How many Gods are present in Hindu religion? Is it 33 Crore? Is it 33 Types? Is it anything in between that we do not know? Let us get to know everything here.

How many Gods Hinduism has? 

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world and is often described as polytheistic due to its vast number of deities. However, the exact number of gods in Hinduism has been a subject of curiosity, debate, and even confusion. We often discuss among ourselves, with a slight tone of self- mockery, that we Hindus have thirty- three crore gods. We think we have such a surfeit of gods that we do not mind accepting anything and everything. So one of the most common questions that arises is “How many gods does Hinduism actually have?” Is it three? Thirty- three? Thirty- three crore? The answer, like much else in Hindu philosophy, is not straightforward but it is deeply fascinating.

If we want to understand the number of gods in Hinduism we must step beyond the surface and dive into the heart of Hindu thought, where symbolism, philosophy, and spirituality blend into a rich tapestry of belief. Because we can list out all the names we know like Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Venkateshwara, etc. We may also associate our friends from all parts of the country, count all the local deities, and come to a figure in thousands. But what is the truth? To find that truth we need to better understand the concept of Hindu deities.

The Concept of 33 Types of Gods

The earliest references to Hindu deities come from the Vedas, the oldest and most authoritative scriptures of Hinduism, believed to have been composed between 1500- 500 BCE. In Rigveda, one of the four Vedas, there is mention of “Trayastrimsati koti”, which has often been misunderstood. “Koti” in Sanskrit can mean both “types” or “categories” and “crore”. In the Vedic context, scholars widely agree that koti referred to “types” or “classes”, not numbers. Thus, Hinduism originally spoke about categories or types of gods, not 33 crore individual gods.

According to Vedas, there are 33 Gods/ Devas. These Gods are separated in the following pattern: 12+11+8+2. 12 is the number of Adityaas, 11 is the number of Rudras, 8 is the number of Vasus, 1 is Prajapati, the Master of Gods, and 1 is the Supreme Ruler who is very powerful.

12 Adityaas

The twelve months of a year are called Adityaas, they cause the lapse of the term of existence of each object or being. It comprises: Vishnu, Aryaman, Indra, Tvastr, Varuna, Bhaga, Savitr, Vivatsat, Amsa, Mitra, Pusan and Daks.

11 Rudras

Rudras consists of 10 Pranas and 1 human body and these are called ‘Rudras’ because when they desert the body, it becomes dead and the relations of the deceased, consequently, begin to weep. Rudra means one who makes a person weep. The ten Pranas i.e., neurotic forces which live in the human body are Praana, Apaana, Vyaana, Samaana, Udaana, Naag, Kurma, Krikal, Devadutta and Dhananjay. The eleventh is the human soul.

8 Vasus

These Gods are called Vasus because they are an abode of all that lives, moves or exists. It comprises Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Moon, Sun and Star.

1 Indra

It is also known as the all- pervading electricity, as it is productive of great force.

1 Prajapati

It is also called the “Yajna” because it benefits mankind by the purification of air, water, rain and vegetables and because it aids the development of various arts, and in it, the honour is accorded to the learned and the wise. 

The master of these 33 Koti Devatas is the Mahadeva or Ishwar who alone is worshipped as per 14th Kanda of Shatpath Brahman. Moreover, the Vedic people understood these deities as fundamental forces that govern both the physical world and human life. They were not just ‘gods’ in the modern sense of powerful beings sitting on thrones and they were personifications of cosmic principles.

How did the idea of 33 crore Gods arise?

Somewhere along history's winding road, a linguistic misinterpretation occurred. As mentioned earlier, the Sanskrit word koti was confused with its second meaning “crore”. Thus, “Trayastrimsati koti” began to be interpreted as “33 crore gods” rather than “33 types of gods”. But the idea that Hinduism worships 33 crore gods is not entirely dismissed either as it found a unique place in popular belief. As Hinduism, at its heart, teaches that the divine can be seen in all forms. Every rock, river, tree, animal and human could potentially embody the divine. Thus, theoretically there could be crores of deities each representing a specific aspect of the ultimate reality. In this light, saying “33 crore gods” is symbolic. It reflects the boundless and infinite nature of divinity, rather than an exact headcount.

One God and Many Faces

Another layer to understand is that Hinduism despite its apparent polytheism, leans heavily toward monotheism or monism at its core. In fact, the ancient Hindu scriptures often proclaim “Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti” which means that truth is one; the wise call it by many names. It clearly signifies that ultimate reality in Hinduism is called Brahman which is infinite, formless, beyond human understanding. All the gods and goddesses, from Vishnu and Shiva to Lakshmi and Saraswati, are manifestations or aspects of Brahman which are designed to help humans connect to the Divine through relatable forms.

Therefore, the answer to How many gods does Hinduism have? There Are 33 primary types which are rooted in the Vedas. The philosophical answer is one which is manifested in countless forms and the symbolic answer is as many as you can imagine, potentially 33 crore or more. Hinduism does not limit divinity. Instead, it teaches that the whole universe is a manifestation of the divine. Thus, every being, every object, and every natural phenomenon is sacred. In the world often obsessed with exact numbers and categories, Hinduism offers a refreshingly fluid and expansive vision of the divine which celebrates diversity, unity and the limitless possibilities of spiritual connection.

This is an article written by our content writer and strategist, Nikita.

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