1. HAFSITE.ORG

2. Hindu Concepts About God
Promoting Human Dignity Mutual Respect & Pluralism

3. God in Hinduism

4. Many Hindus understand God
to be BRAHMAN or the absolute.
BRAHMAN is ever-present, all-powerful, and beyond comprehension
Some believe that BRAHMAN is formless and without attributes, but may manifest in form…
…while others believe BRAHMAN has a transcendent form and attributes.

5. material existence monism
From Brahman come various manifestations to which Hindus offer prayers and devotion
The entirety of
material existence
is seen as a manifestation of Brahman by some and creation of Brahman by others
This understanding of the one Absolute as the origin of various manifestations and the universe is best described as
monism

6. Hinduism Monism

7. Hindu monism is the foundation for understandings of God (the Absolute) that range from non-dualistic to dualistic.
NON-DUALISTIC the universe and the Absolute are not separate, but one and the same
QUALIFIED NON-DUALISM the universe is different from, but dependent on and inseparable from the Absolute
DUALISTIC the universe, while reflecting the Absolute’s divine qualities, is dependent on, but separate from the Absolute

8. HINDUISM ALSO ENCOMPASSES
Pantheism
all of existence is the Absolute
Panentheism
all of existence is within the Absolute
Theism
the understanding of the Absolute being external to all of existence
Volunteer by parkjisun from the Noun Project
education by Yi Chen from the Noun Project

9. the Divine

10. The Divine or reflection of its qualities can be seen…
in oneself and all other HUMAN BEINGS
in all other beings, including PLANTS AND ANIMALS
in the WHOLE UNIVERSE including mountains, rivers, trees, and other plants

11. Brahman

12. Murtis are believed to be CHARGED WITH THE PRESENCE of Divine
A murti is more than a image or icon
it is a powerful visual tool used for contemplating the nature of BRAHMAN
Murtis are believed to be CHARGED WITH THE PRESENCE of Divine
The murti also enables Hindu worshippers to COMMUNICATE with the Divine.

13. Hindus understand God to be present in the murti, but THEY DO NOT CONSIDER GOD TO BE LIMITED TO THE MURTI. God can be understood as BOTH IMMANENT AND TRANSCENDENT.

14. These 3 are often times seen as a trinity that sustains the universe
BRAHMA The Creator
SHIVA The Transformer
VISHNU The Preserver
These 3 are often times seen as a trinity that sustains the universe
Brahman
is understood as beyond gender, although capable of taking on both masculine and feminine qualities and forms.

15. shakti
the female form of the Divine is understood as an essential half of Brahman. Shakti manifests in the form of Goddesses such as:
Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth
Saraswati
the Goddess of Knowledge
Durga
the Goddess of Power

16. BRAHMA CREATION Goddess Saraswati Creativity
SHIVA TRANSFORM- ATION Goddess Durga Power
VISHNU PRESERVATION Goddess Lakshmi Prosperity
Each of these deities offers the Hindu worshipper a different quality or aspect of the Divine to focus on.

17. Other Gods include… Ganesh the Remover of Obstacles Hanuman
the Embodiment of Strength and Perfect Devotion

18. beyond human form

19. Ganesh is presented as having an elephant head
Because of Hinduism's fundamental reverence of the Divine or its essence in all things, animals are commonly depicted in representations of Brahman
Ganesh is presented as having an elephant head
Hanuman
is depicted as a monkey

20. Trees, plants and rivers are also given divine status in Hinduism
Ashwattha (Ficus Religiosa)
Tulsi
(Ocimum Tenuiflorum)
The Ganges
and Yamuna

21. avatars

22. Hindus believe that God can incarnate in human form, as an avatar

23. Lord Rama the paragon of virtue
To eradicate evil from the world, the Divine is believed to have taken human form on earth as:
Lord Rama the paragon of virtue
Lord Krishna
a kingmaker

24. Hindus may also pray to deities, some of whom were once real people, both male and female, who are believed to have attained such a high level of enlightenment that they are seen as pure expressions of the divine
They may also be seen to be manifestations of other major Gods and Goddesses

25. pluralism

26. This philosophy leads to PLURALISM within Hinduism and outside of it
Hinduism promotes
respect for OTHER RELIGIONS and acknowledges the potential for truth in them
This philosophy leads to PLURALISM within Hinduism and outside of it
Most Hindus see the variety of religions and philosophies as DIFFERENT PATHS TO GOD

27. The truth is one. The wise call it by many names
The truth is one. The wise call it by many names. A quote from THE VEDA’S summarizing the Hindu perspective

28. THANK YOU