DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0062
50 Mythological Brahmanism.
Then, in the next place, homage may be paid to the
Universal Spirit by and through the worship of the inferior
gods, goddesses, departed ancestors, living Brahmans, heroes,
animals, and plants. Even stocks, stones, and images may
represent the divine presence, and so become media through
which the great Eternal Spirit may become an object of
adoration. Nay, the very demons and fiends may receive
worship both from gods and men, if by self-mortification and
abstract meditation they attain nearness to re-absorption into
the great Spirit of the Universe.
I once asked a Brahman, residing at Thana (Tanna) near
Bombay, to give me some explanation of the fact that even
Indians of cultivated intellect who assert the unity of God,
appear to us Europeans to be worshippers of many gods.
His answer was to the following effect:—
' All orthodox Hindus believe in one Universal Spirit, who
becomes Supreme Lord over all (Paramesvara). At the same
time they believe that this one God has taken various forms,
all of which may be worshipped; just as gold is one every-
where though it may take different forms and names in dif-
ferent places and countries. Every man chooses his favourite
god or divine object to which he pays especial homage. Thus
Agnihotri-Brahmans regard fire as their favourite form of the
deity. They call him Agni-narayana. Vedic Brahmans
make a god of the Veda, calling it Veda-narayana. Different
places have also their favourite presiding deities. Benares is
specially watched over by a form of Siva (called Visvesvara);
Pandharpur, by a form of Krishna (called Vithoba). Here in
Thana we have temples of Vishnu, Rama, Krishna, Viththal,
Hanuman, Siva, Ganesa, and Devi. The oldest and most
sacred of all is one of Siva, in the character of Kauplnesvara.
We may propitiate every one of these gods with ceremonies
and sacrifices, but the Supreme Being present in them is the
real object of all our offerings and religious services. At the
end of each we say: " By this act may the Supreme Lord be
Then, in the next place, homage may be paid to the
Universal Spirit by and through the worship of the inferior
gods, goddesses, departed ancestors, living Brahmans, heroes,
animals, and plants. Even stocks, stones, and images may
represent the divine presence, and so become media through
which the great Eternal Spirit may become an object of
adoration. Nay, the very demons and fiends may receive
worship both from gods and men, if by self-mortification and
abstract meditation they attain nearness to re-absorption into
the great Spirit of the Universe.
I once asked a Brahman, residing at Thana (Tanna) near
Bombay, to give me some explanation of the fact that even
Indians of cultivated intellect who assert the unity of God,
appear to us Europeans to be worshippers of many gods.
His answer was to the following effect:—
' All orthodox Hindus believe in one Universal Spirit, who
becomes Supreme Lord over all (Paramesvara). At the same
time they believe that this one God has taken various forms,
all of which may be worshipped; just as gold is one every-
where though it may take different forms and names in dif-
ferent places and countries. Every man chooses his favourite
god or divine object to which he pays especial homage. Thus
Agnihotri-Brahmans regard fire as their favourite form of the
deity. They call him Agni-narayana. Vedic Brahmans
make a god of the Veda, calling it Veda-narayana. Different
places have also their favourite presiding deities. Benares is
specially watched over by a form of Siva (called Visvesvara);
Pandharpur, by a form of Krishna (called Vithoba). Here in
Thana we have temples of Vishnu, Rama, Krishna, Viththal,
Hanuman, Siva, Ganesa, and Devi. The oldest and most
sacred of all is one of Siva, in the character of Kauplnesvara.
We may propitiate every one of these gods with ceremonies
and sacrifices, but the Supreme Being present in them is the
real object of all our offerings and religious services. At the
end of each we say: " By this act may the Supreme Lord be