Geethopathesam

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Hari-Om

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Do Hindus Worship 330 million gods ?

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Does Hindus worship 330 million gods? The number 330 million is

constantly heard when any discussion regarding the gods in Hinduism

take place. But the initiators of the discussion, who are mostly

totally unaware of Hindu religion and wants to take a dig,

deliberately skip the symbolism of the numerous Hindu gods. The

symbolism of the 330 million that it represents the Brahman, which

has different names, forms, activities, attributes and powers owing

to differences of function. All animate and inanimate and those yet

to appear is nothing but a manifestation of Brahman.

 

 

It is a known fact that it is impossible to worship the 330 million

gods. But, why the number 33? In Brhadaranyaka Upanishad while

discussing Brahman, Yajnavalkya is asked how many gods are there. He

says that there are three hundred and three and three thousand and

three gods. When the question is repeated? He says, thirty three.

When the question is again repeated he says, six. Finally, after

several repetitions he says ONE. (Chapter I, hymn 9, verse 1)

 

 

The number 33 comes from the number of Vedic gods explained by

Yajnavalkya in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad – the eight Vasus, the eleven

Rudras, the twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati. (Chapter I, hymn 9,

verse 2)

 

 

Now to this 33 was added the maximum number of zeros that the ancient

people thought were the number of living beings.

 

 

So when someone mentions about 330 million gods in Hindu Religion, it

consists of the person mentioning it and those listening plus all

living and non-living beings. In fact, if the ancient seers were to

create the same symbolism today they will be counting it in billions.

 

 

Millions or billions, it is nothing but the manifestation of the ONE

God and Hindus call it Brahman.

 

 

Lord Krishna explains thus in the Bhagavad Gita

 

 

I am the goal, the supporter, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the

refuge, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the

substratum, and the imperishable seed. (Chapter 9, Verse 18)

I am the origin or seed of all beings, O Arjuna. There is nothing,

animate or inanimate, that can exist without Me. (Chapter 10, Verse

39)

O Arjuna, know Me to be the eternal seed of all creatures. (Chapter

7, Verse 10)

 

This is what Hindus worship in the numerous forms.

 

Posted by abhilash on 30.5.08

 

 

jai shree krishna !