Hindu Hindu understanding of understanding of

GodGod

BrahmanBrahman•Hindus believe in one Hindus believe in one

Supreme Force, Universal Supreme Force, Universal Soul or Spirit, called Soul or Spirit, called BrahmanBrahman. .

•BrahmanBrahman is the unity behind is the unity behind the diversity of the worldthe diversity of the world

•BrahmanBrahman has no shape or has no shape or form and is limitlessform and is limitless

Atman = Your SoulAtman = Your Soul•Man IS the soul (not “has” a soul)Man IS the soul (not “has” a soul)

•Your soul, Your soul, atmanatman, is the , is the unchanging essence that is YOUunchanging essence that is YOU

•AtmanAtman is a form of God, is a form of God, BrahmanBrahman

•As long as you continue to As long as you continue to believe your soul is separate, you believe your soul is separate, you will be rebornwill be reborn

OmOm• BrahmanBrahman is is incomprehensible; so a incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes symbol becomes mandatory to help realize mandatory to help realize the Unknowablethe Unknowable

• The symbol is a sacred The symbol is a sacred syllable representing the syllable representing the impersonal Absolute.impersonal Absolute.

• The sacred symbol is The sacred symbol is often found at the head often found at the head of letters, papers and so of letters, papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant .of Om as a pendant .

Trimurti Trimurti ‘Trinity ‘Trinity’’

There are three main ways in There are three main ways in which God may be understood:which God may be understood: BrahmaBrahma, , VishnuVishnu and and ShivaShiva

They are different They are different representations in god-form of representations in god-form of

thetheultimate reality -ultimate reality -BrahmanBrahman..

The TrimurtiThe Trimurti

BrahmaBrahma•BrahmaBrahma, the Creator; they , the Creator; they

believe he created the universe.believe he created the universe.•BrahmaBrahma is not worshipped much is not worshipped much

today.today.

•Note: Note: BrahmaBrahmann is the ultimate is the ultimate reality and reality and BrahmaBrahma is the creator – is the creator –part of the trinity. part of the trinity.

BrahmaBrahma• Traditionally Traditionally depicted with four depicted with four heads, four faces and heads, four faces and four armsfour arms

• Four hands represent Four hands represent four cardinal four cardinal directions. directions.

• The back right hand The back right hand represents mind, the represents mind, the back left hand, the back left hand, the intellect; the front intellect; the front right hand right hand represents, ego, the represents, ego, the front left hand, front left hand, self self confidence confidence

VishnuVishnu•Vishnu helps preserve the Vishnu helps preserve the

Universe and PeopleUniverse and People

•Vishnu is the Preserver of the Vishnu is the Preserver of the Balance of Good and Evil. Balance of Good and Evil.

•Vishnu helped Save his Vishnu helped Save his followers by appearing on Earth followers by appearing on Earth through his nine through his nine AvatarsAvatars (appearance in bodily form.)(appearance in bodily form.)

•The two most popular avatars The two most popular avatars are are RamaRama and and KrishnaKrishna..

•The The BuddhaBuddha, the founder of , the founder of Buddhism, is the Ninth avatar.Buddhism, is the Ninth avatar.

•The Tenth avatar is still to The Tenth avatar is still to come. He will arrive to destroy come. He will arrive to destroy the world and build a new one.the world and build a new one.

VishnuVishnuLotus-beauty and purity

Four arms-four corners of the world

AvatarsAvatars• Incarnations of Vishnu.Incarnations of Vishnu.

krishna

Rama

Shiva (Siva)Shiva (Siva)•Shiva is the Destroyer god Shiva is the Destroyer god

that destroys the universe. that destroys the universe.

•Hindus believe that Shiva is Hindus believe that Shiva is the source of good and evil.the source of good and evil.

ShivaShiva•Shiva has a Shiva has a

Trident in the Trident in the right lower right lower arm, with a arm, with a crescent moon crescent moon on his head on his head

•His wearing of His wearing of serpents on the serpents on the neck denotes neck denotes wisdomwisdom and and eternity.eternity.