Hinduism: Monotheist or Polytheist
Dr.Dipak Basu
May 05, 2007

The author is a Professor in International Economics
in Nagasaki University, Japan)

If we open any book on history of India or history of
the world, written by the western or modern Indian
writers we can see a description of Hinduism or
Sanatan Dharma, which in untrained eye would look like
a denigration of Hinduism as a religion. The
description suggests that Hinduism is not a religion,
as we commonly understand, but a combination of
various sects, various schools of thought. There is no
central authority; no prescribed books but there are
millions of gods and goddesses. As majority of the
Hindus do not read their holy books or do not even
know which books are holy, the resultant confusion
turns them against Hinduism where in their confused
mind ‘Paganism’ can be considered as Hinduism.

Ram Swarup, a proponent of ‘Hindutva’ was the perfect
link between Hindu Renaissance and renascent Paganism
in the West and elsewhere. His Names of Gods is a
polytheistic manifesto. Ram Swarup told us many times
he was looking forward to a Pagan Renaissance in
Europe, Africa and America. He wrote, “"A purely
monotheistic unity fails to represent the living unity
of the Spirit and expresses merely the intellect's
love of the uniform and the general.” (in The Word as
Revelation: Names of Gods, 1980, p. 128-129).

Hinduism and Paganism:

Along with Sita Ram Goel, Ram Swarup founded the Voice
of India, which is now a platform for publishing
literature on ‘Hindutva’. Their arguments against a
‘Monotheist Hinduism’ rests on the similarities
between Hindu and European pagan gods: their sky god
Dyaus Pitar against the Roman Dyu-piter (the actual
pronunciation of "Jupiter"); thunder god Indra, who
bears a lightening bolt, against thunder god Thor, who
also bears a lightening bolt (and both being known as
nearly invincible warriors who sometimes drink too
much); or the Vedic name for the gods, Asura, against
the Norse name for the gods, Aesir. The Veda mentions
four tribes that all originally lived in India: the
Pritus, Parsus, Druhyus and Alinas; now scholars are
wondering if they are not direct names for the
Parthians, Persians, Druids and Hellenes.
However, Sri Aurobindo said, “Indian polytheism is not
the popular polytheism of ancient Europe; for here the
worshipper of marry Gods still knows that all his
divinities are forms, names, personalities and powers
of the One; his gods proceed from the one Purusha, his
goddesses are energies of the one divine Force.”
(Foundations of Indian Culture, p. 135). Thus, it is
not justified to call Hinduism as Paganism, when
Hinduism is definitely Monotheist.

Shrikant Talageri puts Hinduism in a worldwide
continuum of Paganism by saying, “Hinduism is the name
for the Indian territorial form of worldwide
Sanâtanism (call it Paganism in English). The ideology
of ‘Hindutva’ should therefore be a universal
ideology” (S. Talageri in S.R. Goel: Time for
Stock-Taking, p.227). However ‘Hindutva’ is not
Hinduism, as Savarkar as a rationalist refused to
accept the authority of the Vedas or Upanishads or
Bhagwat Gita. Savarkar’s definition of a Hindu is a
geographical and political construct, unrelated to the
Hindu religion. According to him irrespective of
religion anyone who lives in India and accept Indian
culture is a Hindu. That has possibly provoked
Vaktivedanta Prabhupad, the founder of ISKON to
declare himself a follower of ‘Sanatran Dharma’ but
not a Hindu.

The term pagan is from Latin Paganus, an adjective
originally earning “rural”, “rustic” or “of the
country.” As a noun, Paganus was used to mean “country
dweller, villager.” In colloquial use, it would mean
much the same as calling someone a ‘bumpkin’ or a
‘hillbilly’. Paganus was almost exclusively a
derogatory term. It is from this derivation of
“villager” which we have the word “villain. Many
Slavic peoples, especially Eastern Slavs, use the word
“Pagan” as an insult in their language; translating
roughly as a “conniving brute.” “Paganism” is also
sometimes used to mean the lack of religion; Heathen”
(Old English h??en) is a translation of Paganus. There
cannot be any more insult for Hinduism than to call it
Pagan.

Hinduism According to Rig Veda:

Rig Veda, Upanishad and Bhagwat Gita, according to the
Vedanta school of thought, are the core of the Sanatan
Dharma or Hinduism as we call it now. Going through
the holy texts of Hinduism we can get the correct
picture about the nature of Hinduism – whether it is
Monotheist or Polytheist. Different Devas and Devis in
Hinduism were all created, according to Puran, by
Brahman and their powers are derived from the Brahman,
who can take away their powers too, like what has
happened to Indra in the Ramayana. Thus, these Devas
and Devis are nothing but very powerful angels; they
are not Gods or Goddesses as they are in ancient Greek
religion, where they are created independently not by
the Brahman, as it is Rig Veda.

