Hindus revere an immeasurable number of gods and goddesses. While many of these deities represent divine aspects of the one Supreme Reality, the concept of “the One true God” remains undefined within Hinduism. To understand who the real God is in Hinduism, one must first understand the concept of Brahman, the Supreme Reality that grounds the religion.
Brahman is the eternal spiritual essence, the essence of all that exists, and the basis of being, consciousness and bliss. It is trans-personal, and its qualities are impossible to keep within any one definition. Despite this, Hindus try to understand and embody its endless aspects in the many deities of their religion.
The divine aspect of Brahman is shared among the numerous gods and goddesses that Hindus revere, each of which symbolizes a particular aspect. For example, Ganesha is the deity of wisdom and intelligence. Shiva is the deity of destruction and Lord Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. It is in this sense that every God is a manifestation of the one Supreme Reality, Brahman.
Despite the many gods and goddesses Hinduism recognizes, the Supreme God of Hinduism, or the Supreme Being, is something larger than all of them. This Supreme God is often referred to as Paramatma or Parameshwar — the one true God who is above all the other gods and goddesses. He is the ultimate source of being, knowledge and bliss. He is considered to be the highest authority in the universe and the epitome of truth.
In the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most holy scriptures of Hinduism, Lord Krishna identifies himself as the Supreme Being and also declares that all deities represent Him. He also states that liberation, or ultimate freedom, can only be achieved by serving Him with total devotion.
Ultimately, there is no one definitive answer as to who the real God is in Hinduism since there is no single deity that Hindus worship. Instead, it is an expansive faith where a variety of Gods and Goddesses come together in a rich symbiotic relationship that symbolizes the oneness of life. It is this unification of the many aspects of existence that creates a unified spiritual path.
Emanation Of The Supreme God
The Supreme God in Hinduism is seen as being both the source of being and the ultimate goal of being. He is the single source of essence and truth from which all other gods and goddesses emerge. The idea of the Supreme God as the source of all existence is central to Hindu thought and is often expressed through the concept of “emanations.”
The various gods and goddesses of Hinduism are often seen as the emanations of the Supreme God. These emanations represent different aspects of the divine and are the aspects of Brahman that Hindus can understand and relate to on a personal level. By embracing this concept, devotees can draw closer to the divine source of being.
In addition to being seen as the source of all being, Hindu scriptures also describe the Supreme God as the ultimate goal of being. He is the ultimate being, who is beyond the realm of time and death and is the ultimate object of devotion. Hinduism emphasizes that the spiritual path is ultimately one of union with the Supreme God, a union in which the soul is liberated from all limitations and can attain ultimate knowledge and bliss.
Ultimate Purpose Of Worship
The main purpose of worship in Hinduism is to create a connection with the Supreme God, which is viewed as a way to attain true knowledge, happiness, and freedom. Hindus believe that by aligning oneself with the divine source of being, one will be able to break free from the bondage of the ego and be liberated from suffering. The idea of devotion, or bhakti, is central to Hinduism and is seen as the way to connect to the ultimate source.
Hindus understand that the physical world of duality is nothing but an illusion that obscures the ultimate source of all being, which is why bhakti is seen as necessary to achieve true knowledge. By connecting with the source, one can achieve true peace and bliss. Devotion to the Supreme God is seen as the most effective way to realize one’s true nature and attain liberation.
In addition to offering bhakti, Hindus are encouraged to engage in meditation and yoga in order to further their spiritual practice and move closer to a union with the Supreme God. By engaging in these practices, one can learn to see reality as it truly is and become one with the source. This is seen as the ultimate goal of life and the purpose of worship in Hinduism.
Hindu Deities
The many gods and goddesses of Hinduism are seen as nothing more than different manifestations of the one Supreme God that Hindus worship and adore. By understanding the concept of Brahman, one can understand that the many gods represent the many facets of the one Supreme Reality. This is why Hindus are able to worship the various gods and goddesses without feeling pressure to choose one over the other. The various gods and goddesses simply represent different aspects of Brahman.
Hindus understand that the physical being is an illusion and that the worship of deities does not necessarily mean worshipping an entity in physical form. Instead, it is an act of connecting to the divine source from which all being and knowledge emerge. By worshipping various deities, one is able to focus their attention and devotion on the many aspects of Brahman and ultimately draw closer to the source.
Hindus also understand that the many gods and goddesses are merely reflections of the one Supreme God and so they differ in terms of power and scope. While some of the gods are considered to be incredibly powerful, they are still not as powerful as the Supreme God himself, who resides beyond the realm of duality and is the ultimate source of truth and being.
Spiritual Nature Of Hinduism
The spiritual path of Hinduism is ultimately one of union with the source. As such, Hinduism emphasizes that the many gods and goddesses merely represent various aspects of Brahman, the single source of being. Therefore, the real God of Hinduism is the Supreme Being, the single source of being, knowledge and bliss. This is why many Hindus strive to be devoted to the Divine source and seek to attain liberation through service and meditation.
The spiritual nature of Hinduism is also reflected in its view of the afterlife. Hindus understand that upon death the soul’s essence returns to the source, or Brahman. From there, it is able to experience the ultimate source of being, knowledge and bliss. As such, the spiritual journey in Hinduism is ultimately one of seeking to return to the source in order to be united with the divine.
Hinduism does not rely on one particular Scripture, as there are many scriptures that Hindus read and draw spiritual guidance from. However, despite their differences, all of these texts emphasize the need to pursue a spiritual path towards the ultimate source of being.
Conclusion
The real God in Hinduism is the single source of being, knowledge, and bliss, that originates and pervades all of existence. The many gods and goddesses of Hinduism are seen as mere reflections of this Supreme God, as they represent different aspects of Brahman, the single source of existence. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to be united with this divine source, and devotees strive to do this by offering bhakti, or devotion, and engaging in spiritual practices such as meditation and yoga.
