Eminent Historian Francis Gautier posted on his face book profile that
“Unlike other religions, Hinduism refuses to sanction the monopoly of one God, or one Scripture as the only way to salvation.”
Our Clarification
Vedas speaks of one god ...and one way of worship. There is only one God and sages call him with different Names. This is not Monopoly but quality of God. The only path to attain salvation is Truth. For e.g. you cannot consider practices like animal sacrifice on name of Dharma (practised by some Hindus) equivalent to Ahinsa or concept on non killing (practised by many Hindus) equivalent to each other as both are totally opposite to each other. Better understanding of the Right Interpretation of the Vedas solves the doubts on Religion. There is also a misunderstanding about Christianity and Islam that they are monotheistic i.e. Believes in one God as Christianity believes in Neither one, nor two but three Gods that are Holy Soul, Holy Father an Holy Son. While Islam believes in God, his messengers and the Last Prophet Muhammad. The Vedic concept of God believes in one and only one God with no mediator in between and God is omnipotent, omnipresent, all pervading, never born, never dying, all knowing and creator of the Universe.
No other literature describes the existence of Only One God as beautifully as Veda does. Just see here.
Na dvitityo Na triyaschthurtho naapyuchyate|
N a panchamo Na shshtah sapthmo naapyuchyate|
Nashtamo Na navamo dashamo naapyuchyate|
Yagna yetham devamekavritham veda||
Sa sarvassai vi pashyathi yachha praanathi yachhana|
Tamidam nigatam sah sa yesha yeka yekavrideka yeva|
Ya yetham devamekavritham veda||
Atharva 13.4[2]19-20
There is no second God, nor a third, nor is even a fourth spoken of
There is no fifth God or a sixth nor is even a seventh mentioned.
There is no eighth God, nor a ninth. Nothing is spoken about a tenth even.
This unique power is in itself. That Lord is only one, the only omnipresent. It is one and the only one.
A more categorical, effective, emphatic and impressive refutation of polytheism cannot be imagined. The Vedas reject the multiplicity of Gods in the clearest possible terms and speak about One God, who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient and absolutely and absolutely formless, who is ever unmanifest and who never assumes human forms or never descends on earth in any form- human or otherwise. Rig-Veda says “Vishwarkya vimana advihaya” meaning who he is not entangled by mind, omnipresent Lord is the Creator. He is both sustainer and protector too.
The God oversees the insensate and conscious world in a unique way. The entire world rests with him. He is “Yeshah yekah” i.e. only one. He is conscious, indivisible. He is Yekah yevah” Only one.
Where can be more clear assertion of existence of Only One God than this? After reading the description of God in this manner, Sri W.D.Brown writes,
It [Vedic Religion] recognizes but one God.
Vedas call upon to offer worship due only to God and no one else; to nothing else. It is clearly stated in Rig-Veda as under.
Ma chidanyad vishamsata Sakhyo ma rishanyatha|
Indramit srotha vrishanam sacha suthe
muhurukhya cha samshata||
Atharva 20.85.1
Friends! Do not praise and worship anything else, do not be doomed, praise and worship only the benevolent God Almighty, unitedly in this world, sing his glory, again and again.
Yeka yeva namasyo vikvidah| Atharva 2.2.1
Among all the men and women, there is only one. Who is worthy of adoration, and worthy of worship too.
Na tvaam anyo divyo na parthivo na jato na janishyathe|
Yajurveda 27.36
Oh God! There is nobody like you either in this world or the world beyond. No body equal to you is born as yet nor will be born ever in future also.
There are people who are under illusion that there are many Gods after coming across words like Indra, Agni, and Varuna etc. But these words that signify both God and things other than Gods should not mislead the seeker after truth’ with this purpose in view, the Vedas declare clearly:-
Indram Mitram varunamagnimaahuratho divyah sa suparno garuthmaan|
Yekham sadvipra bahudha vadantyagnim yamam maatarishwanamaahuh||
Rigveda 1.64.46
The real God is one, the enlightened ones, speak of Him in several ways, God is divine, the supreme protector and graceful sentient, the Universal soul. They call Him Indra, the Almighty, the universal friend [mitra]. Varuna the most acceptable and obliterator of sins, they describe Him as [agnim] the supreme guide of the Universe, {Yaman} the controller of the Universe, and {matarishvanam] the life of all lives.
