Why are there so many Gods in Hindu culture? : Conversation series 

The first time I came across this concept is via Sadhguru. Here in Turkey everyone looks down upon this worshipping so many Gods idea. But then my Indian husband cleared the doubt between a Devata and the Creator. Or the lack thereof. What a sublime and elegant idea! Love from Turkey ❤️

Great discussion! I was raised a very devoted Christian but it was so much about sin and punishment and made no sense so I was lost for many years until I found Hinduism. It showed me how all regions could be real. Bhraman is God and we as unique humanbeings place characteristics on that.

That's what I love about Hindu culture. It's open to everyone.

One of the most profound messages explained in such a simple, and the most elegant and beautiful way!!!! You are beautiful inside out…. ❤️

It is absolutely enchanting to behold Sarasvati and Lakshmi perfectly contemplated in the light of your whole being! Pramans!!! ❤️

Nice explanation. Someone in a group asked this question to swami Vivekananda in the west. He asked that person to remove his coat and pass it to others to wear it. Some could wear it with great difficulty, some easily and so on. Swamiji explained similarly a single god, a single religious book thrust on masses will not work as there are varying temperaments and not all will accept a single god, a single religious book and so on. In Sanathan Dharma, we can worship the god as per our own mindset and temperment or may not believe in god at all and worship the Self(Atman).

Some Hindus fail to realize the depth of their faith.

Yes, Hindus are not polytheists, they are pluralist. There aren't many gods in Hinduism, there are many ways of thinking about God. The ultimate reality is only 1 (Acc. to rig veda).

Rukmini is grace personified. Just a powerful presence.

I'm a novice researcher of religions, born (Bapti-Costal) Christian now Muslim, and intermediate dancer (liturgical). This was an excellent explanation and it also explains why when I was watching her dance, I focused in on and felt you/she was having a conversation with God. Thank you for this.

This is the BEST answer to this question that I have ever heard in my life. Thank you!

When Hanzel and Gretel went off into the forest, they left behind a trail of bread crumbs to find their way out. In just the same way, the Gods are various beacons given to us out of love and compassion by Devi upon the creation of this world through the power of Her Mahamaya, so we may find our way out.

We need more of this! Such knowledge from someone like you is so good to hear! Always did feel this but never did seek answers from anywhere.. thankful to your video.

"And your welcome to make your own" is a beautiful way to conclude

Wonderful . This is exactly why Vedas are not so popular not everyone can explain and Vedic concepts they cannot be grasped without the experience.

