33 Crore Gods of Hindus

33 Crore Gods of Hindus				example of Hindu ideology realizing the meaning of 33
For the believers of God, it is an accepted faith				Crore Gods or deities can be understood by following
across the globe that God is one. Hindus too believe				famous Hindu saying:
so, but then there remains a question often shaped				‘Matri Devo Bhawa, Pitra Devo Bhawa, Guru
as a mockery over Hindus about the various				Devo Bhawa, Atithi Devo Bhawa’
practices of worship rendered to innumerous God in				Meaning: Mother, Father, Guru and Guest are form of
their faith. And this question is often thrown by				deity. At first this seems meaningless. But there is
people, who are philosophically and religiously				depth to this – and the depth takes to deep
recognized. How come Hindu religion has 33 crore				enough to explore even God. A person as per Hindu
Gods? Is it sensible at all to believe and practice this?				philosophy is said to be of divine nature, if he has
I have a question – How can one decide what is				absorbed energies from these people. From mother
sensible and what is not, particularly when none of				one absorbs the individuality (‘Sanskar’),
those great thinkers have attained perfection in				which is the basis of his developing attitude. From
realization of God, none of them have seen God,				father one absorbs the identity (‘Pratap’)
none of them have heard God. There are numerous				which builds his Personality. From Guru, one absorbs
instances where religion, religious books and their				the true Knowledge, which adds to one’s
beliefs have tried to define God. Criticism is an easy				intellect. And from Guest (‘Atithi’) one
thing to do but we have coins with two sides always.				absorbs humanity, an attribute of Godly creation that
Realization of the positive side and its practice is not				allows him to behave in perfection in nature. The
only hard to recognize but difficult to accept as well.				concept of Guest is far different and superior among
Criticism is the negative side, where ego, arrogance				Hindus than in any other community of the world. A
and envy exist with an intention to force boundaries				Guest has two forms in Hindus –
upon people outside the boundary.				‘Mehmaan’ and ‘Atithi’. The
We require realizing and understanding God first				‘Mehmaan’ form, as known to the world,
completely before condemning any belief that is in				are those who are visit upon invitation and are
line with God. If God is within creatures, we require				known to the host of their arrival – A Hindu
realizing first ourselves, within ourselves, which is in				would respect him in all possible way and make him
very vicinity to us. If God is not within the creatures,				feel warm. But the ‘Atithi’ form, as not
then where is he – if the answer is we do not				known to the world, are those who arrive
know; then do not fight? We are physically a body				uninformed as Guests (may be known one or may
with senses, mind and soul. But behaviorally, we are a				be unknown). They hold extra importance, their
sum of our own thoughts represented by our overall				importance being a form of deity (not they), because
behaviors or actions.				like God they do not have a date of arrival – and
Most of our behaviors or actions are around our				hence, a treatment of highest form towards them
kindred ones. Even the recognition of God in our life				signifies that Hindus in their behavior excels western
persists more to support this behavior. Our behaviors				understanding. Thus, deities in Hindu are not only
mostly are aligned to deliver responsibilities towards				those natural powers like fire, air, water, etc., but
our relationships. And relationships have names. We				also the immaterial that constitute our existence. This
have so many names despite of the fact that we				is detailed in the chapter ‘The Hindu God’.
