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Just for Reading
About Hinduism
Hinduism, when God is thought of as the
supreme all-powerful person God is called Bhagavan, a word used to refer to
the personal aspect of God in general; it is not specific to a particular
deity. Bhagavan transcends gender, yet can be looked upon as both father and
mother, child, or sweetheart. Most Hindus, in their daily devotional
practices, worship some form of this personal aspect of God, although they
believe in the more abstract concept of Brahman as well. Sometimes this means
worshiping God through an image or a picture. Sometimes it just means thinking
of God as a personal being.
Depending on which aspect of Bhagavân one is
talking about, a different name will be used—and frequently a different image
or picture. For instance, when God is talked about in the aspect as the
creator, God is called Brahma. When referred to in the capacity as preserver
of the world, God is called Vishnu. When referred to in the capacity as
destroyer of the world, God is called Shiva.
Many of these individual aspects of God also
have other names and images. For example, Krishna and Rama are considered
forms of Vishnu. All the various deities and images one finds in Hinduism are
considered manifestations of the same God, called Bhagavân in the personal
aspect and Brahman when referred to as an abstract concept.
In their personal religious practices, Hindus
worship primarily one or another of these deities, known as their "ishta
devatâ," or chosen idol. The particular form of God worshipped as one's chosen
ideal is a matter of individual preference. Regional and family traditions can
play a large part in influencing this choice. Hindus may also take guidance
Although Hindus may worship deities other
than their chosen idol from time to time as well, depending on the occasion
and their personal inclinations, it is not expected that they will worship—or
even know about—every form of God. Hindus generally choose one concept of God
(e.g., Krishna, Rama, Shiva, or Kali) and cultivate devotion to that chosen
form, while at the same time respecting the chosen ideals of other people.
Some other popular Hindu aspects of God
include Devi, Krishna, Ganeshm Hanuman, Murugan, Ramachandra, and Lakshmi.
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