring positive and
Why doesn't a Hindu follower of Lord Shiva attack arelatively negative impact. To realize the best and the
follower of Lord Krishna? If beliefs of all otherpositive part, we need to respect them first (with a
religions are so correct and scientific, why is therealization that it can devastate if something goes
strong and positive attitude of tolerance missing inwrong).
them? There is surely much more deep routed factsDeity in Hindu philosophy is not a prophet or any
to these 33 crore figure, than simply what appearsperson as in other religions. They do not have any
to the outside world.physical forms. They have simply elementary as well
The deep routed reality is that Hindus haveas divine existence. And who can count these divine
discovered these varied sources of existencenatures of infinite God? Thus 33 Crore count is an
through years of research. Hindus have mastered theamazing research done by Hindus over a huge period
natural science; they have realized GOD to theof time. Here is an analysis to be attempted. How
extent that they have listed down 33 crore differentlong did it take for Hindus to bring these 33 Crore
forms of natural power that is holding this Universecount into their list. (Hindus have also listed around 8.4
true. It doesn't mean by any chance that all the listedmillion species, while science have just reached the
forms are different GOD. They are still the same, butfigure of 1.75 and is predicting the figure to be
can be called for different purposes. In fact, they arebetween 8 to 10 million). There are two possibilities -
smart enough to call them as Devas (representativeseither the creator himself have done this and Hindus
or manifestations of GOD) rather then GOD himself.were the first creation of Humanity by God OR it
So, that people still believe in only one GOD, the onetook tens of thousands of years for Hindus to bring
whole that envelops the whole variance. I really feelthis research into reality. Accepting any of the two
like saying to the critics - can they or their religiouspossibilities, we easily end up in understanding since
books list down even 33 thousand forms of naturalhow long Hindus have existed. It was only recently
powers - powers that nature displays to hold life andthat they were named 'Hindus'. They are the eternal
existence of this earth and universe. It is not an easyhumans, and would continue to be so. They have
thing to even imagine this. Hindus have come up aever existed and would ever exist. Of course, there
long way to do so. I think the world needs morewould be challenges and transformations through
insight than this to understand the facts about Hinduwhich they have to pass by and these criticism and
beliefs.onslaughts are simply a picture of such challenges.
To make things more vivid, I will explain in brief oneThe truth has to pass through false boundaries and
of many philosophies behind idols and images of sonegative nature of energies. And as it passes and will
many Gods. A simple question - Why do nearly allpass through the same list of energies (33 Crore
Hindu Gods are seen holding weapons (tools)? YetCount), those who respected it would be saved and
we find Hindus not fighting for the differences. Thethose which misused and disrespected it would
fact is as deep to consider that to God everythingsuffer. This is a law of nature, and no science can
and every creature are equal. The philosophy saysdisprove this. This can only be realized on the line of
that Law and Weapons (tools) recognizes none, i.e.,time that always takes us into past and inspires us to
for these two entities, all other entities are equal andlook at past. Taking a static situation of ever moving
they act with equal nature to all. In the law book oftime, it is the present which we have to configure so
God all his creations has to hold equal importance (oras to make sure that the future is not negative, the
else God would prove to be incomplete, existing infuture is peaceful, the future is happy. Peace,
variance and prejudice over his own creations).happiness and positive results are not achieved
Hence, these tools in the hands of Hindu idols andwithout the essence of respect in it.
images symbolize equality towards all. AnotherThere is not only philosophy to this belief of 33 crore
important philosophy of weapons or tools are toGod, but also a great deal of science supports their
convey that weapons and tools should be held bybelief, as we have seen earlier. In fact, science as
only those people who have the Godly qualities, i.e.,practiced by Hindus was far ahead then what we
the sense of equality towards all. Third, importantsee now. Hindus realized that 33 crore deities
philosophy is to convey that weapons and tools areconstituted their body and soul too. Because these
for protection and facilitation for human and its33 crore deities that constituted this whole universe,
misuse is possible only if goes in hand of inhuman.also constituted humans as well. And this very
Thus, weapons are in hands of God, God who seesphilosophy gave birth to AyurVeda, a medical science,
everyone equal - powers of manifestations of Godwhich is yet to be unfolded completely and practiced
under the laws of nature has to be of similar senseby modern world. And this very philosophy gave birth
and Hindu philosophy of 33 crore figure is an attemptto the concept of Self Realization, the basis of all
to elaborate this concept.human achievement, a journey through the mind
To understand above concept, I will explain thebeing the reason of all scientific inventions.
symbolic meanings of few important deities - myWhen Hindus say 33 Crore Gods (Devas and Devis),
explanations are brief explanations, avoiding thethey realize them all in themselves. For example, fire
details as detailing would take another book to bein our body exists to produce heat, anger, energy,
written). Taking Lord Shiva as our first example, he ishatred, arrogance and other attributes. A disregard
also called 'Mahadeva' meaning - Deity of all Deities. Iftowards it would produce chemistry (For e.g., acidity
every Deity in Hindu is a natural power, obviousin stomach for wrong diet, uncontrollable and harmful
question is: which of those powers is represented byanger mis-utilizing energies) that can harm us. Hence,
Lord Shiva. As Lord Shiva is deity of all deity, he hasa regard toward Agni Deva, comes by realization of
to be the source of energy to all other deities. Andknowledge of his existence in various forms. If we
hence, as per Hindu myths - Lord Shiva representsgo in the details of AyurVeda, we can find an
'Light' - an energy which is the source of all existenceelaboration on various forms of these energies in our
(Imagine a creation without light; nothing can exist).life. And obviously, as far as God is concerned, every
Worship of Lord Shiva started as Jyotirlinga - 'Jyoti'Hindu believes that all these 33 Crore energies are
meaning 'light' and 'linga' comes from the Sanskritagain manifestation of God only.
