RELI 216 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Shaktism, Dharma, Avatar
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Hindus the(cid:373)sel(cid:448)es differ i(cid:374) their (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)eptio(cid:374)s as to (cid:449)h(cid:455) the(cid:455) are (cid:862)hi(cid:374)dus(cid:863). O(cid:374)e group might go to temple and participate in puja and other rituals, another group might just be philosophical hindus without adhering to any ritualistic behavior. Krsna, siva and other divinities as found in puranic literature. There are also significant groups, particularly among the saiva and sakta devotees (who consider siva or sakti as their highest god/goddess) who would consider the. Agama literature as the most sacred and this accord it equal to that of vedic literature. Hi(cid:374)duis(cid:373) does(cid:374)"t desig(cid:374)ate its upre(cid:373)e god (cid:271)(cid:455) just o(cid:374)e (cid:374)a(cid:373)e. the (cid:448)ast (cid:373)ajorit(cid:455) of hindus believe in one supreme god but what that god is called will differ from group to group. To the worshippers of mother goddess she can be sakti, laksmi,parvati and so on. There are special reasons for this phenomenon. (cid:862)not ha(cid:448)i(cid:374)g a hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) origi(cid:374) a(cid:374)d goi(cid:374)g (cid:271)a(cid:272)k to a period thousa(cid:374)ds of (cid:455)ears ago,