I remember, as a boy, hearing a Christian missionary preach to a crowd in India. Among other sweet things he was telling them was that if he gave a blow to their idol with his stick, what could it do? One of his hearers sharply answered, "If I abuse your God, what can He do?" “You would be punished,” said the preacher, "when you die." "So my idol will punish you when you die," retorted the Hindu. Why does a Christian go to church? Why is the cross holy? Why is the face turned toward the sky in prayer? Why are there so many images in the Catholic Church? Why are there so many images in the minds of Protestants when they pray? My brethren, we can no more think about anything without a mental image than we can live without breathing. By the law of association, the material image calls up the mental idea and vice versa. This is why the Hindu uses an external symbol when he worships. He will tell you, it helps to keep his mind fixed on the Being to whom he prays. He knows as well as you do that the image is not God, is not omnipresent. After all, how much does omnipresence mean to almost the whole world? It stands merely as a word, a symbol. Has God superficial area? If not, when we repeat that word "omnipresent", we think of the extended sky or of space, that is all. As we find that somehow or other, by the laws of our mental constitution, we have to associate our ideas of infinity with the image of the blue sky, or of the sea, so we naturally connect our idea of holiness with the image of a church, a mosque, or a cross. The Hindus have associated the idea of holiness, purity, truth, omnipresence, and such other ideas with different images and forms. But with this difference that while some people devote their whole lives to their idol of a church and never rise higher, because with them religion means an intellectual assent to certain doctrines and doing good to their fellows, the whole religion of the Hindu is centred in realisation. Man is to become divine by realising the divine. Idols or temples or churches or books are only the supports, the helps, of his spiritual childhood: but on and on he must progress. He must not stop anywhere. "External worship, material worship," say the scriptures, "is the lowest stage; struggling to rise high, mental prayer is the next stage, but the highest stage is when the Lord has been realised." Mark, the same earnest man who is kneeling before the idol tells you, "Him the Sun cannot express, nor the moon, nor the stars, the lightning cannot express Him, nor what we speak of as fire; through Him they shine." But he does not abuse any one's idol or call its worship sin. He recognises in it a necessary stage of life. "The child is father of the man." Would it be right for an old man to say that childhood is a sin or youth a sin? If a man can realise his divine nature with the help of an image, would it be right to call that a sin? Nor even when he has passed that stage, should he call it an error. To the Hindu, man is not travelling from error to truth, but from truth to truth, from lower to higher truth. To him all the religions, from the lowest fetishism to the highest absolutism, mean so many attempts of the human soul to grasp and realise the Infinite, each determined by the conditions of its birth and association, and each of these marks a stage of progress; and every soul is a young eagle soaring higher and higher, gathering more and more strength, till it reaches the Glorious Sun. Unity in variety is the plan of nature, and the Hindu has recognised it. Every other religion lays down certain fixed dogmas, and tries to force society to adopt them. It places before society only one coat which must fit Jack and John and Henry, all alike. If it does not fit John or Henry, he must go without a coat to cover his body. The Hindus have discovered that the absolute can only be realised, or thought of, or stated, through the relative, and the images, crosses, and crescents are simply so many symbols - so many pegs to hang the spiritual ideas on. It is not that this help is necessary for every one, but those that do not need it have no right to say that it is wrong. Nor is it compulsory in Hinduism. One thing I must tell you. Idolatry in India does not mean anything horrible. It is not the mother of harlots. On the other hand, it is the attempt of undeveloped minds to grasp high spiritual truths. The Hindus have their faults, they sometimes have their exceptions; but mark this, they are always for punishing their own bodies, and never for cutting the throats of their neighbours. If the Hindu fanatic burns himself on the pyre, he never lights the fire of Inquisition. And even this cannot be laid at the door of his religion any more than the burning of witches can be laid at the door of Christianity. To the Hindu, then, the whole world of religions is only a travelling, a coming up, of different men and women, through various conditions and circumstances, to the same goal. Every religion is only evolving a God out of the material man, and the same God is the inspirer of all of them. Why, then, are there so many contradictions? They are only apparent, says the Hindu. The contradictions come from the same truth adapting itself to the varying circumstances of different natures. It is the same light coming through glasses of different colours. And these little variations are necessary for purposes of adaptation. But in the heart of everything the same truth reigns. The Lord has declared to the Hindu in His incarnation as Krishna, "I am in every religion as the thread through a string of pearls. Wherever thou seest extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power raising and purifying humanity, know thou that I am there." And what has been the result? I challenge the world to find, throughout the whole system of Sanskrit philosophy, any such expression as that the Hindu alone will be saved and not others. Says Vyasa, "We find perfect men even beyond the pale of our caste and creed."

This is the way forward - knowledge of Sanatan Dharma which is not easily articulated .

That flowing state of mind when one starts to experience consciousness, divinity... Thank you for this conversation 🌻

LIFE in itself is multifaceted... So it goes without saying it would need multi-craftsmanship to create those Master Pieces in different hues and shades... Different Gods & Goddess are like those various rivers whose ultimate aim is to merge with The Ocean.. The Supreme Consciousness... And during their journey towards this Ocean these rivers do nurture The Life beautifully... 💜 Thank you so much Rukmini ji for such a beautiful video.. No wonder your dance intelligently eloquent & Divine.. 🙏💖🙏

You have made a good explanation that transcends knowledge from the books.Your inclusive learning of Sanatana Dharma reveals your healthy mind and respect for nature is similar to my philosophy of life.Kudos Rukminiji

I suggest people here to listen to Swami Sarvapriyananda for more detailed explanation on the subject.

Epitome of Woman’s beauty is in a simple safe and bindi……encapsulates the power of shakti 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️

Well, we are Hindus and you have explained so nicely.

Radha you are Ambassador of Indian culture and hinduism

Divinity expounded by the dancing goddess.

wonderful explainatiom!!!

Very well explained ...and your ART also has that Divinity , sitting so far people can feel that omni present unseen energy 🙏🙏

Thank you so much for this explanation. You shared the concept so well. In today's world we really need these insights.

Beautiful explanation! Very deep, with love, without judgement....

What a beautiful explanation of dharma...very good ma'am.if you raise 10 students to be like you, you would be doing a great service to humanity

Never knew that in worshipping Lord Ganesha we are actually venerating the idea of success. Thanks for enlightening on this 🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for explaining this, please do more videos on hindu culture!

Beautiful way of explaining. You are truly a gift from God to uplift us. Your understanding of Sanatana Dharma is so deep, and I am proud to be your fan.