are still the one person.				Hindus realize that this world would be beautiful if
My son calls me ‘Father’. My wife calls me				these natural powers are respected and utilized in
‘Husband’. My father calls me ‘Son’.				their natural form, unlike the realization that
My sisters and brothers call me 'Brother'. I am a				materialistic science has discovered against the natural
'Grand Child' for some and time makes me a 'Grand				laws. And hence, where they seem to be providing
father' for some. I am an 'in law' for few others. I				advancement they are actually leading the world
prove to be a 'friend' for many. Aren't all these				towards huge devastation. As a simple example, we
Nouns, as my name itself? Yet my name is there. But				can consider Fire as a power of nature; it can burn
I am recognized more by the Nouns of relations				anything in this world. And this burn has positive as
among my kindred, rather than my name. I find that				well as negative impacts (actually the impact is same
every other relation has a different name for me.				and uniform, its realization as creatures varies). Thus,
And these names are not confined to a particular				food burnt (cooked) produces varieties of tastes and
country or religious believers. This is universal. And				eating enjoyable. Metal burnt helps to get molded to
these nouns of relations are just not names; they				shapes and size desired. Burning sun and lamps
are actual vision which immediately pervades in				produces light and source of energy. But the same
accordance to the relation when one calls us by our				fire, burns houses devastating lives inside. It can burn
name. So, if my mother calls me by name, she				jungles thus devastating vegetation, animals and
doesn’t realize me as a father of a son or				natural balance. Burning impact is still uniform, but
husband of a wife; she immediately envisions me as				applications are different and hence realization is
her son. And it is these names that alter my				different. Thus, it is important for the most advanced
behaviors with respect to the name variance. I find				creature, as humans, to understand the different
that my responsibility towards each of these relations				usage of fire and use it only in a manner that is
is different. For example, the relation that I enjoy				agreeable and beneficial to all. To make its usage
with my wife is quite different from all other				overall positive, it requires a mass attitude shift –
relations. This means, the same person – myself,				how would this be achieved? This can be achieved
is having different names, different authorities,				only through respect towards this power. Respect is
different responsibilities and different recognized				a boundary, a boundary that has maximum benefits,
power. I owe them all and render them all.				minimum negative impacts. Thus, the methodology of
Is GOD only a father? If someone says				realizing fire as a source of useful energy and an
‘yes’, then I have something to ask him. Is				important essence of life, a meaning of respect was
GOD having only limited power to be a father only? I				added to it by the word ‘deity’ – The
believe ‘NO’. GOD is omnipresent and				Fire Deity (Agni Deva) by Hindus. Worship is simply a
omni-powered. We call him GOD because we expect				methodology of conveying regards to this energy
anything and everything from him. He can take any				and using it in a harmless manner. I do not
role and responsibility which we cannot render or				understand what is wrong in this. In fact, there is
whenever we require it. At least, when we are failing				nothing wrong in this – hence, the Hindu society
in life towards any of our roles, we pray GOD to				is a peaceful society. We can also find the sense of
fulfill that. Hence, GOD just cannot be a father. If I				equality in the property of Fire, i.e., its qualities and
am unable to serve my father for some purpose				identity cannot be changed – no science can
which is important enough to bring tears in my eyes,				diminish the power of Sun. Hence, Fire for a Hindu
I can rely on GOD to play the role for me and fill the				qualifies as a Natural power to be given a form of
gap. Hence, virtually GOD is a son then – son of				Deity.
my father realized through me. GOD can be my				While I do not find even in Science unfolding the
friend. GOD can be any of the relation I chose him to				importance of moon for existence of life, Hindus
be for the reason of prayers and for the reason of				have gone to identify the secrets held by nature in
fulfilling my actions. In fact, GOD can hold any				having moon as one of the facilitation in support of
relation, any position and any situation for me as long				life system on earth. And since, attributes of moon
as there is the undoubted faith and deep routed love				do not exist under prejudice and is uniform for all, it
for him. More sincerely, Love is one relation that is				qualifies as a deity. The life would not exist if water
true for GOD as well for us; it is a relation that				and air is not there. All these are natural energies, and
enriches our heart and mind with complete faith and				important for life to exist. And any effort to
it is this Love which is required to be realized in our				challenge these energies would devastate life itself.
life for humans as well.				Who will disagree to this, even scientifically? So why
Hence, I believe Hindus are advanced enough to				is the question raised on the community which knows
recognize 33 crore such responsibilities executed by				its best utilization through the methodology of
GOD. And not all these responsibilities are towards				worship? The reality is that people, who attack
humans. Every creation across the Universe lies as a				Hindus for their 33 Crore Gods or Idol worship, have
manifestation of same GOD and all of them are				actually executed immense violence, unnecessary
rendered support by the same relative GOD with				killings, forced decisions, and deceitful conversions.