So in other words, Indra, Agni, Yama, Suparna, Garuthman and others are different epithets for one and the same God[ though not exclusively, as the same words signify other entities too in different contests]. All doubts about the correctness of the unequivocal statement that the Vedas uphold only monotheism and not Polytheism are set at rest when we consider
Yo na pitah janitha vidhata dhamani veda bhuvanani vishwa|
Yo devaanam namadha yeka yeva tam samprashnam bhuvanam yantyanya||
Rigveda 10.82.3
All these several worlds, find ultimate refuge, in that curiosity-provoking, thought –arousing Lord who is our father and creator, who is , the maker of sacred injunctions and Knows all the abodes and worlds and finally who is only one assuming the names of different divinities.
Vedas describe only One God at all places. The advice is He alone should be praised and worshipped. He alone is the emperor of the Universe.
Yekho Vishwasya bhuvanasya rajah Rig-Veda 6.36.4
The Lord of the entire universe is one and one only.
Vedas clearly mentions of one God.
“Unlike other religions, Hinduism refuses to sanction the monopoly of one God, or one Scripture as the only way to salvation.”
Our Clarification
Vedas speaks of one god ...and one way of worship. There is only one God and sages call him with different Names. This is not Monopoly but quality of God. The only path to attain salvation is Truth. For e.g. you cannot consider practices like animal sacrifice on name of Dharma (practised by some Hindus) equivalent to Ahinsa or concept on non killing (practised by many Hindus) equivalent to each other as both are totally opposite to each other. Better understanding of the Right Interpretation of the Vedas solves the doubts on Religion. There is also a misunderstanding about Christianity and Islam that they are monotheistic i.e. Believes in one God as Christianity believes in Neither one, nor two but three Gods that are Holy Soul, Holy Father an Holy Son. While Islam believes in God, his messengers and the Last Prophet Muhammad. The Vedic concept of God believes in one and only one God with no mediator in between and God is omnipotent, omnipresent, all pervading, never born, never dying, all knowing and creator of the Universe.
No other literature describes the existence of Only One God as beautifully as Veda does. Just see here.
Na dvitityo Na triyaschthurtho naapyuchyate|
N a panchamo Na shshtah sapthmo naapyuchyate|
Nashtamo Na navamo dashamo naapyuchyate|
Yagna yetham devamekavritham veda||
Sa sarvassai vi pashyathi yachha praanathi yachhana|
Tamidam nigatam sah sa yesha yeka yekavrideka yeva|
Ya yetham devamekavritham veda||
Atharva 13.4[2]19-20
There is no second God, nor a third, nor is even a fourth spoken of
There is no fifth God or a sixth nor is even a seventh mentioned.
There is no eighth God, nor a ninth. Nothing is spoken about a tenth even.
This unique power is in itself. That Lord is only one, the only omnipresent. It is one and the only one.
A more categorical, effective, emphatic and impressive refutation of polytheism cannot be imagined. The Vedas reject the multiplicity of Gods in the clearest possible terms and speak about One God, who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient and absolutely and absolutely formless, who is ever unmanifest and who never assumes human forms or never descends on earth in any form- human or otherwise. Rig-Veda says “Vishwarkya vimana advihaya” meaning who he is not entangled by mind, omnipresent Lord is the Creator. He is both sustainer and protector too.
The God oversees the insensate and conscious world in a unique way. The entire world rests with him. He is “Yeshah yekah” i.e. only one. He is conscious, indivisible. He is Yekah yevah” Only one.
Where can be more clear assertion of existence of Only One God than this? After reading the description of God in this manner, Sri W.D.Brown writes,
It [Vedic Religion] recognizes but one God.
Vedas call upon to offer worship due only to God and no one else; to nothing else. It is clearly stated in Rig-Veda as under.
Ma chidanyad vishamsata Sakhyo ma rishanyatha|
Indramit srotha vrishanam sacha suthe
muhurukhya cha samshata||
Atharva 20.85.1
Friends! Do not praise and worship anything else, do not be doomed, praise and worship only the benevolent God Almighty, unitedly in this world, sing his glory, again and again.
Yeka yeva namasyo vikvidah| Atharva 2.2.1
Among all the men and women, there is only one. Who is worthy of adoration, and worthy of worship too.
Na tvaam anyo divyo na parthivo na jato na janishyathe|
Yajurveda 27.36
Oh God! There is nobody like you either in this world or the world beyond. No body equal to you is born as yet nor will be born ever in future also.