"Luminous Beings are WE. Not this Crude Matter." ~ Master Yoda.

I subscribed within 1:15 mins of watching it. Why? The depth of the topic, ease of explaining, elegance of the background, and grace of the presenter.

The core of this age-old school of philosophies, its subtle notion of a divinity of a sort of dual nature, having simultaneously complete and sole agency as well as an all-pervasive inherence, has been extremely well -understood, captured, and articulated in this video!👍👌

This is the second time I am getting a scientific and more logical interpretation of this concept...... First from sadhguru and then second from this channel............ And I loved the fact that southindiand are not just following blindly everything like here in northern side they have good logical explanation for everything that they follow...

Can you please make a video on which books do you refer or read to get deep into bharatnatyam or into any vedic knowledge all over... It would be of great help... Also love your video their is always so much we take after the end of every video please keep posting more!!! Thank you

Because Hinduism is a beautiful religion and it is a unique religion.....but just like any other religion it is very malleable ...meaning it can be used as a weapon or it can be used to do immense betterment to the whole world.....I love it because it is so much accepting towards any other religion....wonderful video

Diversity in Gods and Godesses is because of different roles they have in evolution of human consciousness, creating and preserving the universe that is best explained by Hinduism.

Wow….. I am really blown away with your wonderful , simplistic explanation 🙏🏻kudos and thank you

Ma'am, you are earning more respect from me day by day.. thanks for this beautiful explanation 🙏🙏❤❤

Gratitude for your wisdom teacher Rukmini! ❤️

Thank you for sharing. Love and blessings from Canada. 😊🙏🏼❤️🌞🌜🌺🕊️

I dont have words to say thanks, your answer is the summary of entire veda.

So many god's are better than one god Because there are so many people And so many problems One god can't control all problems 😊😊😊

Very well explained.Dhanjawad from Germany 🕉💖🛐

You are so Simple but so beautyfull you represents India women

Swami Vivekananda would love your little talk on Hinduism, which embraces all religions and all of life!

This video itself has made me your fan❤️ so beautifully put!

Your first comment that this is "Sanatan dharma" won me over! Thanks for your beautiful video. This is the beauty of Sanatan Dharma that we all have the freedom to express it in our own way. Love your sari. Everything that sustains life should be revered and worshipped.

I have been looking for this explanation for sometime now. Thank you.

I am impressed that this is shared in detail. Many gods like not a bread 🍞 or a bagel 🥯. It’s what inside that makes them. Having a god for earth included the floor, god for material or fabric. A person can make their own god, Explanations why you have queens 👸🏽. This is very helpful and acknowledge. 🙏🏽📖😇

Здравствуйте, благодарю Вас за Ваши видео и божественные танцы! Мы с дочкой Ваши фанаты 💖💖💖 🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹

I had the same answer. Very fine answer. Thanks for understanding at this level.

😱😱 your beauty is Unforgettable!!!!

Beautiful.♥️ Thank you. 🙏

GOD is the life energy inside every living being.. GOD is diffused in our breath..

I like the explanation without any written or a prepared speach, this was a true explanation from your mind and thought at the time of recording, expecting more subjects explained in a simple way relating to present lifestyle

You kind of remind me of Jay Lakhani in a way that you explain your thought's of Hinduism he was a great teacher. Thank you, 🙏Namaste🕉

Thanks for describing the same fundamental truth from your perspective. It was joyful to listen to you.

You are seriously getting me interested in Hinduism...

Beautiful explanation. I always felt that the different Hindu deities were personified manifestations of the different aspects of life while still all being one. But, learning from you in this video has made me understand it even more! Warmed my heart! Thank you ☺️✨🌸

If the Maker made the thing, who made the Maker? This is the argument used against creationism. Creationists then argue that the Maker pre-exists, is beyond time, and is therefore neither made or destroyed. The point being - Hinduism is the only culture that has debated this to the hilt. Other cultures throw a book at you, and ask you not to question anything.

Your explanation is a gift to us, explained in a simple way. You are blessed.Thank you!

So Beautifully Explained ❤️

Thank you dear Rukmini for bringing these knowledge to understanding.

Thank you Rukmini for explaining a great philosophy in simple way..

All other "faiths' are religion but Hinduism is not, its a philosophy revealing the truth about nature, universe, the whole cosmos. Hinduism reveals (in very short to say) " who am I" and what ought to be done and what ought not to be done being a Human. I found a person who is revealing the truth about Hinduism and my heartiest thanks to you for your endeavour.