According to Rig Veda, Manu has created the Devas and
Devis as well as men and women. “ Worship the Vasus,
Agni. Here the Rudras, the Adityas, all. Who spring
from Manu.” (Rig Veda, Book 1, Hymn XLV, verse 1). A
number of the Devas and Devis are mentioned in the Rig
Veda. Varun, Indra, Vishnu, Agni, Mitra, Rudra,
Saraswati, Usha, Ila are the principal among them but
there are others. If Manu has created them, then who
has created Manu? Rig Veda said, “The Devas are later
than this world’s production.”. Thus, the main
question how the creation was formed. Here we have the
description in the Rig Veda, Book X, verse 129: ” Then
was not non-existent nor existent; there was no realm
of air, no sky beyond it. The ONE, breathless breathed
by its own nature; apart from it was nothing
whatsoever.

All that existed then was void and formless; by the
great power of warmth (Tapasya) was born that UNIT.
Thereafter rose LOVE the primal seed and germ of
SPIRIT. Devas are later than this world’s creation. HE
the first origin of this creation; HE formed it all.
WHOSE eye controls this world.”

Thus, HE the Brahman is the creator of the Devas and
Devis. It is supported by Bhagwat Gita: “I am the one
source of all; the evolution of all comes from me”
(Bhagwat Gita, Ch 10, verse 8) and ” I am the source
of all beings; I support them all, but I rest not in
them” (Bhagwat Gita, Ch 9, verse 5)These verses are
definitely pointing out for One creator Brahman, who
in turn is responsible for the creation of all other
Devas and Devis. We get further supports from Bhagwat
Gita in the following verses: ” Brahman is the
supreme, the eternal”(Ch 8, Verse 3); “In this
universes there is nothing higher than I.” (Ch 7,
Verse 7) ” It is Brahman, beginingless, supreme;
beyond what is and beyond what is not”(Ch 13, verse
12)” He who knows I am beginningless, unborn, the Lord
of all the universes, this mortal is free from
delusion and from all evils he is free”(Ch 10, verse
3)” I am the abode of Brahman, the never-failing
fountain of everlasting life” (Ch 14, verse 27) In
other Vedas we also get this concept of One creator.
“He is without any form, yet dwells inside and outside
all things With form and shape, Yet He is entirely
free of error, faultless and pure.

He is far beyond anything a human body can comprehend.
And being the Divine Poet. He is inspiration itself.
He maintains peace and harmony because He is both
peace and Harmony made manifest.” (Yajur Veda) “He is
present in all places and rules everywhere. His power
controls utterly all the three regions: Earth, the
Middle-Air, and the highest heavens. One foot is
rooted in things we understand: But the other rests in
a realm of deep, dark mystery, A place far beyond the
knowledge of mankind.” (Artharva Veda).
These later Vedas are reflecting what is written in
the Rig Veda, “He is substance of every great eternal
law. And He can be perceived in the universal forces
of life.” Vedic Invocations invoke GOD through his
attributes and functions. He is the Force behind all
of nature’s mighty forces, the Light behind the light;
the Delight behind delights; the Ultimate Activity
behind all activities. Similarly, God’s various names
in the Vedas are the one GOD viewed in terms of his
attributes, functions, and nature. There is no real
suggestion of anything besides the ONE. Long before
Siva, Vishnu, Rama, Ganesh, Parvati, Laxmi, and the
others, this is the GOD of the Vedas— Brahman.

Raja Ram Mohun Roy, RamKrishna Param Hansa, Swami
Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi all have the same opinion
that Allah, Jehova, Iswar are the three names of the
Brahman, the Supreme. Ram Krishna Param Hansa used to
tell a story that Brahman is the water. Three persons,
Hindu, Christian and a Muslim, are thristy. The Hindu
is asking, where is Jalam; the Muslim is asking where
is Pani; and the Christian is asking where is water.
These three different names of the same water do not
change the character of the water. Thus, according to
RamKrishna ParamHansa, Iswar, Allah, Jehova are three
different names of the same Brahman, the Supreme
Creator of all.

