1. Hindu understanding of God

2. Brahman
Hindus believe in one Supreme Force, Universal Soul or Spirit, called Brahman.
Brahman is the unity behind the diversity of the world
Brahman has no shape or form and is limitless

3. Atman = Your Soul Man IS the soul (not “has” a soul)
Your soul, atman, is the unchanging essence that is YOU
Atman is a form of God, Brahman
As long as you continue to believe your soul is separate, you will be reborn

4. Brahman is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes mandatory to help realize the Unknowable
The symbol is a sacred syllable representing the impersonal Absolute.
The sacred symbol is often found at the head of letters, papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant . Om

5. Trimurti ‘Trinity’ Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
There are three main ways in which God may be understood:
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
They are different representations in god-form of the
ultimate reality -Brahman.

6. The Trimurti

7. Brahma Brahma, the Creator; they believe he created the universe.
Brahma is not worshipped much today.
Note: Brahman is the ultimate reality and Brahma is the creator –part of the trinity.

8. Traditionally depicted with four heads, four faces and four arms
Four hands represent four cardinal directions.
The back right hand represents mind, the back left hand, the intellect; the front right hand represents, ego, the front left hand, self confidence
Brahma

9. Vishnu Vishnu helps preserve the Universe and People
Vishnu is the Preserver of the Balance of Good and Evil.
Vishnu helped Save his followers by appearing on Earth through his nine Avatars (appearance in bodily form.)

10. The two most popular avatars are Rama and Krishna.
The Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is the Ninth avatar.
The Tenth avatar is still to come. He will arrive to destroy the world and build a new one.

11. Vishnu
Lotus-beauty and purity
Four arms-four corners of the world

12. Avatars
Incarnations of Vishnu.
krishna
Rama

13. Shiva (Siva) Shiva is the Destroyer god that destroys the universe.
Hindus believe that Shiva is the source of good and evil.

14. Shiva
Shiva has a Trident in the right lower arm, with a crescent moon on his head
His wearing of serpents on the neck denotes wisdom and eternity.