The answer to the question “What do Hindus believe about god?” entirely depends on which Hindu you ask. Hinduism has no singular concept of god. Rather, Hinduism has concepts of god. Throughout its long history, Hinduism developed various interpretations of divinity giving rise to a complex––and at times contradicting––tapestry of beliefs.
Who is god in Hinduism?
The common Hindu belief is that the divine reality or god is Brahman. Brahman is the supreme being who is the infinite all-pervading reality. There are primarily two philosophical notions of Brahman: Nirguna Brahman and Saguna Brahman.
What is Nirguna Brahman?
Nirguna Brahman is the transcendent, absolute being that is devoid of any attributes. Thus, Nirguna Brahman is the impersonal, formless entity that is eternally present as the ultimate reality of this universe. Brahman is the reality of existence where all things that exist are of the one divine essence.
In other words, the universe is Brahman. This pantheistic worldview is a minority position primarily prevalent in Hindu philosophy. It has been popularised by new-age movements that stress upon becoming one with the universe.
What is Saguna Brahman?
Saguna Brahman, in contrast with Nirguna Brahman. states the divine reality—though absolute—can be comprehended and experienced as a personal entity with a particular form. This form is immanently present within the reality of this universe being manifested as divine beings or deities.
Understanding Hinduism’s Polytheistic Worldview
Thus, numerous deities manifest the divine. This polytheistic worldview is the majority view widely held in Hinduism. This worldview gives itself to the pantheon of Hindu deities numbering in the hundreds of thousands (or 33 million according to one reckoning). These deities are popularly found in Hindu mythology and widely worshipped by idols.
The primary three deities are called the Trimurti: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. This triad sustains the universe. There also exists the Tridevi: Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati, who are either represented as the female versions of the Trimurti or as their consorts.
How do Hindus worship their gods?
The two major Hindu traditions, Vaishnavism and Shaivism, emerge from the Trimurti. Vaishnavism is the worship of Vishnu as the supreme god, while Shaivism is the worship of Shiva as the supreme god. The Vaishnavite tradition is the largest Hindu tradition and is prevalent in north India. Vishnu is primarily worshipped in his various avatars (appearances) with the most popular of these being Lord Krishna and Lord Rama.
Throughout its long history, Hinduism developed various interpretations of divinity giving rise to a complex––and at times contradicting––tapestry of beliefs.
In recent years, Rama has become prominent in Hinduism due to the recent rise of Hindu nationalism in India. The Shaivite tradition, prevalent in south India, primarily worships Shiva directly. There are also other Hindu traditions, such as Shaktism, where the supreme goddess Shakti (strength) is worshipped in her various forms.
These various deities are connected to the everyday life of humanity. Each deity offers a certain aspect of divine life and blessing to mankind. Thus, for wealth one goes to the goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth), for knowledge one goes to the goddess Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge), for strength one goes to the god Hanuman (the god of power), and so on. Therefore, which god(s) the Hindu worships is based upon the traditions of his community and family, and the personal needs and preferences of the individual.
While these deities are personal abodes manifesting the ultimate reality, divinity is not limited to them. The Brahman also resides in every being. Thus, every human is divine though he remains trapped by the maya (illusion) of this material world. When an individual transcends this material world and unlocks the spiritual god consciousness, he uncovers his true divine identity.
This is why Hindu spiritual leaders such as Ramakrishna and Sai Baba have large devotees who worship them. In many Hindu families, elders and those who are dead are also worshipped as personal and household deities. It is due to this fact that most Hindus do not hesitate to also include Jesus Christ among their pantheon of gods for they view him either as a man who has achieved god consciousness or as an avatar of god.
How are Hinduism’s gods different from God?
Contrary to the Hindu conception of god, the Bible presents God as one living and true being existing in three persons––the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit––same in substance and equal in power and glory. This Triune God created the world but is not part of the world. Hinduism undoes this Creator-creature distinction and diminishes divinity to human stature. However, Christianity maintains God is transcendent from creation.
Though God is transcendent, he is a personal being who is nonetheless providentially involved in the affairs of his creation. He is so involved in the affairs of his creation that even when mankind made in God’s image failed to keep the covenant and fell into sin, God did not abandon his creation. Rather, God pursued sinful man in the incarnation of Jesus Christ in human flesh. Christ is no mere appearance of the divine (avatar), but rather is truly God and truly man in one person.
By Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, God opens the way of eternal life to all who would trust in him for their salvation. This reality of God as creator and redeemer who lives and dies for his creation is unheard of in Hinduism. It is this reality of God revealed in the Bible that must be presented to the Hindu.
Christopher Poshin David serves as the Minister of Word and Sacrament at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Chennai. He is also the author of the book, Engaging Hinduism: Rethinking Christian Apologetics in India.
