Is there GOD, is an oft repeated question. Where do we find Him? Should we find Him in temples? Should we find him in ourselves? In evidence driven world, how do we prove such ideas? Even whether God is one or multiple, is a complex and deeply philosophical question in theological and philosophical discussions. However, devotion to a cause must drive our lives. The cause must instil divinity in us through worship. That cause can be found anywhere and everywhere, in something and everything. Bhagavad Gita emphasizes this idea through a shloka.
“Yatra yogeshwarah krushno dhanurdharah
Tatra Shrirvijayo Bhootirdhruva Neetirmatirmam”
It translates to “Wherever there is Lord Krishna, the master of yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also surely be found opulence, victory, prosperity, sound morality, and, indeed, extraordinary power.”
Are temples places of divinity? Do devotion and spiritual practices drive our lives? Actually, our temples foster a connection with the divine and are considered sacred spaces, where devotees connect with their chosen deities and experience the divine presence. Does that mean there are multiple Gods? Maybe not. Each deity represents different aspects or manifestations of the divine. It depends on us to choose a manifestation. For example, Lord Brahma is the creator, Lord Vishnu is the preserver, and Lord Shiva is the destroyer. Many times, we view our deities as interconnected and part of a larger cosmic order. We only seek the blessings of multiple gods to maintain harmony and balance in our lives and the universe. It is just that worshiping multiple gods allows devotees to connect with the divine in its various forms and attributes. It isn’t that the practice of worshiping multiple gods necessarily implies a belief in the existence of separate, independent gods.
Theism holds that God exists in real terms, that He created everything and that He sustains all, and that He is present everywhere, through a certain level of consciousness, whereas Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or denial of gods but a lack of belief in gods. Rather than debate theism or atheism, Hindu philosophy dwells on ‘Dwaita’ and ‘Adwaita’ thoughts. Whereas ‘Atman’ and ‘Brahman’ are two separate and non-interchangeable entities in ‘Dwaita’, ‘Adwaita’ preaches that ‘Brahman’ alone is real.
Are God and Religion related? In Vedanta, God is Brahman and includes everything. Hence Religion is only a search for self-knowledge, a search for God within, or search for consciousness. An agnostic theist believes in God but not Religion. An agnostic atheist believes the existence of God itself is uncertain. These are at best intellectual arguments. The only reality is that all human beings experience consciousness. Realisation of the consciousness is realisation of God.
While Christianity, believes in one God who is Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit or the Holy Trinity, with one God in three persons, Islam is a strictly monotheistic faith, believing in the oneness of Allah. Sikhism, and Judaism are monotheistic too. Even as Hindus and Buddhists worship multiple Gods, they believe in a single, formless, and all-pervading divine principle. Does that mean God is one and omnipresent? A shloka from Bhagavad-Gita implies so.
“Sooryoayam pratimaasmi tejoasmi viddhi maamakaam jyotiṣaamṛddhisaambhaavaḥ kaamayantaamaḥam jagat”
“I am the source of light in all luminous objects. I am the brilliance in the sun. I am the life in all living beings. I am the penance of the ascetics. I am one”. Here Lord Krushna underscores the omnipresence of the Divine, emphasizing that God is present in all things, including the sun, living beings, and ascetic practices. That being what it is, does technology have some answers?
Modern technology is akin to the meta-physics of Vedanta. All of them, tie our existence to the ultimate truth. If there is thesis, there must be anti-thesis. Orthodox must coexist with heterodox. If we believe in the existence of God and godliness, then we must, the lack of it. Hence schools like Jain, Buddhist, Ajivika, Ajnana, and Charvaka evolved that show us the other side of the truth. However, they all carry us through a journey of consciousness and its multiple dimensions before we become one with ‘prakriti’, irrespective of the route we follow.
Whatever be the discussion, ultimately, the question of whether God is one or multiple is a matter of faith, belief, and interpretation within each religious tradition.