There are people who are under illusion that there are many Gods after coming across words like Indra, Agni, and Varuna etc. But these words that signify both God and things other than Gods should not mislead the seeker after truth’ with this purpose in view, the Vedas declare clearly:-
Indram Mitram varunamagnimaahuratho divyah sa suparno garuthmaan|
Yekham sadvipra bahudha vadantyagnim yamam maatarishwanamaahuh||
Rigveda 1.64.46
The real God is one, the enlightened ones, speak of Him in several ways, God is divine, the supreme protector and graceful sentient, the Universal soul. They call Him Indra, the Almighty, the universal friend [mitra]. Varuna the most acceptable and obliterator of sins, they describe Him as [agnim] the supreme guide of the Universe, {Yaman} the controller of the Universe, and {matarishvanam] the life of all lives.
So in other words, Indra, Agni, Yama, Suparna, Garuthman and others are different epithets for one and the same God[ though not exclusively, as the same words signify other entities too in different contests]. All doubts about the correctness of the unequivocal statement that the Vedas uphold only monotheism and not Polytheism are set at rest when we consider
Yo na pitah janitha vidhata dhamani veda bhuvanani vishwa|
Yo devaanam namadha yeka yeva tam samprashnam bhuvanam yantyanya||
Rigveda 10.82.3
All these several worlds, find ultimate refuge, in that curiosity-provoking, thought –arousing Lord who is our father and creator, who is , the maker of sacred injunctions and Knows all the abodes and worlds and finally who is only one assuming the names of different divinities.
Vedas describe only One God at all places. The advice is He alone should be praised and worshipped. He alone is the emperor of the Universe.
Yekho Vishwasya bhuvanasya rajah Rig-Veda 6.36.4
The Lord of the entire universe is one and one only.
Vedas clearly mentions of one God.
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ReplyDeleteThere is no god but Allah and Muhammad is messenger of Allah that's it's. Bekeives in faith and truth
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of similarities between the Hindu scritprues and the Bible. There is only one God. Both teach that. The doctrine of Trinity becomes a bit confusing but Jesus is the Son of God. Holy Spirit is God’s agent to comfort and guide the people. Both teach that there should be no idol worship. No other God should be worshipped. God is omnipotent (almighty and all powerful), omnipresent (present everywhere), omniscient (He knows everything). Both the scriptures teach the same thing about the characteristics of God. When we read the scriptures with humble heart, we understand a lot in the deepest sense. The Bible says, “Love your God with all your hearts, with all your minds, with all your soul.” Second part of this Great commandment is imperative: “love your fellowmen just like you love yourself.” This is the foundation of Christian faith and the Hindu scriptures do not teach opposite on this count. Unfortunately, people mix politics and religion to meet their political ends. Devout Hindu or a devout Christian would not like to kill his fellowmen. Those who understand the scriptures will also not accept the religious-political blend that we see today. Those who are doing this are not religious but use religious sentiments to politically gain power. If people follow the teachings of the scriptures, there will be peace and prosperity in India. What we see today is religion badly misused used by irreligious people for selfish gain. Will this take India in the right direction to peace and prosperity. History has it that such activities, in the end leads to destruction of a nation.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say that "there should not be any idol worship", then that itself is one more additional identity , recognition , FORM, for you, hence you are trapped there. Secondly as long as you recognize beautiful woman and ugly woman as two different things, then your are also in idol worship. One statement in Vedas says "Man who sees woman as man, truly sees". Such arguments and counter arguments have already happened in ancient India, and not now. And final decisions were given scientifically.
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk about Religion and Spirituality, we need to understand that they are the same thing. God, Divinity, Universe, Nature are the same for everyone, even if people believe in something different.
ReplyDeleteHow to become happy in a minute
All gods are loving gods
finding God in all things
God and you
building healthy spiritual lives
why we are here
If we cannot Clarify our own religion then we should not point finger to others.
ReplyDeleteIslam teach abt just one god as all religion has tout to menkind. Andvthe first owth of islam is (Ash-hadu Al-laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Wahdahoo Laa Shareeka Lahoo Wa-Ash-hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhoo Wa Rasooluhu) “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His (worshiper) servant and Messenger“
So there is no point to say that islam is monopoliestic.
And abt believing messengers cannot make them eqqualent to god nor worship them.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita.
ReplyDeleteConsider the following verse from the Gita:
Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures."
[Bhagavad Gita 7:20]
The Gita states that people who are materialistic worship demigods i.e. ‘gods’ besides the True God.
UPANISHADS:
The Upanishads are considered sacred scriptures by the Hindus.
The following verses from the Upanishads refer to the Concept of God:
"Ekam evadvitiyam"
"He is One only without a second."
[Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]1
"Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah."
"Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9]2
"Na tasya pratima asti"
"There is no likeness of Him."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]3
The following verses from the Upanishad allude to the inability of man to imagine God in a particular form:
"Na samdrse tisthati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam."
"His form is not to be seen; no one sees Him with the eye."
[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:20]4