एकं सत विप्र बहुधा वदंती ||
सत्य एक है, ज्ञानी उसे अनेक नामों से पुकारते हैं।
-संस्कृत श्लोक, ऋग्वेद I.164.46:
Many religions and civilizations in the world originated and ended with time, but the most ancient civilization is our Sanatan Dharma, our Vedic Dharma. Despite being the most ancient, the most recent religion is Sanatan Dharma. Out of all the religions in the world, only Santan Dharma gives you the freedom to choose isht according to your choice. As our Vedas give us the proof of the existence of only one God through – “एको अहं, द्वितीयो नास्ति, न भूतो न भविष्यति“, God is only one. Well worshipping in any form, whether in the form as Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, Maa Kali, Dhan Lakshmi, Agni Dev, Indra Dev, Prithvi, or Gau Mata, we see that the attainment will be of God only in the end. Just as all the rivers meet in the sea, similarly, you worship any form; you will get that Parambrahm only. Therefore, we might see this as, for the convenience of the devotee, that one God has appeared in many forms. We can understand this with an example: to make a cloth, like we need many people in the factory to do different work, in the same way, to run this world, God has given us 33 gods and goddesses who help us at every moment in this world. Our religious books say that not only our deeds but everything around us is blessed by the deities. The belief in multiple deities in Hinduism is a fundamental aspect of Hinduism, and it provides a framework for individuals to connect with the divine in their own unique way.
Sanatan Dharma is a diverse and complex religion that encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practises. Its belief in multiple gods and goddesses is traced back to the ancient Vedic texts, which describe a complex pantheon of gods and goddesses. Each god or goddess represents a specific quality or attribute, such as wisdom, strength, beauty, or creativity. The concept of multiple deities in Sanatan Dharma is not meant to suggest that there are many independent gods, each with their own separate domain and power. Instead, these gods are seen as different manifestations or aspects of a single, ultimate reality known as Brahma. Sanatani’s worship these deities to gain knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. Overall, the concept of multiple deities in Hinduism reflects the rich diversity of human experience and the complexity of the natural world, providing a multifaceted approach to spirituality that allows individuals to connect with the divine in their own unique way.
The term “33 crore” refers to the number of deities mentioned in ancient Vedic scriptures, such as the Rigveda, but is often misunderstood to mean 33 million. The 33 deities known as the Trayastrimsa are believed to reside in heaven and assist Lord Indra in maintaining order and balance in the universe. Other Hindu texts, such as the Puranas, also contain stories and descriptions of various gods and goddesses. The ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’ (4.5.7.2) and Rigveda (3.9.9 & 1.52.6) both mention 33 deities, which is an ancient concept.