1. Hinduism
One God Or
Many Gods?

2. The Divine Reality The Brahman

3. The Brahman The one Divine Reality Eternal Creator of all things
The Vedas say, “God is One. Men call Him by various names.”

4. Nirguna Brahman Absolute Reality Indestructible
Beyond the grasp of human imagination

5. Saguna Brahman One’s personal God The form in which God appears to you
Examples: Shiva, Jesus, Jupiter, Isis, Pele
Most humans need to worship God through one of these forms because we cannot relate to or comprehend Nirguna Brahman = The Divine Reality

6. Gods and Goddesses: Aspects of The Divine

7. Hindu Mythology Like all mythology, it teaches us something about:
The attributes of the God
How God interacts with humanity
How we should live
How we should relate to God
They are not meant to be taken literally

8. Hindu Gods

9. The Trimurti Trimurti – three aspects of The Brahman
Brahma = the Creator
Vishnu = the Preserver
Shiva = the Destroyer
Each is a different aspect of Brahman
Most Hindus worship one of these gods

11. Brahma – The Creator
Created by Brahman and the female energy known as Prakriti
Created the universe
Depicted with four heads – each recites from one of the Vedas
Is not popular in modern India and few worship him

12. Vishnu – the Preserver Maintains law and order in the universe
Incarnates himself to protect humanity
Avatars = incarnations
Most important: Krishna and Rama
Many Hindus consider the Buddha and Jesus to be avatars of Vishnu

13. Krishna Avatar of Vishnu Hero of the Bhagavad-Gita
Was most likely an actual person who was later worshipped as a god
Advocates dharma – one must always do one’s duty
Bhakti = love; devotion – the worship Krishna asks for. It does not demand knowledge.

14. Rama Avatar of Vishnu Hero of the Ramayana
Saved humanity from the demon Ravenna
Example of dharma – doing one’s duty no matter what the consequences

15. Shiva The Destroyer and Liberator
One of the oldest of the Hindu deities
Ascetic
Meditation
The Ganges River originates in Shiva

16. Shiva - Nataraj Shiva as “Lord of the Dance”
His dance keeps the universe going
When Shiva stops dancing, the universe will be destroyed and then re-created

17. Ganesh The son of Shiva and Parvati
God of prosperity, good luck and wisdom
The Elephant head replaced his own after Shiva accidentally killed him – symbol of self sacrifice and love

18. The Goddesses

19. Hinduism believes that the Divine is neither male nor female, so Hindus worship the female essence of the Deity through the goddesses.
The feminine power of the Divine is called Shakti.
Each of the gods of the Trimurti has a female consort = the Tridevi

20. Tridevi

21. Sarasvati Wife of Brahma, the Creator
Goddess of knowledge and inspiration
Patroness of artists
In her four hands she holds a book for knowledge, a Hindu rosary for the spiritual knowledge, and a musical instrument

22. Lakshmi The wife of Vishnu Goddess of wealth and prosperity
Provides Vishnu with the resources he needs to keep the universe running
Incarnates herself whenever Vishnu does (Krishna’s lover Radha; Rama’s wife Sita)

23. Krishna and Radha Rama and Sita

24. Parvati
Wife of Shiva
Shows that union with God comes both through meditation and doing good works

25. Durga A manifestation of Parvati Warrior Goddess who fights evil
She helps us to fight our own negative qualities

26. Religious Symbolism

27. Shiva Nataraj
Four arms = mastery of the four directions of the universe
Ring of flame & water = universe
Drum = creation
Flame (in Shiva’s hand) = destructive energy

28. Snake – mastery over all creation
Hand pointing down – release from ignorance and salvation
Crescent moon – seasons and changes in life

29. The Lingam and Yoni Symbols of Shiva as creator
Lingam – male creative power
Yoni – female creative power
Probably the oldest symbols in Hinduism

30. Shiva Symbols Trident – destroys evil Cobra – control over death
Tiger skin (he sits on) – Lord over forces of nature
Drum – creation
Lines on forehead – ability to see past, present and future

31. Shiva and Nandi
Most gods and goddesses have a “vehicle” = a sacred or mythical animal that transports them
Nandi – the sacred bull
Represents faith, strength and constancy of belief

32. Vishnu
Conch – water from which all life flows; power to maintain universe
Lotus –Divine truth
Chakra (discus) – conquering evil and ignorance

33. Mace – power of knowledge conquering evil
“U” on forehead – Vishnu’s sacred footprint
Vehicle – Garuda the eagle

34. The Lotus Symbol of purity, fertility, plenty.
Associated with many deities, but mostly with the goddesses Lakshmi and Sarasvati who are often depicted sitting on one

35. Om (Aum) The first sound made in Creation
Symbol of Brahman – the Divine Reality
The main symbol of Hinduism