How many gods and goddesses are there in total?

Answer 1

Hinduism is a religion, which enables us to lead a original human life in spite of so many beliefs. This is possible because Hinduism associates each of the basic forces with a god.

The Basic gods:

The basic forces and the associated Hindu gods are,

1. Dreaming force - Indra

2. Illusory force - Shakti

3. Voluntary force - Brahma

4. Semi voluntary force - Vishnu

5. Involuntary force - Shiva

6. Status altering force - Shani

7. Compulsive force - Yama

Brahman - The supreme god

Above these seven forces is the basic force selector called Brahman, whom we call the supreme god. Thus, use of Brahman gives us a feeling that there is just one god.

The principle of Hindu gods:

The basic forces are associated with the opposite element in nature. Thus, Compulsive or Yama force is associated with death. Brahma, the transient for is associated with creation of eternal universe.

The Incarnations of Vishnu:

Vishnu force is our default force and thus our first choice force. This force generates a sinusoidal or wave like graph. Each part of the wave generated by this force is associated with an Incarnation of Vishnu. Thus, Vishnu has ten popular Incarnations and many other not so famous incarnations. In each incarnation Parvati too incarnates thus increasing the number of gods. In Ramavatara, there is the popular god Hanuman who is a Shakti god.

The central three basic forces viz. Voluntary, Semi voluntary and Involuntary forces are very difficult to use in pure form. Therefore, we have an intermediate stage called consort. Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati are consorts of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively.

Using the Involuntary Shiva force is difficult in spite of having an intermediary state or consort, Parvati. Thus, we have two two children Ganesha and Subramani.

The Illusory or Shakti force gives an illusion of strength. Thus, gods based on this force are common in villages all over India. This greatly adds to the number of Hindu gods.

Thus, Hinduism needs many gods to enable a Hindu to lead a original human life in spite of so many beliefs.

Another View:

Actually many people in ignorance of Vedas say that Hinduism has many gods while Hinduism is a monotheist religion.

Vedas says:

Na dvitityo Na triyaschthurtho naapyuchyate|

N a panchamo Na shshtah sapthmo naapyuchyate|

Nashtamo Na navamo dashamo naapyuchyate|

Yagna yetham devamekavritham veda

Sa sarvassai vi pashyathi yachha praanathi yachhana|

Tamidam nigatam sah sa yesha yeka yekavrideka yeva|

Ya yetham devamekavritham veda

Atharva 13.4[2]19-20

There is no second God, nor a third, nor is even a fourth spoken of

There is no fifth God or a sixth nor is even a seventh mentioned.

There is no eighth God, nor a ninth. Nothing is spoken about a tenth even.

This unique power is in itself. That Lord is only one, the only omnipresent. It is one and the only one.

Answer 2

INTRODUCTION:

According to Wikipedia, the definition of a god is: "supernatural creator and overseer of the universe". Included here in this definition are all deities, goddesses and supernatural beings. Arbitrary distinction between old mythology gods and modern gods is simply unjustifiable from a factual and historical point of view. From an impartial point of view, all gods are equal and none of them have presence over any others. From a partial point of view, there is only 1 valid and unique god (monotheistic), or 1 valid group of gods (polytheistic). From this partial point of view, all gods other than the preferred one are considered false, invalid or nonexistent gods. The provided answer that follows is obviously strictly based on an impartial, factual and historical point of view.

ANSWER:

Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6000 years ago, we have cataloged over 3700 supernatural beings, of which 2870 are considered deities. Those numbers are most probably a very conservative estimate because we have no accurate information before 4000 B.C. and human civilization goes back 8 000 to 10 000 years ago. For the first trace of modern humans, Homo sapiens sapiens, we have to go a lot further back to 195 000 years ago. That means we have no direct evidence, or accurate information, about a belief system, if any, for 97% of the existence of the human species on Earth. We do have some indirect evidence from funeral rite performed as far back as 35 000 years ago which may imply the belief of some sort of after life and/or 1 or many supernatural beings.

Those supernatural beings are regrouped in the following subcategories:

AFRICAN GODS

AUSTRALIAN GODS

AZTEC GODS

CARIBBEAN GODS

CELTIC GODS

CHINESE GODS

EGYPTIAN GODS

FINNISH GODS

GREEK GODS

INCAN GODS

INDIAN GODS

JAPANESE GODS

MAYAN GODS

MESOPOTAMIAN GODS

MIDDLE-EASTERN GODS

NATIVE AMERICAN GODS

NORSE GODS

OCEANIC GODS

ROMAN GODS

SLAVIC and BALTIC GODS

SOUTH AMERICAN GODS

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN GODS

TIBETAN GODS

And the Abrahamic gods, which includes the Jewish, Christian and Muslim god.

Answer 3

They are known to be three lords in Hindu as

1 Lord Braham the creator

3 Lord Vishnu the preservor

4 Lord Shiva the destroyer

the three of them combined called treedev

Answer 4

It will be difficult to give an exact number. There are many tribes we know too little about.

Answer 5

Are you talking about for the Greek Mythology or Roman Mythology?