Ishtadevata: Your Personal Deity (From U.S. Public TV!)

[Guest guest]

Here is part of the transcript from an episode of the PBS

series, "Religion and Ethics," fousing on Hindu temples in the U.S.

The full transcript, with pictures, is at:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week607/feature.html

 

DR. SUBRAMANIAN: Hinduism believes in one god, called Brahman, and

all the gods and goddesses are reflections of this one god.

 

REPORTER: Many of these "reflections" illustrate human ideas or

attributes. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. Dancing Shiva

represents the endless and recurring cycle of time, part of the Hindu

concept of reincarnation. Many Hindus worship more than one "personal

deity." Salvia Giridhar says this helps her see the divine in

everything.

 

SALVIA GIRIDHAR (Hindu Devotee): If I can look at the books and look

at people, look at money, look at trees, and look at animals in the

form of lords and gods and goddesses, it helps me to realize that God

is all around me, whether it's man, woman, Christian, Muslim, Hindu.

 

REPORTER: Matoin says the concept of numerous deities enables

Hinduism to transcend regional differences.

 

MATOIN (Hindu Devotee): The different gods are specifically set up

for the purpose of identifying with different cultures, different

ethnicities, different groups of people.

 

DAVIS: With its altars to many different deities, Sri Siva Vishnu

temple has become a meeting place for American Hindus of all

traditions. And with no weekly services or set liturgy, adherents are

free to worship when and how they choose.

 

MATOIN: We give everybody an opportunity to see God the way you like

it, or like God.

 

DAVIS: Dr. Siva Subramanian says that idea extends to other religions

too.

 

DR. SUBRAMANIAN: We believe that all religions are different paths to

the same god, but also within Hinduism there are multiple paths to

reach God.

[Guest guest]

Well, now. This seems a little bit too simplified.