Re: The concept of God or Gods?
Originally Posted by
mradam83
Namaste,
Cheers for that reply.
I struggle to see a pantheon of separate gods, but rather like an orange - all are segments surrounded by a protective peel. I'm not sure whether the skin is Vishnu or Brahman, or whether Brahman is the tree that the orange is on.
As I've said previously though I don't have access to earlier texts like the Vedas, I am mainly studying the Gita at present.
Pranams.
Pranams.
If it helps, the "gods" can be seen not as "gods" but as long-living mortals filled by pious jivas. Note that many Neo-Hindus will not like this position, but it is the position that is upheld by shAstra. We don't say that Christianity is polytheistic because it has angels, for example. However, unlike Christianity, worship of Brahman as the indwelling controller of the devas is allowed, as is worship of Brahman in conjunction with the devas as His associates.
Brahman is Vishnu. Brahman is Indra. Brahman is Shiva. Brahman is Rudra, etc. These are true statements because, being the creator of all other devas who have names according to their functions/qualities, He must also have those qualities in fuller measure and also can be indicated by the same names. Furthermore, He is the indwelling controller of other devas who have these names.
The name Naaraayana, however, refers only to Brahman according to rules of Sanskrit grammar. The blue-skinned deity with four arms carrying conch and chakra, known as Vishnu, and associated with Lakshmi should not be understood as merely one of the devas but as Brahman aka Naaraayana Himself. This point is clearly stated in shAstra. However, there are some references to another deity by the name Vishnu that may be a different entity.
Bhagavad-gita is sufficient to understand the essence of the Vedas.
regards,
Philosoraptor
"Wise men speak because they have something to say. Fools speak because they have to say something." - Plato
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