Hindu Beliefs

Hindu Beliefs

1. Brahman

   • Hindu name for God or Supreme Being
   • "In truth Brahman is all." - Mundaka Upinshad 2.2
   • nirguna Brahman - God as a spiritual presence
     • The Om or Aum symbol are used as it is difficult to understand or explain nirguna Brahman
   • saguna Brahman - God shown in form
     • most Hindus refer to God being shown in deities as Bhagavan

2. Divine

   • Hindus think of God in 3 ways
     • existing everywhere as a non-personal God, called Brahman
     • being within the heart of everyone, called anataryami, meaning "the God within"
     • as a personal God or Lord, called Bhagavan and approached through many different deities, living in the spiritual worlds, called vaikuntha
       • vaikuntha - the perfect world: spiritual realm
   • Hindus see the Divine in many different ways

3. Tri-Murti

   • Brahma - the creator
     • Brahma has 4 heads, looking north, south, east and west
     • Brahma is pictured on a Lotus flower, a symbol of purity
     • the spoon represents a sacrificial ladle used in worship, showing he is responsible for offerings during worship
     • the book he holds represents the Vedas
     • the string of beads represents Mala, a string of beads used to help count chanted mantras during meditations
     • the water pot represents the water of life, resposible for the beginning of creation
   • Vishnu - the preserver
     • he gave birth to Brahma
     • Vishnu represents the soul of the universe
     • he is worshipped through avatars
     • he enters the heart of every being
     • images of Vishnu remind Hindus to follow religious and moral laws
   • Shiva - the destroyer
     • he is thought to be in charge of destruction and recreating afterwards
     • his consort is Parvarti
     • Shaivities, or Shiva's followers, select the quality of Shiva that appeals to them the most
     • he is in charge of destruction and recreating

4. Deities

   • Hindus can be Polytheists and Monotheists at the same time
   • Hindus can be polytheists and monotheists at the same time
     • they may favour one God or Goddess but recognise the other Gods
   • Saraswati
     • consort of Brahma
     • Goddess of learning
     • mother of the Vedas
     • Hindu musicians pray to her before consorts
   • Lakshmi
     • consort of Vishnu
       • considered the perfect union
     • especially worshipped during Diwali when she is prayed for a prosperous new year
     • remembered by newly-weds for a happy married life together
   • Shakti
     • consort of Shiva
     • general term for Goddess
     • Shakti is worshipped in more specific forms
       • Parvati is the reincarnation of Sati, Shiva's first, who killed herself after being verbally abused by her father
         • Parvati won Shiva's love after he became a wandering Holy man
       • Durga is fierce and powerful and fights against the demon Mahish
       • Kali is also fierce and is associated with death and destruction

5. Avatars