Author: Dr. Fazl Ahmad Ahmadi
An Overview of Hinduism (Part 13)
Monotheism and Polytheism:
Hinduism, along with its various religious differences from other faiths, is characterized by its numerous gods and diverse idols, which together create an appearance reminiscent of a dense jungle, seemingly reaching a dead-end. This has led public opinion to focus more on the outward aspects of this matter, mistaking the essence of religiosity and consequently considering Hindus to be idol worshipers and polytheists. However, despite the multiplicity of deceptive forms and attributes, Hinduism possesses a unique, indestructible system of unity that is not found in many other religions.
Hindu polytheism, in contrast to the idol worship of the ancient Greeks and Romans, is based on a series of allegories and metaphors. Understanding it requires familiarity with these symbols; without that knowledge, distinguishing truth from falsehood becomes particularly difficult. Moreover, Hindus believe in an infinite, boundless principle known as Brahman. Brahman can only be described in negative terms—it possesses no defining characteristics, and no attributes can be ascribed to it. As the Upanishads state, “It is neither great nor small, neither high nor low.”
In Hinduism, however, “Ishvara” embodies infinite and unlimited attributes. Just as in Islam, where each divine attribute is manifested through one of God’s names, Hindu gods represent and embody the diverse attributes of Ishvara. Each idol or deity acts as a reflective mirror, symbolizing one of the divine attributes. The universe and the visible world are manifestations of the divine, never hidden. As Shankara said, “The divine consciousness sketches the world within itself, and in that view, it sees only itself and delights in its own display.” Thus, what is revealed in this life is a full image of the truths of the otherworldly realm, where there is a parallel connection between reflection and image, witness and observed. This likeness encompasses all levels of existence, with the gods and idols serving as representations of divine attributes. Yet, since these manifestations are the external forms of the Absolute, they lack independence and are not self-sustaining; their connection to the source gives them reality. This reality enables divine attributes to be described through geometric, auditory, visual, and sensory metaphors, wherein everything is interconnected.
With this in mind, the relationship between the worshiper and deity is also defined. According to “Sukracharya,” the idol, statue, or divine image is the medium that facilitates the connection and union between worshiper and worshiped. There must be unity, harmony, and solidarity between the consciousness of the worshiper and the form of the deity being worshiped. As the saying goes, “Until the worshiper becomes an angel, he cannot worship the angel.” When one becomes an angel, they can then worship the angel. Moreover, the servant and God unite only at the moment of union, with the worshiper perceiving their own form as identical to that of the deity, for the deity too has no inherent independence and is merely a manifestation of divine names and attributes. It is through this pathway that the worshiper reaches the true deity, free from all forms and shapes, recognizes their own self as detached from these external constraints, and becomes one with the divine reality.
Given this, the question arises: Can Hindus be considered monotheists despite their numerous gods?
Before directly answering this question, it is necessary to explain how the belief in gods has evolved. The stages of worship, followed by many human civilizations in various ways, can be summarized as follows: 1. Animism or belief in spirits; 2. Nature worship (trees, the sun, the moon); 3. Polytheism or belief in multiple gods; 4. Monotheism, followed by monism or unity of existence, and finally pantheism, from the perspective of those who are not Hindus. According to non-Hindus, Hindus have not progressed beyond nature worship. However, from the perspective of Hindus themselves, God is the single truth, “Ishvara,” and the “Trimurti” (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), whose statues are seen in temples and homes, are manifestations of Him. In fact, Hindus visit temples to be interceded for and forgiven by the true God through the “Trimurti.” From this interpretation, Hindus can be seen as believers in a single origin, approached through “Trimurti” and “Ishvara.” In other words, despite the multiplicity of gods in Hinduism, its texts contain traces of monotheism, portraying the many gods as different aspects of a single, unknown deity. Hymn 121 of the 10th book of the Rig Veda addresses this concern clearly: “He who gives life, he who gives strength, whose shadow is immortal, whose shadow is death, the god whom we honor with our sacrifices. He whose existence is in the mountains, snow, sea, and distant rivers, whose domain is the sky, the god whom we honor with our sacrifices. He whose power rotates the eyes over those waters that empower and produce the sacrificial fire. He, the one God above all gods, the god whom we honor with our sacrifices—Who is He?”
René Guénon, in the “History of Eastern Philosophy,” describes one of the Rig Veda hymns related to the unity of God as follows: “The wise speak of one God by different names, calling Him Agni, Mitra, and Varuna.”
Therefore, the Vedic texts, the most important sacred scriptures in Hinduism, indicate a transformation toward monotheism. These texts show a form of ascension toward the worship of a single god while still containing various deities. In these texts, God is like the soul of the universe, and the universe is like the body of God. A particular spirituality can be observed in these texts, through which one can describe the religious transformation from the Vedic religion to Brahmanism. Nonetheless, it is clear that Hinduism and its followers do not accept Islam, even with its absolute monotheism, and continue to hold beliefs in multiple gods derived from a single origin, which Islam considers to be polytheism.
Continues…
By admin2