God

Contrary to popular understanding, Hindus recognise one God above all, Brahman – the eternal origin and ultimate reality who is the cause and foundation of all existence.

While different Hindu communities may have their own gods that they worship, these are simply different expressions of, or ways of understanding, the ultimate God – Brahman.

The three principal gods of the Hindu faith, also known as the Trimurti, are:

• Brahma, who creates
• Vishnu, who preserves
• Shiva, who destroys.

Other popular Hindu gods are:

• Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of knowledge and good fortune
• Hanuman, the god of loyalty and bravery, who appears in the form of a monkey.