varied names and powers. When it comes to				And as per the same relativity theory of Hindus, the
worshipping these powers of God, there is much				bad cannot tolerate the good. They will have a
more to this, than names and responsibilities for				nature to attack and win over good. But thousands
Hindus. Why it is that despite of these countless				of years have failed to do so. Other thousands of
diversities in names, Hindus do not fight among				years would again fail to do so.
themselves and practice perfect religious harmony in				If this is not clear yet, we can take any deity of a
huge variance? In contrast, we find this throughout				Hindu and ask a question – what power or
the world in all other religions that if there is even				energy does it imply? If anyone does not have the
slight diversity; people tend to challenge each other				answer to it, feel free to write to me and I will let
for even their lives; E.g., Shiya and Sunny of Islam.				him know, how a deity is categorized as a deity in
Why doesn’t a Hindu follower of Lord Shiva				Hindu philosophy. Under the universal theory of
attack a follower of Lord Krishna? If beliefs of all				relativity, each of these energies will bring positive
other religions are so correct and scientific, why is				and relatively negative impact. To realize the best
the strong and positive attitude of tolerance missing				and the positive part, we need to respect them first
in them? There is surely much more deep routed				(with a realization that it can devastate if something
facts to these 33 crore figure, than simply what				goes wrong).
appears to the outside world.				Deity in Hindu philosophy is not a prophet or any
The deep routed reality is that Hindus have				person as in other religions. They do not have any
discovered these varied sources of existence				physical forms. They have simply elementary as well
through years of research. Hindus have mastered the				as divine existence. And who can count these divine
natural science; they have realized GOD to the				natures of infinite God? Thus 33 Crore count is an
extent that they have listed down 33 crore different				amazing research done by Hindus over a huge period
forms of natural power that is holding this Universe				of time. Here is an analysis to be attempted. How
true. It doesn’t mean by any chance that all the				long did it take for Hindus to bring these 33 Crore
listed forms are different GOD. They are still the				count into their list. (Hindus have also listed around 8.4
same, but can be called for different purposes. In				million species, while science have just reached the
fact, they are smart enough to call them as Devas				figure of 1.75 and is predicting the figure to be
(representatives or manifestations of GOD) rather				between 8 to 10 million). There are two possibilities
then GOD himself. So, that people still believe in only				– either the creator himself have done this and
one GOD, the one whole that envelops the whole				Hindus were the first creation of Humanity by God
variance. I really feel like saying to the critics –				OR it took tens of thousands of years for Hindus to
can they or their religious books list down even 33				bring this research into reality. Accepting any of the
thousand forms of natural powers – powers that				two possibilities, we easily end up in understanding
nature displays to hold life and existence of this earth				since how long Hindus have existed. It was only
and universe. It is not an easy thing to even imagine				recently that they were named ‘Hindus’.
this. Hindus have come up a long way to do so. I				They are the eternal humans, and would continue to
think the world needs more insight than this to				be so. They have ever existed and would ever exist.
understand the facts about Hindu beliefs.				Of course, there would be challenges and
To make things more vivid, I will explain in brief one				transformations through which they have to pass by
of many philosophies behind idols and images of so				and these criticism and onslaughts are simply a
many Gods. A simple question – Why do nearly				picture of such challenges. The truth has to pass
all Hindu Gods are seen holding weapons (tools)? Yet				through false boundaries and negative nature of
we find Hindus not fighting for the differences. The				energies. And as it passes and will pass through the
fact is as deep to consider that to God everything				same list of energies (33 Crore Count), those who
and every creature are equal. The philosophy says				respected it would be saved and those which
that Law and Weapons (tools) recognizes none, i.e.,				misused and disrespected it would suffer. This is a
for these two entities, all other entities are equal and				law of nature, and no science can disprove this. This
they act with equal nature to all. In the law book of				can only be realized on the line of time that always
God all his creations has to hold equal importance (or				takes us into past and inspires us to look at past.