I am so glad I found this channel! Wisdom, art and knowledge all mixed into one! 🎉🙏

Such a lovely way of explanation. Love the content of this video Rukmini ma’am. 🙏

People get confused with symbolism. It's just a way to tell about a concept.. like a storytelling.. We are too small in front of the creator, we give ourselves too much of footage with our very limited understanding of anything. The path to understanding divinity can be as varied as life on planet Earth... Why fight about it?

That perspective itself is a pure bliss! So is the bharatnatyam. Perfectly explained.

We are allowing cosmic energy to attain the supreme consciousness. God exists only when we are in consciousness.

When I heard what she said in the beginning of the video, how Hindus have different perceptions of God in what is manifest, I was immediately reminded of Romans 1:20-21, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." Hindus are not necessarily worshipping that perception as a separate deity but as a part of God. As a Christian, I see nothing wrong with that because I too see God's unique characteristics in everything He made, both visible and invisible; His creativity, His sovereignty, His unparalleled wisdom, His love, His thoughtfulness, His pleasure in His good works. His wrath as well. I do not know what God looks like but I imagine Him in the things I see and how I see Him working from within me and working from within other people. Jesus said God was in Him and Him in the Father, and He in us. His people. The Holy Spirit operates in those who believe. Jesus attests to this perfect unity of Creator and Creation. If Hindus use imagery to see God in everything, then it is no different than a poet using imagery to illustrate their words and leave their truth to the interpretation and imagination of their reader. But since God's truth cannot change, a believer will only see God's truth for what it only is. In the Bible, Jesus used parables to help people understand better. He only spoke plainly to those who understood and believed. Imagery in the Bible is used to describe Jesus as a lion, as light, as life, as a perfect lamb, as a shepherd. When she goes on to describe how this pervasive intelligence exists in everything and how everything seems to follow a certain order, I understood this as well. In the Book of Enoch, he says that God made laws for everything in the universe and appointed angels to govern them and if anything operated outside the law, it was destroyed. We see this in one account in the Bible when Jesus was hungry and came across a fig tree that only had leaves and no fruit. He cursed the tree and it immediately withered and die. Everything God made is purpose-driven. Everything that operates outside its purpose, God destroys. In American schools, they don't go in depth about Vedic culture and I remember only being taught about the trimurty, India's Holy Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The Creator, the Preserver, and the Destroyer. But they did not tell us that all these ideas of gods and goddesses were really just personifications of one God. I am still learning about Vedic culture but after hearing her explain it in her way, my understanding was increased and Ibam grateful. I am beginning to wonder why Christians don't see God already working within the people of India. He is already operating there and there is no need for missionaries who only sow their own interests and the agendas of their organization. It is sad that many people around the world associated the Catholic Church with all Christians. You would be shocked to know that many Christians do not agree or approve of the dogmas of the Catholic religion. A true Christian does not color Jesus with different shades of White or Black. A true Christian is taught to live peaceably with all people, not offend anyone. We render to Ceasar what is Ceasar's and render to God what is God's. I see God's truth strung through the beliefs of Hindus but unfortunately some "Christians" will not see it. Most missionaries are funded by large organizations like The Catholic Church, Jehovah's witnesses, and although they say they serve the Lord, and most are very humble kind people who do want to believe in God, they are misled by the dogmas and stigmas of that organization and end up spreading those concepts which do NOT align with the Word of God. This is why the world is in contempt of Christians because they see the fallacy and call it out but I want to clarify that this fallacy does not fall on all Chistians. The Bible even attests to this. Not everybody that calls on the Lord are a true follower of the Way or even respect God. But those that are true followers call out on our own wayward brothers and sisters to return to the truth, the barebones of the Word, to reframe their thinking in God's wisdom. Now, if a Hindu worships a carved image of a deity and does not render that worship to the one true God, is that considered a sin? The Bible teaches us that we shouldn't worship carved images made of wood, stone, etc, because God is concerned that we are putting that graven image before Him. Unlike Catholics, I do not need rosary beads to meditate and pray to God, I do not need a priest to confess my sins because Jesus is the High Priest and our Mediator. I do not have statues of saints in my home or pray to any to intercede on my behalf. The Bible tells us there is no knowledge, no work, and no planning in the grave, so it is not possible for any of these dead "saints" to intercede on behalf of a believer. The only one who came back from the grave and ascended to Heaven was Jesus Christ and He sits at the right hand of God. He is the only One, risen, who can work and plan on our behalf because He is alive again and has sovereign authority to operate within and through us. Not just believers. But all people. I say this, because I saw God work in kings who did not believe in Him. I saw Jesus work in Peter who rejected knowing Him, in Thomas who doubted Him. I saw Jesus even work in Judas who betrayed Him. Everyone has a part in God's story. Those who believe and those who don't or won't. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your understanding. God bless you. Respect from New York/New Jersey.

