Non-Hindu deities

[Riverwolf]

What about bringing other religions' deities (like Odin or Athena) into a more Hindu practice?

[Jainarayan]

It's what works for an individual, but I think a problem arises when an individual makes an amalgam of beliefs and deities and calls it by the name of an existing religion. I don't think you can have a pantheon of Hindu, Chinese Buddhist, and (Neo-)Pagan deities, for example, even if the principles of all those religions are the same, and call it Hinduism.

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by TouchedbytheLord

It's what works for an individual, but I think a problem arises when an individual makes an amalgam of beliefs and deities and calls it by the name of an existing religion. I don't think you can have a pantheon of Hindu, Chinese Buddhist, and (Neo-)Pagan deities, for example, even if the principles of all those religions are the same, and call it Hinduism.

Totally agree. Its a misrepresentation, not just for Hinduism, but for all the others. Its okay to say its my version of 'religion' but not my version of Christianity, or Islam, or Buddhism, when there are some pretty set standards defining each faith. So its just best to call a spade a spade. If its a syncretic blend, then call it that. Kind of like saying, my version of Christianity doesn't include Christ. Well, then you're in a very small minority, I would think, and most other Christians would disagree with you that you're a Christian at all.

We have places on here to discuss syncretism, so the moderators recognized that.

[Wannabe Yogi]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

What about bringing other religions' deities (like Odin or Athena) into a more Hindu practice?

How ? Is it not seers who come up with paths. How am I going to come up with a set of sadhanas for Athena. Every Deity has a Mantra, Yantra, Murti, Kavacha (Armor to protect the bhakta), 1000 names, 100 names ect. ect. ect. Mantras come from the scriptures or enlightened teachers. How can I start a Hindu tradition for Odin. Would it be of any help to any one? It seems like one big gamble with the lives of others.

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Yogi

How ? Is it not seers who come up with paths. How am I going to come up with a set of sadhanas for Athena. Every Deity has a Mantra, Yantra, Murti, Kavacha (Armor to protect the bhakta), 1000 names, 100 names ect. ect. ect. Mantras come from the scriptures or enlightened teachers. How can I start a Hindu tradition for Odin. Would it be of any help to any one? It seems like one big gamble with the lives of others.

Tried to give you points again, but I keep getting ... 'spread some around'. Yes, SD has all that and more. Its not just some mumbo-jumbo, its actually incredibly complex and refined. The last thing Hinduism needs is another God. Aren't the temples full enough already? Pretty soon there will be no room for people.

[Jainarayan]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

Totally agree. Its a misrepresentation, not just for Hinduism, but for all the others. Its okay to say its my version of 'religion' but not my version of Christianity, or Islam, or Buddhism, when there are some pretty set standards defining each faith. So its just best to call a spade a spade. If its a syncretic blend, then call it that. Kind of like saying, my version of Christianity doesn't include Christ. Well, then you're in a very small minority, I would think, and most other Christians would disagree with you that you're a Christian at all.

Spot on.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by Wannabe Yogi

How ? Is it not seers who come up with paths. How am I going to come up with a set of sadhanas for Athena. Every Deity has a Mantra, Yantra, Murti, Kavacha (Armor to protect the bhakta), 1000 names, 100 names ect. ect. ect. Mantras come from the scriptures or enlightened teachers. How can I start a Hindu tradition for Odin. Would it be of any help to any one? It seems like one big gamble with the lives of others.

Well... Indra is basically the Vedic equivalent of Odin, so that can work. Ganesha and Murugan together serve Athena's role, though being depicted as males.

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

Well... Indra is basically the Vedic equivalent of Odin, so that can work. Ganesha and Murugan together serve Athena's role, though being depicted as males.

Even if it is the same God, or Deva, why not just worship Indra? Why complicate it? Other than making a more colorful shrine, it seems unnecessary to add more forms.

I do believe it is possible that it could be the same God, with a different name, but only a very mystic seer, who can see or feel the God in its vibratory form would know, and he or she probably wouldn't share this knowledge with the world.

Certainly Ganesha is known by other names and forms elsewhere on the planet, and other than some sort of ethnic curiosity, I don't see any practical application to this knowledge.

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Chisti

There are many people who view non-Hindu deities, such as Jesus, as aspects of Brahman. Is this valid? In a broad sense, everything is an aspect of Brahman, but still ...

It is unsupported by scripture, but it is possible.

What it means is that these personalities are empowered personalities, more direct manifestations of the Supreme. This means they are not ordinary souls, they are representations of Godhead.

I personally view them more as saints. But how they are viewed comes down to personal opinion, not religious doctrine (as far as I know!).

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by Vinayaka

Even if it is the same God, or Deva, why not just worship Indra? Why complicate it? Other than making a more colorful shrine, it seems unnecessary to add more forms.

I do believe it is possible that it could be the same God, with a different name, but only a very mystic seer, who can see or feel the God in its vibratory form would know, and he or she probably wouldn't share this knowledge with the world.

Certainly Ganesha is known by other names and forms elsewhere on the planet, and other than some sort of ethnic curiosity, I don't see any practical application to this knowledge.

For me, it'd be combining the religion I follow with images and elements of that of my own ancestry.

Besides, I only know one form of Indra as it stands, and I don't know any of his other names or mantras (and I generally don't trust the ones that are scattered all over the internet.)