by C.V.Rajan

Created on: August 23, 2008

Hinduism is not a religion of multiple Gods as some non-Hindus wrongly believe. Hinduism actually accepts worshipping and adoring varying forms of the One God - called Brahman, Parabrahman or Paramatman. Hinduism recognizes the fact that different people have different tastes, temperaments and capacity of intake in the matter of religion. Hence it offers scope of worshiping God in different looks, names and attributes.

In Hinduism, God is the omnipresent and the omnipotent who creates, protects and destroys the worlds and the beings. The Creation' function of God is worshipped as Brahma; The Protection/sustenance' aspect of God is worshipped as Vishnu and the Destruction' aspect of God is worshipped as Siva. These 3 are male Gods. They are endowed with human form conducive for loving worship.

VISHNU THE PROTECTOR:

Vishnu, the protector is worshipped along with his divine female counterpart (wife) Lakshmi or Sri. Vishnu's abode is Vaikuntha. Vishnu the dark skinned and handsome God, with 6 hands and carries Sangu Chakra and Gatha (Conch, Wheel and a Maze) and he lies in the bed of a 5-headed snake - Aadhisesha at Vaikuntha amidst a ocean of milk.

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity and she is the holy mother who is very compassionate. She is the one who recommends to Vishnu to bless his devotees irrespective of their limitations and sins. Goddess Laksmi resides in the lotus heart of Vishnu. It is also said that Lord Vishnu is affectionately served by Lakshmi by massaging his feet while He relaxes in the bed of Aadhisesha.

Vishnu in association with Lakshmi is called Sriman Narayana. Vishnu is a God of thousand names and every name of him is holy. Some of the popular (other) names of Vishnu are Hari, Madhav, Keshav, Govinda, Narayana, Mukunda, Madhusudhan, Vasudeva, Srinivasa and so on.

Worshipping of Vishnu as Prime God is very widely practiced in Hinduism. Followers of this sect are known as Vaishnavaites. Staunch Vaishnavaite believers will consider Brahma and Siva either as "part of the Whole" or as "Gods of lesser significance". According to Vaishnavites, the very purpose of Human birth is to love Lord Vishnu whole heartedly. The ultimate goal of human birth is to attain salvation (Moksha). Vaishnavaites consider Vishnu as the only God who is endowed with the power of granting salvation. They believe that those who attain salvation get freed from the cycles of birth and death and they reach Vaikuntha and live in bliss for ever in the enchanting presence

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