Unbelievable awareness. Especially considering such incredible ideas were thought of thousands of years ago by our ancient Rishi munis . Just how good were our people back then

One of my very inspiring friend, a renowned French meditation teacher, writer, a lover of India who has written "L'Inde Interieure", the Inner India said in one of his books that religions who empathises on monotheism are violent, and religions who are polytheists, Hinduism, Buddhism, Hawaiian religion, because of having the inner focus on self-realisation instead of an external conquest are much more peaceful and benevolent.

Beautifully explained 😍 This is the real understanding of god and religion.

Every God is the part of ultimate power.There is symbolic meaning for every God .The concept is good

well articulated ❤️

Well explained.. your good work should carry forward....Do make some videos on yog asanans...I saw one of yours.. was fantastic...Our next generation will definitely gain some good sanskar of our culture.Good work.

All your conversation series are like podcasts for me! I absolutely enjoy listening and engaging with your content. Really admire your work :)

The beauty that is Sanatana Dharma. & Namaskaram Rukmini gaaru.

The sound of the bird in the background... Attracted my attention. 🤭🌿🌼

💝👌💐💕🌻😊👍 thank you 💕😊 ma'am 💖 for publishing this content and uploading it on u tube

Paramashiva's message directly from Kailasa: Nithyanandam royal family. It is true my Mahadevi Rukmini. Everything exists in you. I am you, you are me.The Sanatana Hindu Darma allows all of us to be Gods and Goddesses and not fight with each other. All of us are Gods and Goddesses,we do not need any superior body to rotate all of us or to put a traffic signal for all of us. When the Third Eye(Raja Chakra) and all Chakras are awakened,one becomes Ishwara. Hinduism does not support the idea of one God. When you put yourself in the space of completion,you are God and Goddess. The ultimate experience of Advaita is, infinite Gods and Goddesses all infinitely powerful. I send my gratitude Honorable Empress Rukmini. Please stay safe and blissful. I wish and pray to dance with you one day, I dance 13 Dances and I also manifest many other blissful things like Shaolin Tai chi, Bodybuilding etc. I am Mahadeva,I have 50 hands, 25 heads and 75 eyes,eternally 16,youthful. Shrikailasam. Om Nithyananda Paramashivoham. I wish you excellent achievements in the life my honorable majesty Devi Parashakti Rukmini.

The world would be a better place if everyone understand this perspective of religion and God.

Thank you sister...you have beautifully shed the light on sanatana Dharma which has been ignorantly referred to just as Hinduism and not the one that encompasses all forms of creation...

You are nt only a dancer but also a wise woman (jnani)

Ma'am my greatest wish is that I could learn dancing from you... ❤

Ma'am you yourself is divine.

I love this! Thank you Rukmini for your time to share your beautiful knowledge. 😍👌

Very beautifully explained. Enjoyed it.

In reality Hindusism is the most liberal Dharma in the world ..and only the Vadic Sanatana Dharma is the future of all religions of the world .

They is only one paramathma with different thatv , this problem ll come wen we don't read and understand hindu scripture Bhagwad gita 10 : 39 I am generating seed of all existence, there is no being, moving or non moving that can exist without me

Understanding saguna and nirguna tatva of vedic sciences will bring better clarity. The way to express devotion. Saguna (Worship with a form, where various forms of god exist) and nirguna (express devotion, bhakti without any form)

The concept of Oneness is explained in a very lucid way n V request U to make such videos frequently. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

God bless you with what you need...

Hindu deities can be understood as a tree with many branches and leaves. Each branch and each leaf is an individual but all belong to the same tree. Each one of us embodies that same principal. We too have many forms and each form is related to in a different way as seen by those that interact with that particular form. For instance, My parents see me as their son. To my partner I am a spouse and a lover and a provider. My children see me as a father. My siblings see me as a brother. My students see me as a teacher. My friends see me as a companion. Those living next door to me see me as a neighbor. The shopkeeper sees me as a customer. There are those who see me as a friend and there are those who see me as an enemy. So if you would paint a picture of me, you would paint me with many heads and many arms. Yet I am one.

Very well explained🙏🙏 please keep spreading the knowledge about Indian culture🙏 The world needs to embrace the idea of pluralism& healthy coexistence for the sake of peace and prosperity...