Reality: There is one supreme God that cannot be fully known or understood.
Hindus are encouraged to relate to God in the way that suits them best, like worshipping many deities who are believed to be manifestations of God. The trimurti or three main deities are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. That’s why Hinduism is often thought of as polytheistic. It is not.
But there’s debate on the proper terminology for Hinduism. Some call it a monistic religion, derived from the belief that everything in the universe is part of one substance or nature. Some, including Shukla, say Hindusim is henotheistic, which is the worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods. Others, say it is monotheistic.
[quote author=ketchim link=topic=93047.msg591334#msg591334 date=1412095982]
Methink is a Way of Life :
like Jews : a Religion and a Nation
and cannot be separated !
[/quote]
you are correct. The teachings of the Vedas makes no mention to any god by name. The teachings are based on how to live. Take Yoga for example...all that is to bring mind/body in tune with nature and the material world.
The Caste system is the only blemish in today's modern world !
Chair posted an almost Trinity like appointment of Gods.." The trimurti "
Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer.
[/quote]
actually the original caste system was just a classification. Krishna himself said that. It had no implication whatsoever that one group was higher than the other. In fact they need each other. Just like today we have soldiers, police, etc who keep the peace, in the caste system they were classified as Kshatriyas. When society need protection they call on them. When these protectors needs food they go to the businessmen and farmers. All are equal!
However, as time went by the people in power screwed up the system claiming one group greater than others. Then they invented the untouchables! that divisional type of behavior turned in tradition over the years and what was once a simple and good system turned into an ugly nightmare.
This all happened because of ego and greed for power.
The irony of it all is that when god came on earth in his incarnation as Krishna or Ram, he did not come as a Brahmin!
So i ask, why not if the Brahmins are the superior class? Isn't god superior?
Myth No. 7: Hindu women wearing ‘red dots’ on their foreheads are married. Reality: Sometimes.
A red dot was once a symbol of marriage for Hindu women. Today, the dot, or bindi, is largely decorative. Girls and women – married and single - wear bindis of all colors as fashion statements. A tilak, also a mark on the forehead, has religious significance. It's generally made with sandalwood paste, ashes or red turmeric and can be in the form of lines or a dot.
[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=93047.msg591323#msg591323 date=1412094908]
Myth No. 1: There are 330 million Hindu gods.
Reality: There is one supreme God that cannot be fully known or understood.
Hindus are encouraged to relate to God in the way that suits them best, like worshipping many deities who are believed to be manifestations of God. The trimurti or three main deities are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. That’s why Hinduism is often thought of as polytheistic. It is not.
But there’s debate on the proper terminology for Hinduism. Some call it a monistic religion, derived from the belief that everything in the universe is part of one substance or nature. Some, including Shukla, say Hindusim is henotheistic, which is the worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods. Others, say it is monotheistic.
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Nope.
There can never be only one god just as there can never be only one person. The idea of one god is the myth.
Firstly, people get to become gods, so how can there be only one?
Okay, now it's true that there's a god highest in hierarchy, and that's Mamma Neith. But that isn't the same thing as one god.
