Thursday, October 15, 2026

Why does our Sanatana Dharma have so many gods, and which god is supreme?

 All gods are manifestations of the supreme Brahman. Ultimately everything is Brahman.

An example is Arjuna’s prayer to Krishna in Vana parva

“You are Narayana, and you were Hari, O scorcher of enemies. You are Brahma, Soma, and Surya; Dharma, Dhatr, Yama, and Agni. You are Vayu, Vaisravana, Rudra, and Kala; the sky, the earth, and the directions. You are the Unborn, the teacher of all that moves and does not move, the Creator, O Supreme Person.

  • 13, Kairata parva, Mahabharata.

Similarly Lord Vishnu says to Markandeya

“I am Vishnu, I am Brahma, and I am Sakra, the lord of the gods. I am King Vaisravana, and I am Yama, lord of the dead. I am Siva and Soma, and I am Kasyapa, the progenitor. I am Dhatr and Vidhatr, and I am the sacrifice itself, O best of Brahmins.

  • Markandeya Samsya parva, Mahabharata.

The Rigveda famously says

They call him Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and Agni; he is also the heavenly Garutman, the beautiful-winged one. Though existence is One, the wise speak of it in many ways: they call it Agni, Yama, and Matarisvan.

  • 1.164.46, Rigveda.