Swami Chidananda of Ram Krishna Mission has explained
in some simple words, “We will know and clearly
understand that all Divine forms are symbolic and
signify one God who has manifested multifariously in
order to help human beings in various stages of
Spiritual evolution and of different tastes and
temperaments and capacities to find a suitable
expression of the Divine that appeals to their
temperament and attracts their devotion and thus
enables them to focus their mind.” (in ‘Hinduism:
Monotheism and Polytheism Reconciled’). He is
reflecting what is written in Rig Veda, “Truth is One,
but sages call it by many names” (Book1, Hymn164,
verse 46).

Hinduism and Islam:

Relationship between Hinduism and other major
religions of the world should be cordial although the
followers of these religions may not think so. The
main adversary of Hinduism, Buddhism and
Zoroastrianism in Asia is Islam, which has wiped out
these religions from most parts of Asia already. Much
of the misery of India, derived from the partition of
the country in 1947, is directly related to the
activity of the followers of Islam. However, Islam,
according to The Koran, has close similarity with
Hinduism.

Islam was distorted and corrupted immediately after
the death of Prophet Mohammed. The true Islam was
destroyed by Khalifa Yazid, whose father, the King of
Syria was the mortal enemy of Prophet Mohammed. Kalifa
Yazid invaded Medina and Mecca, killed every relative
of the Prophet Mohammed including Hassan and Hussein--
sons of Ali the first Khalifa appointed by Prophet
Mohammed. Thereafter, Yazid rewrote the Haddith,
Sariyat and according to some scholar even some parts
of The Koran to justify his Syrian Arab Empire to
bring death and destruction to the vast parts of
Eurasia and North Africa. That is the evil face of the
Muslims, which is very well known.

However, The Koran says exactly the opposite, if the
Muslims would care to read it. The Koran said,” God
does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those
who have neither made war on your religion nor driven
you from your homes. God loves the equitable” (in Al
Utahanah, 60:5)Similarity between Hinduism and Islam
can be traced if we analyze the texts properly. Rig
Veda says “ Let our meditation be on the glorious
light of Savitri; may this light illuminate our
minds.” The Koran also said, “ God is the light of the
heavens and earth….God guides to his light whom he
will,” (Al-Nur, 24:35).

Sri Krishna said, “ When righteousness is weak and
faints and unrighteousness exults in pride, my spirit
arises on earth” (Bhagwat Gita, Ch. 4, verse 7). The
Koran said similarly in Jonah, 10:47, “ An apostle is
sent to each community. When their apostle comes,
justice is done among them; they are not wronged.”
Also in Al-Nahl, 16:36, The Koran said, “ We raised an
apostle in each community, saying: Serve God and keep
away from false gods”.

Sri Krishna said, “ For this is my word of promise,
that he who loves me shall not perish. For those who
come to me for shelter, however weak or humble or
sinful they may be …they all reach the path supreme”
(Bhagwat Gita, Ch9, Verse 31-32). The Koran also said,
“ God is the patron of the faithful; he leads them
from darkness to the light” (Al-Baqarah, 2:257).

The Koran says, “ Righteousness does not consist in
whether you face towards the East or the West. The
righteous man is he …who gives away his wealth to
kinsfolk, to orphans, to the destitute, to the
traveler in need and to beggars and for the redemption
of captives…. who is true to his promises. Such are
the true believers” (Al-Baqarah, 2:177).

Leading Muslim politicians in British India Maulana
Abul Kalam Azad or Khan Abdul Gaffer Khan have lived
all their lives according to strict codes of True
Islam, but both were opposed to the idea of Pakistan
and suffered greatly for their views. Followers of
Khalifa Yazid, Jinnah, Surrawordy, Iqbal– those who
created Pakistan and brought death and destruction to
the Indian sub-continent, just like their modern
camp-followers like Ben Laden or General Mussaraf
believe in false Islam.

Hinduism and Christianity:

Similarly the Christian missionaries and Christian
leaders, whether the Pope John Paul or Pat Robertson
of Baptist Mission Church, have followed a wrong
version of Christianity, which is far from the true
religion. Shaunaka Rishi Das, Director of the Oxford
Centre for Hindu Studies in University of Oxford has
explained the similarity between Hinduism and
Christianity in the web site
http://www.nchtuk.org/content.php?id=267 of the
National Council of Hindu Temples of UK.

He said, “Hindus don't really see Jesus as a Christian
at all. When we ask how we can see spirituality in
Hindus, the answer comes, by behavior and practice. We
can ask are we humble, are we tolerant and are we
non-violent, and can we control our senses and our
mind? Are we aware of others suffering and are we
willing to give up our comfort to help them? Looking
at these criteria Jesus measures up as a Sadhu, a holy
man. He preached a universal message, love of God and
love of brother, which was beyond any sectarianism or
selfishness. Jesus was one of those people who
appealed from heart to heart, and that"s what makes
him such a Hindu Saint. His message is no different
from the message preached in another time and place by
Lord Krishna and Lord Chaitanya.”

