Gods of Hinduism - Free Essay Example

Hinduism is a religion that consists of thirty-three million gods, both male and female deities are worshipped with equal regard. Hindus worshipping gods and goddesses has always been a real enigma for most people, especially westerners that worship only one God. Hinduism is a model of a religion that stands in sharp opposition to Western notions of what constitutes a religion. The religion does not draw a sharp distinction between divine and human beings. This suggests that it is possible for gods to become humans and for human beings to become gods (Olsun 9). The religion of Hinduism has no single founder, creed, teacher, or prophet acknowledged by all Hindus as central to the religion, and no single holy book is universally acclaimed as being of primary importance. Hindus may acknowledge many deities but consider only one to be supreme; or they may consider all gods and goddesses equal, but worship one who is their favorite (Narayanan 6). With that being said, a majority of the Hindu population worship two gods in particular; Vishnu and Shiva. In Hinduism, Vishnu is the second god in the Hindu trimurti. He is known as the god that preserves the universe and that restores order to the world. Gods and goddesses all have their own iconographic characteristics, and every position of the hands or feet, every associated animal, plant, or bird, has a special significance (Narayanan 30). Unlike other gods, Vishnu appears more often in human or animal forms. He has benevolent, mild, world-preserving features. He is commonly drawn out as having one head, four arms, and blue skin. He carries around a lotus flower, mace, conch, and a discus (Michaels 212). Vishnu is portrayed as having a multiplicity of incarnations. It is believed that over the ages he has descended to earth several times in various animal and human forms to overthrow evil and establish dharma, or righteousness (Narayanan 31). Vishnus first descent was a fish that saved Manu, his family, and many animals from a flood. Vishnu was subsequently incarnated as a tortoise, a boar, a creature that was half lion and half man, and a dwarf-being. The four fully human incarnations of Vishnu follow: the warrior Parasurama; Rama; Balarama; and Krishna. It is believed that the tenth incarnation of Vishnu will come at the end of the present world age, which according to some reckonings began ca. 3102 BCE and will last 423,000 years (Narayanan 32). Vaishnavas, followers of Vaishnavism, worship Vishnu in many ways. Vaishnavas worship Vishnu by offering him flowers, food, water, or by chanting a Mukti mantra. Followers also perform puja with water, fruit, and incense sticks or perform meditation. Many believers still go to a temple or nearby holy place in the morning before they eat their first meal. Here, the gods, spirits, and ancestors, including Vishnu, are usually thought of by presenting a part of the rice dish to animals, primarily cows, chickens, crows, and ants (Olsun 240). Not only is Vishnu perceived as one of the most important gods in the religion of Hinduism, but so is Shiva. Shiva is the third god of the Hindu trimurti and is known as the god of destruction. Shiva has a double nature: malicious and destructive as well as kindly and benevolent. Yet in present day India, Shiva is appealed to mostly as a peaceful god for help and assistance (Michaels 216). The manifold aspects of Shivas power are expressed in his often-paradoxical roles: he is both fierce and benevolent, creator and destroyer, exuberant dancer and austere yogi, ascetic and husband of the goddess Parvati. Stories of his powers of salvation present him as granting wisdom and grace to his devotees (Narayanan 31). Shiva is represented with a human body but has a third eye and two to four arms. His skin color is white with his throat dyed blue from drinking poison, but images often portray him having a blue skin color (Michaels 219). In most images, Shiva is seen holding a trident and an hourglass drum with his long hair bound up. He also wears a cobra or a chain of skulls as a necklace. Shiva is said to have been created instantly, meaning he was not born from a human body. However, there are stories that also state that Shiva was created when Brahma and Vishnu were arguing over who was more superior. As Brahma and Vishnu were arguing, a blazing pillar appeared out of nowhere and the gods had to find the start and end of the pillar till they discovered Shiva waiting for them. It made both gods realize that there was another superior power of the universe and it was Shiva (Michaels 218). Like Vishnu, Shiva is also a high god, who gives his name to a collection of theistic trends and sects: Shaivism (Michaels 215). In the epic-Puranic and popular religious Shaivism, Shiva is most often worshipped as linga, a phallus-shaped stone, which can be represented anthropomorphically (Michaels 216). Shaivites hold daily worship in many Shaiva temples, there are periods of time that are considered sacred and other times that are considered dangerous. The latter period falls at night, which symbolizes cosmic darkness, and is generally a period of inactivity. The sacred time begins after midnight and before the predawn hours. Dawn marks a very significant period because it is associated with the initial puja of the day and the awakening of the sleeping deity. This is followed by four additional daytime periods that are intended to flow according to the dynamic nature of the cosmos. These are daybreak (approximately 6:30 to 7:15 am), middle time (7:30 to 9:00 am), mid-morning (10:0 0 am), and noon, which represents the zenith of the daily time periods and ritual observances. The three evening time periods are evening (4:30 to 6:30 pm), junction (7:30 to 9:30 pm), and half-night (9:45 to 10:30 pm). The ritual of the bedchamber, at which time the deity is put to rest, marks the final evening time period, and the ritual day ends. Rituals must be punctually performed during the various appropriate time periods (Michaels 245).