HINDU BELIEFS
We must say at first that Hinduism – the third largest religion in the world – is a mixture of beliefs which are difficult for the western mind to understand. It combines polytheism (many gods) with pantheism (God in everything). So it is a mixture of paganism, in which aspects of God’s creation are worshipped, and mysticism, in which creation and Creator merge into one inexplicable whole. The Judeo-Christian concept of one, true, personal God as a loving Creator, separate from but involved in His creation, is completely absent. There is no sense in Hinduism that sin separates mankind from God, because man is part of the divine. There is not the same sense of objective right and wrong and there is no need for a divine Saviour to reconcile man to God.
Hindus claim to worship one God but in his or her many forms. In practice there are so many gods that commentators speak of 330 million. Gods are called devas (or devatas) and goddesses are devis. Hindus worship elephant gods, monkey gods, cattle gods, dog gods, together with gods and goddesses of life, birth, rebirth, death, time, fertility, wealth, weather and geographical features and locations.
Every Hindu family has a shrine or shrines to their gods, just like Rachel’s father Laban; In Genesis 31:30-35 we read that the family images were still so important to Rachel, even after seven years of marriage, that she stole them from her father, causing him to pursue after Jacob’s caravan: ‘Whereafter hast thou stolen my gods?’ (Gen. 31:30) The Prophet Zechariah said this: For the idols have spoken vanity and the diviners have seen a lie and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore they went their way as a flock; they were troubled because there was no shepherd. (Zech 10:2)
The Psalmist is even more scathing about idols and those who worship them:
Ps 115:4: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
THE HINDU ‘TRINITY’
Brahma, the provider of wisdom, is the Hindu lord of creation. His consort is named Saraswathi, who is said to be the possessor of knowledge. He is actually the least important of the Hindu trinity, and is said to have been born from the naval of Vishnu. He has four or five heads which may be bearded and his eyes are often shown closed in meditation. In his four arms he holds the vedas (sacred writings), a water pot and a spoon.
Vishnu is considered the lord of protection, sustenance & maintenance. His consort Lakshmi is the possessor of wealth, which is thought a necessity for maintenance. Lakshmi represents not only material wealth, but the wealth of grains, courage, valour, offspring, success, luxurious life, eternal bliss. Vishnu and Lakshmi are said to help the souls introduced into the life cycle by Brahma to survive in the cycle of life; Vishnu is represented with four arms wielding the chakra, conch, lotus and the gadha or mace. Vishnu and Lakshmi appear as Rama and Sita – hence the Diwali connection – and as Krishna and Rukmini.
Siva or Shiva, the last of the trinity, is the Hindu God of destruction. He is assisted by his consort Parvathi, the goddess of disintegration. Parvathi also appears as Durga and Kali. Hindus believe strongly in the ‘circle of life’, and that destruction is a necessary part of the process. Shiva is generally worshipped in the form of a phallus (linga) fixed on a pedestal. The linga denotes primeval, procreative energy. The phallus is a constant emblem of paganism.
Lingams worshipped in temples are mostly made of stone & consist of three parts. The lowest portion in the shape of a square symbolises Brahma. The middle part in the shape of an octagon symbolises Vishnu. These two portions are embedded inside a pedestal. The cylindrical portion projecting from the pedestal symbolises Shiva. There are great similarities with the fertility worship God condemned in Canaan: And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. (Lev. 17:7). Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. (Lev. 19:4).
According to www.saigan.com, Shiva “wears a necklace made of skulls signifying his role as destructor. He has snakes coiling all over his body & his hair is matted and long extending over the whole sky & space. The crescent moon adorns his crown, signifying his control on the time cycle. He smears his body with ashes and wears a tiger skin and elephant skin. He has a third eye on his forehead which is the source of knowledge and wisdom. The holy Ganges is imprisoned in his flowing locks.” The red spot – the tilak or tika – which Hindu women wear on their forehead, is symbolic of the third eye of Shiva and Parvathi. Shiva also holds a trident, symbolic of his supposed hold over past, present and future.
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