Numerous and various deities have become the unique and significant representations of Hinduism. Deities are also symbols, which not only suggest the diversity of the tradition, but also illustrate unity, tolerance, and acceptance that characterize the believers of this ancient tradition.
A deity in Hinduism is a symbol of the tradition according to Paul Tillich’s description in his work Faith as Ultimate Concern. A deity satisfies the first characteristic of a symbol, which the symbol points beyond itself to sounds and meanings. (Tillich, 486) Deity is considered a concrete representation of God in Hinduism, for God is living in the universe, and each deity represents an aspect of the limitless God. (Rambachan, 7) For example, Ganesha, one …show more content…
Sarasvati, which is another deity in the Temple, represents the Goddess of learning, knowledge, and wisdom. The Hindu deity also satisfies the second characteristic of a symbol introduced in Tillich’s work that the symbol participates in that to which it points. (Tillich, 486) In other words, the symbol itself is as sacred as the meaning it is delivering. It is easy to understand this characteristic in Hinduism because any deity is considered as a manifestation or an incarnation of God in the universe. Thus, deities are as holy and transcendent as the only God. In the Hindu Temple in Queens, deities are preserved behind ropes which prevent people from approaching too close the deities. Oblations, which are food prepared for God by the believers, can only be placed in front of and close to the feet of the deities by selected priests in the temple. Besides symbolizing religious meanings and obtaining them on its own, a deity also opens up levels of reality which were otherwise closed to believers. This was categorized as the third characteristic of symbol by Tillich. (Tillich, 486) Deities are accessible incarnations of God in the universe, which allowed believers to have closer connections with God. In temples,
A deity in Hinduism is a symbol of the tradition according to Paul Tillich’s description in his work Faith as Ultimate Concern. A deity satisfies the first characteristic of a symbol, which the symbol points beyond itself to sounds and meanings. (Tillich, 486) Deity is considered a concrete representation of God in Hinduism, for God is living in the universe, and each deity represents an aspect of the limitless God. (Rambachan, 7) For example, Ganesha, one …show more content…
Sarasvati, which is another deity in the Temple, represents the Goddess of learning, knowledge, and wisdom. The Hindu deity also satisfies the second characteristic of a symbol introduced in Tillich’s work that the symbol participates in that to which it points. (Tillich, 486) In other words, the symbol itself is as sacred as the meaning it is delivering. It is easy to understand this characteristic in Hinduism because any deity is considered as a manifestation or an incarnation of God in the universe. Thus, deities are as holy and transcendent as the only God. In the Hindu Temple in Queens, deities are preserved behind ropes which prevent people from approaching too close the deities. Oblations, which are food prepared for God by the believers, can only be placed in front of and close to the feet of the deities by selected priests in the temple. Besides symbolizing religious meanings and obtaining them on its own, a deity also opens up levels of reality which were otherwise closed to believers. This was categorized as the third characteristic of symbol by Tillich. (Tillich, 486) Deities are accessible incarnations of God in the universe, which allowed believers to have closer connections with God. In temples,