8. How Many Gods and Forms?

Q8. Why are there so many Gods in Hinduism? And what is the real form of God?

A8. Like all Monotheistic religions there is only one God in Hinduism. But, Hinduism does not stop there. According to Vedic scriptures, upon which Hinduism is based, there is not only one God, but God is the only One - and there is no second. In other words, there exists nothing else, but God. Hence, God exists in everything.


And that God (Brahman) is Formless, without attributes. He is without beginning or end, is infinite, and is without any characteristic. Now, that is a problem for the human mind. How can one comprehend something that does not have a form or no characteristics? So, in order for the human mind to comprehend God, form had to be given.

But, the question is which form? By definition, God exists in everything that has a form! So, it is then obvious that God can be worshipped in ANY form. Hence, Hindus conceived several forms of God - depending on which characteristic of God one wants to predominate in one's worship. Hence, Brahama became the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, Mahesh the Destroyer, Krishna the Loving Form, Saraswati the Goddess of Knowledge, Laxmi the Goddess of Wealth, etc. By extension, Jesus Chris or Allah or any God by any name should be (and are) equally acceptable, because all of them refer to the same God.

In all this, formless God still remains, but comes alive in a form - or, several forms for the benefit of the human mind. This has been confused by many (including Hindus) as having several Gods. Max Muller tried to explain it by coining the term "Henotheism" - which implies worshipping one God, but accepting other deities. This, though well intentioned, is a lame attempt at explaining the real truth - i.e. God is the only One, and that is the end of it. No question about accepting other deities, because there is no one else.

Also, the concept of God being Formless (the real Truth) as well as with Form (for human understanding) has perplexed many purists by arguing that there are contradictions in Vedic scriptures, and hence, they should be discarded. Vedic scriptures, in their own characteristic way, create apparent contradictions, and then give clues to the real meaning. That way, they do make the mind think and inquire in the pursuit of truth. They provide a perfect backdrop for a rigorous exercise of the mind in search of truth. One does not have to just accept, one has to search it out, and experience it.

In summary, there is only One God, who is formless.