else God would prove to be incomplete, existing in				Taking a static situation of ever moving time, it is the
variance and prejudice over his own creations).				present which we have to configure so as to make
Hence, these tools in the hands of Hindu idols and				sure that the future is not negative, the future is
images symbolize equality towards all. Another				peaceful, the future is happy. Peace, happiness and
important philosophy of weapons or tools are to				positive results are not achieved without the essence
convey that weapons and tools should be held by				of respect in it.
only those people who have the Godly qualities, i.e.,				There is not only philosophy to this belief of 33 crore
the sense of equality towards all. Third, important				God, but also a great deal of science supports their
philosophy is to convey that weapons and tools are				belief, as we have seen earlier. In fact, science as
for protection and facilitation for human and its				practiced by Hindus was far ahead then what we
misuse is possible only if goes in hand of inhuman.				see now. Hindus realized that 33 crore deities
Thus, weapons are in hands of God, God who sees				constituted their body and soul too. Because these
everyone equal – powers of manifestations of				33 crore deities that constituted this whole universe,
God under the laws of nature has to be of similar				also constituted humans as well. And this very
sense and Hindu philosophy of 33 crore figure is an				philosophy gave birth to AyurVeda, a medical science,
attempt to elaborate this concept.				which is yet to be unfolded completely and practiced
To understand above concept, I will explain the				by modern world. And this very philosophy gave birth
symbolic meanings of few important deities – my				to the concept of Self Realization, the basis of all
explanations are brief explanations, avoiding the				human achievement, a journey through the mind
details as detailing would take another book to be				being the reason of all scientific inventions.
written). Taking Lord Shiva as our first example, he is				When Hindus say 33 Crore Gods (Devas and Devis),
also called ‘Mahadeva’ meaning – Deity				they realize them all in themselves. For example, fire
of all Deities. If every Deity in Hindu is a natural				in our body exists to produce heat, anger, energy,
power, obvious question is: which of those powers is				hatred, arrogance and other attributes. A disregard
represented by Lord Shiva. As Lord Shiva is deity of				towards it would produce chemistry (For e.g., acidity
all deity, he has to be the source of energy to all				in stomach for wrong diet, uncontrollable and harmful
other deities. And hence, as per Hindu myths –				anger mis-utilizing energies) that can harm us. Hence,
Lord Shiva represents ‘Light’ – an				a regard toward Agni Deva, comes by realization of
energy which is the source of all existence (Imagine				knowledge of his existence in various forms. If we
a creation without light; nothing can exist).				go in the details of AyurVeda, we can find an
Worship of Lord Shiva started as Jyotirlinga –				elaboration on various forms of these energies in our
‘Jyoti’ meaning ‘light’ and				life. And obviously, as far as God is concerned, every
‘linga’ comes from the Sanskrit word				Hindu believes that all these 33 Crore energies are
‘Lingam’ meaning ‘symbol’. Thus,				again manifestation of God only.
Lord Shiva is a symbol of light. Hence, we find all idols				People who criticize Hindus either know only their
of Lord Shiva in the shape of a ‘Diya’.				part or want others to live with what they are
Since, light is relative to darkness, the theory of				providing, which is nothing else then bounded religious
relativity was conceptualized on this ground. To				belief, a bigotry – a quality which their religion has
ensure the universal distribution of theory as a law,				definitely not taught them to live with; because God
Lord Shiva brings the knowledge of Gender in relative				cannot be achieved in boundaries, God can be
terms, because the myth says that it was Lord Shiva				touched with immense boundary-less feelings; God
that established the meaning of two genders required				can be realized with infinite boundary-less knowledge.
for creation. Thus, the concept of relativity started				The question is how such forced believes exists?
taking the shape of a theory, established long back				Why religious practitioners want to prove themselves
by Hindus, but realized only late by our modern				over other beliefs? What interest envelops them
scientists. And it is this parallelism of existence that				impelling them to undertake such selfish steps? Will
created ground for Hindus to research and establish				this world be peaceful enough to live in with only one
33 crore such relative powers.				religion like Christian or Islam into practice? Will there
As another example, we would take Lord Ganesh,				be no differences among people then?
