OTHER HINDU ‘GODS’
Ganesh or Ganesha or Ganeshji, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvathi, is the most widely worshipped Hindu god. He is worshipped at the start of any action or venture, for (being an elephant) he is considered to be able to remove obstacles. He has a huge belly and sweets and fruits are put out for him.
Hanuman, the monkey-god, is considered to be strong, courageous, and possessed of magic powers, including the useful one of being able to increase or reduce in size at will. There are numerous myths about his alleged exploits.
The Animist roots of Hinduism are also seen in the fact that other animals and virtually every river, tree and mountain, together with parts of the anatomy and heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon and stars, are venerated in an orgy of superstition. The Sanskrit Hindu scripture the Rig Veda describes 33 devas, or personifications of natural phenomena.
The true God forbad the service and worship of the host of heaven (Jer 8:2) and any idol (Exod 20:3-6). Hindus truly – and sadly – worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator (Rom 1:25).
Belief in animals as gods does not just lead to Hindu vegetarianism, but impedes social life. In many Indian cities, it is impossible to eat – or sell – a snack without having it snatched out of the hand by a monkey. The monkeys may not be culled, because they represent Hanuman. Elephants wander and cause havoc. Cattle roam free and are often in a pitiable state, because no-one can afford to feed them, and no-one dare slaughter them. The roads are littered with cow-dung deposited by these earthly embodiments of the goddess Kamadhenu.
HINDU WORSHIP
In service to their gods, Hindus make much use of chants or mantras, which they repeat any number of times, whilst counting beads. The Lord Jesus said: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matt. 6:7) The Hindu word for divinity – Aum or Ohm – is also used and parents should watch out for its physical representation, like a large number ‘3’ with a tail and a crescent in the top right- hand corner. The idols are constantly cleaned, decorated and offered sweets. The Hindu scriptures are vast and largely unread by Hindus, who are more occupied with their shrines and the outward show of worship.
The Prophet Jeremiah said:
Jer 10: 3: For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
REINCARNATION
Hindus believe in re-incarnation or the ‘migration of the soul’ into another body at death. Almighty God says: … it is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment. (Heb 9:27) Only mankind is made in the image of God: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Gen. 1:27) Because of this truth, men are equal before the law: Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: (Deut. 1:17)
The Hindu belief in reincarnation means – in contrast – that a person’s social position is a consequence of his behaviour in a previous life. He has a ‘karma’ attached to him, which has already determined his station in life. Reincarnation leads directly to the caste system, an oppressive form of social exclusion and injustice in which those above cannot even bear to touch those at the bottom. The Brahmins at the top are looked upon almost as gods themselves for the purity of their past lives. But of course a beggar is in such a place because of his past misdeeds. It follows that it would be wrong to interfere with his ‘karma’ by helping him.
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