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gods and worship
When looking at the practice of the Hindu dharma, many Westerners assume that Hindus worship many gods. On one level this is not quite true. Some traditions within the Hindu dharma maintain that there is only one ultimate reality This is Brahman the Supreme Spirit. Everything is part of this one reality, including the various images of the gods and goddesses.  Some Hindus would say that each god represents a different characteristic of Brahman.  Thus Shiva represents Brahman's ability to destroy and create life.  

Human, animal and plant life may also be seen to be part of Brahman.  For some Hindus when a living thing dies, its atman (soul) may be reborn or it may achieve moksha (release) and return to its origin - Brahman.

There are three main images of god, or to put it another way, there are three main characteristics of Brahman and these are represented by three images.  These are known as the Trimurti. Tri means three and murti means image. Just as someone might take your photograph or image, a statue of a god becomes that god's image. 

THE TRIMURTI

1.  Brahma (NOT Brahman) is the creator but having created the world he has now withdrawn from it.  He is often pictured with four heads and riding a swan. 

2.  Shiva represents destruction and regeneration. He is sometimes shown dancing in a circle of fire or meditating in the lotus position. The Ganges is often shown flowing from Shiva's hair and he wears a tiger's skin and snake to demonstrate his power.  His vehicle is Nandi the bull.

3.  Vishnu preserves life. He is often painted blue to represent the sky or eternity. He carries a mace, a lotus flower and a discus. His vehicle is Garuda the eagle.  Hindus believe that Vishnu has come to earth on nine different occasions. The most famous of these incarnations (or avatars) are Rama and Krishna.

 This is an image of Brahma the Creator.
This is a man dressed as Lord Shiva.
This is Nandi the bull. Nandi is Shiva's vehicle.

 

WORSHIP

Hindus call worship puja.

Hindu worship includes use of all five senses.  Firstly, the colourful images appeal to the sense of sight.  The offering of incense appeals to smell.  Touch is brought into play by the physical offering of gifts such as fruit and flowers.  The sense of hearing is represented by: singing bhajans or hymns, the chanting of mantras or verses and the ringing of the bell to begin worship.

 

 This is a picture of Shiva lingum worship. Shiva is sometimes depicted as a lingum. This may be viewed as a fertility rite.
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