who is put ahead of all other deities. It is light that				Let us assume that the target of converting the
produces ‘Knowledge’ and hence, Lord				world into one religion is achieved. Then there is
Ganesha (Deity of Knowledge) as per Hindu myths is				another question – Is the miseries from the
son of Lord Shiva: Knowledge is a product of Light.				world eliminated (probably because God is happy now
But it requires knowledge to perceive the power of				as the wish of God has come true). Let us assume
light, and hence Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the				that miseries are eliminated: but how was this
first deity.				possible (Probably because every individual is living the
Knowledge is the killer of Ignorance and death of				same standard life given by the same God. This has
Ignorance saves humanity from dangers of life.				to be there obviously because if differences exist
Hence, Lord Ganesha is also called as				between two individuals in any aspect,
‘Vighnaharta’ – reliever from obstacles.				competitiveness would come into picture and then
Right from rat to elephant, all animals contain some				everything will result the same way as it is with
intelligence as humans and this is the minimum that is				different God). Now, if everyone is comfortable and
represented by Lord Ganesha.				equal in all aspect, don’t you think this world
We can have Lord Vishnu as one more example, to				would come to a stagnant stage, an inert stage
fathom the depth of these images and Idols.				– a stage of death? Hence, the variation of
If we look at Lord Vishnu, he is symbolized by four				understanding is also there so that the true meaning
hands, each hand holding different things. In first				of God is established. It would depend on individuals
hand, he holds ‘Shankh’ (a symbol of Sound,				and societies to chose the most tolerance and
sound that emerges through heart of a person and				peaceful methodology of Hindus, remain in the
passes through the heart of ‘Shankh’ and				attacking moods like Islam or deceive humanity in the
gets intensifies and uniform.				name of God and force conversions as Christianity.
Thus, a sound from heart has to be truth, its				Actually, this very difference is the cause of
passage from the heart of ‘Shankh’ makes				existence of worldly happenings. It is the diversities
it pure and intensifies’ and what is spread is				that is creating individuals and allowing them to exist.
uniformity of the truth in loudness), in second hand				People who desire to convert this world into one
he holds ‘Chakra’ (a symbol of revolutions				religion and people who tries to command others
and cycles, through which the whole creation goes				thinking thereby demanding a behavior towards
on; it is a miniature symbol of the whole Universe and				conversion, do not understand religion at all. They are
is explained in detail in Purana), in third hand he holds				actually working against the principles of nature as
‘Gada’ (a symbol of power, strength and				created by God – diversities. Nature has not
weapon; that execution of power and strength				created any two humans same from the 6 billion
requires the vision of equality as of a weapon) and				population. Nature has differentiated every creature
the fourth hand holds ‘A Lotus’ (a symbol				and every species. How can human even think of
of beautiful detachment; lotus is born in dirt, yet it is				bringing people under one belief? This can never be
so beautiful because it is not attached to the dirt).				achieved and trying to achieve this is an unnatural act
The four fold symbols are important for realization				which eventually will result in death of billions of lives.
and to support the whole ongoing system of				There was never a time without variations and there
creation.				would never be a time in this world when these
Every God of Hindu symbolizes some powers of				variations won’t exist. And the only possible and
nature. It is important to note that none of the Hindu				admirable religious step a practitioner should take is to
Gods are found to hold meat of humble animals or				allow others to live as they are. That is only solution
impure food. They are at most shown to kill the				which can lead to effective standardization of human
inhuman (often called as ‘Rakshas’ in Hindu				living behaviors. And this is the only message which
myth). These are very deep routed creations of				God has always conveyed to this world – Unity in
Hindu ideologists; their beliefs are not so blindfolded				Diversity. And this is what is best realized in Hinduism.
as is perceived outside their arena. One classical

Kagyu Nl

33 Crore Gods of Hindus