Similarity between Hinduism and Christianity is in the
concept of the supreme One. In the Rig Veda we can
read: “He is One Brahma, The Creator of the cosmos,
Who pervades and protects, And enlightens aft beings,
He is One Supreme Entity, Whom sages call by various
names, Such as Indra, the glorious, Mitra, the benign
friend, Varuna, the greatest, the noblest, Agni, the
resplendent, the bright, Yama, the dispenser of
justice, Matarishwa, the almighty” (Rig Veda, Book 1,
Hymn 164, Verse 46). These words are also reflected in
the Christianity: “For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Ghost; and these three are one.” (in John, 5/7, on
page 1279 of the King James Version of the Holy
Bible).

International Propaganda Against India and Hinduism:

Anti-Hindu groups in USA, lead by Prof.Witzel of
Harvard University, through his organization ‘Friends
of South Asia’ is very active to promote a specific
views expressed in the textbooks in Hinduism they
prescribe. In the ‘Teachers’ Curriculum Institute’ (p.
144) recommended by them as a text for the schools in
USA, Hinduism is described as follows: “Modern day
Hinduism is very complex. Many beliefs, many forms of
worship, and many gods exist side by side.” On page
147, the same book has a heading for a chapter, ‘Hindu
Beliefs About Multiple Gods’. They believe everything
including Sanskrit language, Chariot, iron, bronze,
writing system even rice—all came from outside India;
India has produced nothing and ancient Indian
civilization has left nothing tangible (in J.M.
Roberts, A New History of the World, Penguin Press).

Hindus in USA made objection through their
organization, Vedic Foundation, and came into very
strong opposition from the ‘Friends of South Asia’ who
wants to call Hinduism as ‘Brahmanism’ and made the
following comments: “This edit (by Vedic Foundation)
is an attempt to mask the pantheistic nature of
Hinduism and present it as Monotheistic instead.
Monotheism is in fact contrary to the way many Hindus
understand and practice their religion.” (in the
website)

Thus the idea that Hinduism is not a monotheist
religion is derived directly from those who are
anti-Hindus. Ram Puniyani, the regular columnist in
The Millee Gazattee, the voice of the Indian Muslims,
wrote recently “In Hinduism, polytheism, ditheism,
monotheism and even atheism, all run as parallel
streams. As there is no prophet, the religion itself
is very amorphous, meaning different things to
different people.” (‘On Gujarat Freedom of religion
bill’ in The Hindustan Times, September 22, 2006).
This is view expressed in many forms by all most all
Anglo-American writers to denigrate Hinduism. It is
very strange that the proponents of the ‘Hindutva’
have joined them as well.

Sankara has purified Hinduism when during the Middle
Ages it got submerged into mindless rituals and
distortions. His message was the same as that of Raja
Ram Mohan Roy in modern time when during the 19th
century in India, according to Rabindranath Tagore,
“…only the ghost of the living ancient Hindu religion
held its sway in the funeral grounds. It had no life,
it had no vitality, it only had its strictures and
threats. Ram Mohun proceeded fearlessly to free
society from the serpent-like bondage" in Charitra
Puja: Rammohun Roy (in Bengali) by Rabindranath
Tagore).

Ram Mohan Roy’s Brahma Samaj, just like Swami
Dayananda’s Arya Samaj and Prarthana Samaj of
R.G.Bhandarkar and M.G.Ranade have proclaimed the
greatness of Hindu religion as given in the texts of
the Vedas, and Upanishads, in some simple words:
‘There is only one God. None equals Him. He has no
end. He is present in all living beings’.

Ram Krishna Paramhansa described Brahman in a very
simple way:” Think of Brahman,
Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute, as a shore less
ocean. Through the cooling influence, as it were, of
the bhakta’a love, the water has frozen at places into
blocks of ice. In other words, God now and then
assumes various forms for His lovers and reveals
Himself to them as a Person. But with the rising of
the sun of Knowledge, the blocks of ice melt. Then one
doesn’t feel anymore that God is a Person, nor does
one see God’s forms.”

Thus, the debate whether Hinduism is monotheistic or
not is not a meaningful debate. Despite of the formal
differences due to historical and cultural reasons
there can be some differences between different
religions of the world, but as Ram Krishna has
observed, “all roads leads to the same truth”.

http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_070505.htm