SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HINDUISM AND ISLAM

PART - 05
GOD IN BHAGVAD GITA
The most popular among all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagwad Gita. In Chapter
7, Ishlok 20, it is mentioned ___
Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender
unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of
worship according to their own nature.
. . . [Bhagwad Gita – 7: 20]
The Gita is referring to those people who are materialistic and therefore worship
demigods.
GOD IN VEDAS - YAJURVEDA
Vedas are considered the most sacred amongst all the Hindu scriptures.
1. The Yajur Ved in Adhyaya 32, Ishlok 3 says __
Natasya pati ma asti, which means ‘there is no image of Him’
. . . [Yajuveda – 32: 3]
2. Yajur Ved further says – “He is un-born. Only He should be worshiped”.
3. The Yajurveda by Devi Chand, on page 377 mentions __
There is no image of Him whose glory verily is great. He sustains
within Himself all luminous objects like the Sun etc. May He not
harm me, this is my prayer. As He is unborn, He deserves our
worship. . . .[Yajurveda by Devi Chand, page 377]
4. Yajurveda in Adhyaya 40, Ishlok 8 says __
He is bodyless and pure . . . [Yajurveda –
40: 8]

He hath attained unto the Bright, Bodiless, Woundless, Sinewless,

the pure which evil hath not pierced. Far-sighted, wise,
encompassing, he self-existent hath prescribed aims, as propriety
demands, unto the Everlasting years
. . . [Yajurveda – 40: 8]
[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph I. H. Griffith page 538]
5. In Yajurveda again in Adhyaya 40, Ishlok 9, it is mentioned __
Andhatama pra vishanti ye asambhuti mupaste, . . .
[Yajurveda – 40: 9]
Which means, “They enter darkness, those who worship natural things” like
air, water, fire etc. “They sink deeper in darkness those who worship
sambhuti” ie created things like chair, idols etc.
6. Yajurveda also mentions a prayer:
Lead us to the good path and remove the sin that makes us astray
and wander.
. . . [Yajurveda – 40: 16]
GOD IN VEDAS - ATHERVAVEDA
1. In Atherva ved in book 20, Hymn no. 58, Ishlok no. 3, it is mentioned __
Dev maha osi, which means, ‘God is verily great’ . . . [Atherva Veda 20:
58: 03]

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 SIMILARITIES BETWEEN HINDUISM AND ISLAM

2. In Atharvaveda Samhita, volume 2, page 910 by William Dmight Whitney, it is

mentioned __
Verily, Surya, thou art great: truly, aditya, thou art great. As thou
art great indeed thy greatness is admire; yea, verily, great art thou,
O God
. . . [Atharvaveda Samhita by William Dmight Whitney, vol. 2, page 910]

A similar message is given in holy Qur’an in Surah R’ad __

He is the Great, the most High . . . [The
holy Qur’an 13: 9]

GOD IN VEDAS - RIGVEDA

The oldest of all the Vedas is Rigveda and most sacred.
1. The Rigveda in book no. 1, Hymn no. 164, Ishlok no. 46 says __
Ekam sat vipra bahuda vidante, . . . [Rigveda –
1: 164: 46]
which means, ‘Truth is one (ie God is one) - Sages (learned priests) call one
God by many names’.
This message that “God is one and sages call him by variety of names” is
repeated in Rigveda book 10, Hymn no. 114, Ishlok no. 5 also.
2. Consider the following verses from the Rigved:
Ma chidanyadvi shansata . . . [Rigveda*
book 8: 1: 1]
Which means, O friends, don't worship anybody but Him, the divine one.
Ref: Rigveda Samhita Vol 6, page 1 and 2 by Swami Satyaprakash Sarasvati
and Satyakam Vidhya Lankar

3. Consider the following verse from Rigveda __

The wise yogis concentrate their minds; and concentrate their
thought as well in the supreme reality, which is Omnipresent, Great
and Omniscient. He alone, knowing their functions, assigns to the
sense organs their respective tasks. Verily, great is the glory of to
divine creator. . . . [Rigveda* 5: 81]
*Rigveda Samhita Vol 6, pages 1 and 2 by Swami Satyaprakash Sarasvati and
Satyakam Vidhya Lankar
BRAHMA SUTRA OF HINDU VEDANTA:
Brahma Sutra of Hindu Vedanta is __
Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan
Which means, ‘There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in
the least bit.

Thus only a dispassionate study of the Hindu scriptures can help one understand
the concept of God in Hinduism.

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to be continued . . . . .

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