252. diaspora
personal God, to atheism. Most Hindus worship the divine in five personal mani-
festations (panchopasana): (1) the sun, (2) Shiva (the static principle), (3) Shakti (the
dynamic principle), (4) Vishnu (Krishna and Rama are His two important incarna-
tions), and (5) Ganesha (the dispeller of obstacles and bestower of fulfillment). All
Hindu deities reduce to these five and their associates, who in their turn are but one
and the same. It is possible for a Hindu to believe in (a) a personal God with mani-
festations in forms worthy of worship, (b) a personal God without such manifesta-
tions, or (c) an impersonal principle. The idea, again, is to awaken divinity within
oneself according to one ’s inclinations and capabilities, in the pursuit of spiritual-
ity. To rule fanatic parochialism out, Hinduism has the mandatory practice of pay-
ing obeisance to all five forms before engaging in special worship of any one of
them, highlighting the fact that divinity is one, though approaches to it may vary.
ICONS
Although their use is not a must, icons are accepted in Hinduism. An icon serves an
important purpose in man’s search for the infinite in and through the finite. The rare
individual who can establish a relation with divinity directly does not need any
icons. However, the less-advantaged majority, and those who have a fascination for
encountering the Supreme in forms, worship it in images on the understanding that
the infinite, which is without limits, can express itself in all kinds of ways.
The images of Gods and Goddesses have deep spiritual meanings. Even the con-
crete images, on analysis, turn out to be abstract symbols for the one divine princi-
ple. The black color of Krishna and Kali means that they are not physical beings but
are beyond the perception of ordinary mortals because of their transcendental na-
ture. The flute of Krishna stands for the inner beauty, harmony, and rhythm of the
universe, and the enchanting call of the divine to be heard at the spiritual level. The
Ganges on the head of Shiva represents the constant flow of divine bliss. Shiva’s tri-
dent (trishul) stands for the state of equilibrium that characterizes the primordial el-
ements—sattva, rajas, and tamas.The crescent moon signifies the gradual awaken-
ing of divine consciousness.
DIVINE INCARNATIONS
According to Hinduism, divinity incarnates itself, whenever the need arises, to save
humanity in distress. God is not only omnipotent but is also the lover and the sub-