Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

CHAPTER VIII :Summary of Indian TheologyCONCLUSIONTHE following scheme sets out very briefly thefundamental conceptions of Indian theology andcosmology, as assumed in most of the foregoingmyths and legends :The GodsThe One Absolute Realityis Brahman (neuter), which,by the assumption of attributes, becomes Ishvara, god oroverlord. Ishvara has three aspects, viz. Brahma, Shiva,and Vishnu, with their Shaktis or energies, SarasvatI,Devi, and Lakshmi. The sectarian worshippers identifyone of these with the highest Ishvara, and regard the twoother aspects as merely devas. Hence there appears acertain confusion of status in the legends, according to theparticular sectarian standpoint from which they are related. The most important sects are the Shaivas, whoworship Shiva, the Vaishnavas, who worship Vishnu(chiefly in his avatars, as Rama or Krishna), and theShaktas, who worship Devi as the Supreme. Almost allIndian worship is monotheistic there is not for the;individual worshipper any confusion of God with gods.Avatars are special incarnations assumed by portions ofthe Supreme for helping on the processes of evolution andrelease. Ten such avatars of the supreme Vishnu areusually recognized, of whom Rama, Krishna, and Buddhaare the last, and Kalki is yet to come. "Whensoever,"says Shrl Krishna, Law "the fails and lawlessness uprises,O thou of Bharata s race, then do Ibring myself to bodiedbirth. To guard the righteous,to destroy evildoers, toestablish the Law, I come into birth age after age."389