❓ Why do many people believe that Hinduism has millions of gods when it’s actually monotheistic?

This common misconception stems from a misunderstanding of the Hindu concept of devas and the ultimate reality of Brahman. According to the Upanishads, particularly the Chandogya Upanishad [6.2.1], there is only one supreme reality (Brahman) while various deities represent different aspects and manifestations of this singular truth.

The Bhagavad Gita [10.41] explicitly states: 'Whatever being there is endowed with glory and grace or vigor, know that to be a manifestation of a fragment of My splendor.' The numerous deities in Hinduism are symbolic representations of the different aspects of the one supreme consciousness, similar to how sunlight can be refracted into multiple colors while coming from a single source.