DO THE HINDUS WORSHIP MANY GODS?

THERE is a general allegation against Hinduism that it is polytheistic i.e. worships more than one god.This allegation is propagated by the preachers of other religions , because they have no knowledge of the basic concept of Hinduism, which is otherwise known as Sanaathana Dharma.
In fact Sanaathana Dharma believes that the entire universe is nothing but God; and God alone is the ONE AND ONLY EXISTENCE. The Vedas which form the foundation of Hindu religious faith declare this truth thus: "Ekam Sad vipraa bahudhaa vadanthi"-that is to say 'there is only one Truth and that is spoken of in various ways by the learned." The great Rishis of the past attributed different names and forms to the One and Only Truth-that is God for the convenience of worship,suited to the requirements of different people .This is how the practice of worshipping God in different names and forms came into existence in Hinduism. HINDUS ARE NOT WORSHIPPING MANY GODS, BUT ONLY ONE GOD IN MANY NAMES AND FORMS.

This fact is clear from the following verses in BHAVISHYOTHARA PURANA.

YO BRAHMA SA HARI PROKTHO YO HARI:SA MAHESHWARA:
MAHESHWARA:SMRUTHI SOORYA:SOORYA: PAAVAKA UCHYATHE
PAAVAKA: KAARTHIKEYO SOW KAARTHIKEYO VINAAYAKA:
GOWRI LAKSHMI CHA SAAVITHRI SHAKTHIBHEDAA PRAKEERTHITHAA
DEVAM DEVI SAMUDDISHYA YA: KAROTHI VRATHAM NARAA:
NA BHEDASTHATHRA MANTHAVYA: SHIVA: SHAKTHI MAYAM JAGATH.
Meaning:
He who is Brahma is said as Hari also; He who is Hari is Himself Maheshwara
He who is Maheshwara is meditated upon as Soorya, the Sun-God; and Soorya is said to be the same as Paavaka, the God of fire; and Paavaka is none other than Karthikeya, that is Lord Subrahmanya, who is Vinayaayaka (Ganapathy)Himself.Gowri, Lekshmi and Savithri are acclaimed as the manifestations of the same Sakthi(Supreme Power). Whatever forms of worship are observed by men in the name of any Deva(God) or Devi(Goddess), there is no difference between them,because the entire Universe is nothing but the union of Shiva and Shakti

It is made clear that the entire Universe is nothing but the union of Siva and Shathi -the manifestation and evolution of the Divine Godhead. It does not ,therefore, make any difference if different people worship God in whatever form or name they choose according to their faith.This applies not only to the different names and forms attributed to God in Hindu Religion, but also in other religions.Water is the same every where. But people of different languages refer to it in different names.Does it make any difference in water. Likewise, the different names and forms attributed to God does not make any change in the one and only , all-pervading SUPREME REALITY, GOD.

While many other religions preach that they have a God of their own and the worship of that God alone is the only way to Salvation, Hinduism teaches that there is only ONE GOD and that God is worshipped by different religions in different names and forms.

The purpose of Religion is to worship God and reach the God's kingdom. That is, to attain salvation from the miseries of this world.This is possible only through faith and devotion to God.
Religions teach that all the human beings are the children of God and are therefore, brothers and sisters. If you believe in this , how can you kill your brother on any account? Quarrelling and killing people in the name of God and Religion is not faith in God or Religion;but mere religious fanaticism,which should be condemned by all enlightened souls.