word 'Lingam' meaning 'symbol'. Thus, Lord Shiva is aPeople who criticize Hindus either know only their
symbol of light. Hence, we find all idols of Lord Shivapart or want others to live with what they are
in the shape of a 'Diya'.providing, which is nothing else then bounded religious
Since, light is relative to darkness, the theory ofbelief, a bigotry - a quality which their religion has
relativity was conceptualized on this ground. Todefinitely not taught them to live with; because God
ensure the universal distribution of theory as a law,cannot be achieved in boundaries, God can be
Lord Shiva brings the knowledge of Gender in relativetouched with immense boundary-less feelings; God
terms, because the myth says that it was Lord Shivacan be realized with infinite boundary-less knowledge.
that established the meaning of two genders requiredThe question is how such forced believes exists?
for creation. Thus, the concept of relativity startedWhy religious practitioners want to prove themselves
taking the shape of a theory, established long backover other beliefs? What interest envelops them
by Hindus, but realized only late by our modernimpelling them to undertake such selfish steps? Will
scientists. And it is this parallelism of existence thatthis world be peaceful enough to live in with only one
created ground for Hindus to research and establishreligion like Christian or Islam into practice? Will there
33 crore such relative powers.be no differences among people then?
As another example, we would take Lord Ganesh,Let us assume that the target of converting the
who is put ahead of all other deities. It is light thatworld into one religion is achieved. Then there is
produces 'Knowledge' and hence, Lord Ganeshaanother question - Is the miseries from the world
(Deity of Knowledge) as per Hindu myths is son ofeliminated (probably because God is happy now as
Lord Shiva: Knowledge is a product of Light. But itthe wish of God has come true). Let us assume that
requires knowledge to perceive the power of light,miseries are eliminated: but how was this possible
and hence Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the first(Probably because every individual is living the same
deity.standard life given by the same God. This has to be
Knowledge is the killer of Ignorance and death ofthere obviously because if differences exist between
Ignorance saves humanity from dangers of life.two individuals in any aspect, competitiveness would
Hence, Lord Ganesha is also called as 'Vighnaharta' -come into picture and then everything will result the
reliever from obstacles. Right from rat to elephant, allsame way as it is with different God). Now, if
animals contain some intelligence as humans and thiseveryone is comfortable and equal in all aspect, don't
is the minimum that is represented by Lord Ganesha.you think this world would come to a stagnant stage,
We can have Lord Vishnu as one more example, toan inert stage - a stage of death? Hence, the
fathom the depth of these images and Idols.variation of understanding is also there so that the
If we look at Lord Vishnu, he is symbolized by fourtrue meaning of God is established. It would depend
hands, each hand holding different things. In firston individuals and societies to chose the most
hand, he holds 'Shankh' (a symbol of Sound, soundtolerance and peaceful methodology of Hindus,
that emerges through heart of a person and passesremain in the attacking moods like Islam or deceive
through the heart of 'Shankh' and gets intensifies andhumanity in the name of God and force conversions
uniform.as Christianity.
Thus, a sound from heart has to be truth, itsActually, this very difference is the cause of
passage from the heart of 'Shankh' makes it pureexistence of worldly happenings. It is the diversities
and intensifies' and what is spread is uniformity of thethat is creating individuals and allowing them to exist.
truth in loudness), in second hand he holds 'Chakra' (aPeople who desire to convert this world into one
symbol of revolutions and cycles, through which thereligion and people who tries to command others
whole creation goes on; it is a miniature symbol ofthinking thereby demanding a behavior towards
the whole Universe and is explained in detail inconversion, do not understand religion at all. They are
Purana), in third hand he holds 'Gada' (a symbol ofactually working against the principles of nature as
power, strength and weapon; that execution ofcreated by God - diversities. Nature has not created
power and strength requires the vision of equality asany two humans same from the 6 billion population.
of a weapon) and the fourth hand holds 'A Lotus' (aNature has differentiated every creature and every
symbol of beautiful detachment; lotus is born in dirt,species. How can human even think of bringing
yet it is so beautiful because it is not attached to thepeople under one belief? This can never be achieved
dirt). The four fold symbols are important forand trying to achieve this is an unnatural act which
realization and to support the whole ongoing systemeventually will result in death of billions of lives.
of creation.There was never a time without variations and there
Every God of Hindu symbolizes some powers ofwould never be a time in this world when these
nature. It is important to note that none of the Hinduvariations won't exist. And the only possible and
Gods are found to hold meat of humble animals oradmirable religious step a practitioner should take is to
impure food. They are at most shown to kill theallow others to live as they are. That is only solution
inhuman (often called as 'Rakshas' in Hindu myth).which can lead to effective standardization of human
These are very deep routed creations of Hinduliving behaviors. And this is the only message which
ideologists; their beliefs are not so blindfolded as isGod has always conveyed to this world - Unity in
perceived outside their arena. One classical exampleDiversity. And this is what is best realized in Hinduism.
of Hindu ideology realizing the meaning of 33 Crore