Supreme_God_(Hinduism)

Supreme God (Hinduism)

Supreme God (Hinduism)

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In Hinduism, the Supreme God is the Supreme Being beyond gods (deva) and demons (asura), the Absolute Being (Brahman/Parabrahman) and the Absolute Self who is Supreme Person (Paramatman).

Hinduism consists of six main sects, each with belief in Supreme God.[1]: 400  In Hinduism, God is described as the Absolute Reality, Supreme Spirit and Supreme Personality.[1]: 403  Although Supreme God is mentioned in different forms by different sects, majority of Hindus regardless of sect accept that Supreme God is Ishvara.

Forms that are considered Supreme God are usually menioned by the title Bhagavan.

Vaishnavism

Main article: Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism considers Vishnu/Krishna as the Supreme God. Although they accepted both the forms Krishna and Vishnu is Supreme God, they argued over which of these forms are the primary name/form of God.

Bhagavad Gita, one of the fundamental sacred texts of Vaishnavism, is considered the revelation of the Supreme God. In Bhagavad Gita, the Supreme God declared His existential position as follows:[2]: 184 

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सर्वं प्रवर्तते ।

इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विता: ॥ ८ ॥

"I am the source of all; from Me, all emanates. Realizing this and filled with feeling, the intelligent devote themselves to Me."

— Krishna, Bhagavad Gita 10.8

Arjuna defined Supreme God in Bhagavad Gita as follows:[3]: 184–185 

परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् ।

पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥ १२ ॥

"You are the Supreme Brahman, supreme abode and ultimate purifier, the eternal divine Person and original God—unborn and almighty."

— Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita 10.12

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम ।

भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥ १५ ॥

"Only You Yourself know Your Self by Your Self, O Supreme Person Who causes beings to be! Lord of beings! God of gods! Master of the universe!"

— Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita 10.15

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Main article: Gaudiya Vaishnavism

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Krishna is considered the prime form and name of Supreme God and foundation of all other forms including Vishnu. For this reason, Krishna is called by the term Svayam Bhagavan, which means "God Himself".[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Sri Vaishnavism

Main article: Sri Vaishnavism

In Sri Vaishnavism, Vishnu/Narayana is considered the essential form of the Supreme God.

Shaivism

Main article: Shaivism

In Shaivism, Shiva is considered the Supreme Being.

Shaktism

Main article: Shaktism

In Shaktism, Shakti is considered the Supreme God

Smartism

Main article: Smartism

Smartism sect accepts that Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti are all forms of Brahman and worships them all.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Nallusamy, Kanthasamy (15 September 2007). Hinduism, the Misunderstood Religion (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. [2]
    Goswami, Hridayananda Das (2015). A Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita. Krishna West, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0692761717.
  3. [3]
    Goswami, Hridayananda Das (2015). A Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita. Krishna West, Incorporated. ISBN 978-0692761717.
  4. [4]
    Chakravarty, Saumitra (2022-08-05). The Goddess Re-discovered: Gender and Sexuality in Religious Texts of Medieval Bengal. Taylor & Francis. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-000-63287-3.
  5. [5]
    Knapp, Stephen (2012). Hindu Gods & Goddesses. Jaico Publishing House. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-81-8495-366-4.
  6. [6]
    Gupta, Ravi M. (2007). Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-40548-5.
  7. [7]
    Delmonico, N. (2004). "The History Of Indic Monotheism And Modern Chaitanya Vaishnavism". The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12256-6. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
  8. [8]
    Elkman, S.M.; Gosvami, J. (1986). Jiva Gosvamin's Tattvasandarbha: A Study on the Philosophical and Sectarian Development of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Movement. Motilal Banarsidass Pub.
  9. [9]
    Dimock, Edward C. (1989-10-15). The Place of the Hidden Moon: Erotic Mysticism in the Vaisnava-Sahajiya Cult of Bengal. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-15237-0.
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