Hindus are not only idol worshipers, but also worshiper of Nature.

Followers of different religion pose a common question, why so many Gods are there in Hindu religion?

The answer will be, the Hindus worship the Nature, so they worship almost everything. The nature is the source of life, so the Hindus devotes to each and every source of energy in some real as well as hypothetical forms, as per their faith. Now if we discuss about the various Gods of Hinduism, we can find that, those Gods are the power over nature or human fortunes, formed accordingly, as per the time period.

The Vedas refer to 33 Koti (type and family) of Devatas and it is described in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Chapter 3 as a conversation between Śākalya and Sage Yājñavalkya). It says that there are 33 devas, they are 8 Vasu, 11 Rudra, 12 Aditya, 1 Indra and 1 Prajapati (33 devas) in the celestial world, in terms to performance of yagnas.

8 Vasus are Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Moon, Sun, and Star. They are called Vasus, because they are abode of all that lives, moves or exists. (also mentioned in Mahabharata, 1/66/18)
11 Rudras are the ten Pranas (Praana, Apaana, Vyaana, Samaana, Udaana, Naag, Kurma, Krikal, Devadutta and Dhananjaya) i.e. nervauric forces which live in the human body. The eleventh is the human soul. 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 to weep. {also mentioned in Harivansha 13/51-52})
12 Adityaas are the twelve months of a year called Adityaas; they cause the lapse of the term of existence of each object or being. (also mentioned in Mahabharata )
1 Indra is also known as the (all-pervading) electricity, as it is productive of great force.
1 Prajaapati, 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 honor is accorded to the learned and the wise.

Also they are explained in Shatpath Brahman and many other scriptures very clearly.

"Yasya Trayastrinshad Devaa Ange Sarve Samaahitaa, Skamma Tam Bruhi Katamah Swideva Sah”. (Atharva Veda)

Which means, with God’s influence, these thirty-three (supporting devta) sustain the world.

Mahadeva

The master of these 33 devatas is the Mahadeva or Ishwar, who alone is to be worshiped as per 14th Kanda of Shatpath Brahman.

Now if we analyse the religious practice of Vedic perople, we can find later another concept of Gods appeared and worshiped, which was contradictory to the earlier (except Mahadeva). The religious views of Vedic people are mainly reflected in the hymns of the Rigveda. The early Vedic people venerated the natural forces around them, like: wind, water, rain, thunder, fire etc. specially which they could not control, and invested nature with divinity conceived in human forms. Like Indra, Rudra, Agni, Varun, Surya, Savitry, Yama etc. All these Gods control different kinds of natural forces, for ex: Indra - the God of Thunder and Rain, Agni - The fire God, Yama - God of death etc. After gaining some control on the nature the importance of the earlier Gods decreased and during later Vedic phase the three eternal Gods, i.e. Prajapati, Mahadeva and Vishnu became the supreme Gods, while Indra, who earlier was the most important become the less important. Also the importance of worshiping mother Gau (Cow) is mentioned in the Vedas.

Viswarupa

While according to the holy book, Gita, the supreme God is Narayan Vishnu. In 'Bibhutijog' 10th chapter of Gita, God explains himself as the eternal energy and all the living or non-living forces (like rivers, mountains, light, air, life etc.), are derives from him.

Also, in Gita there we can find the 33 Gods (Chapter eleven: Biwsarupdarshanjog), in the description of "Viswarupa", we learn that Vishnu is the eternal power, his divine body is brighter than the Sun and expanded to the infinity without any proper inception as well as extremity, with uncountable hands, Sun and moon are his eyes. His body consists of the whole universe; include Brahma on lotus, all the 33 deities, sages, animals, snakes etc. Vishnu is also addressed as "Adi Purush" (Eternal God) in Gita.

Prahlad and Nrisingha Avatar

In the Visnupuran from the references of Prhlada, we learn that, the faith in God is paramount and God is omnipresent, means 'God is everywhere, he may appear from anywhere and in any shape, so God is in every living and non-living being', which also supports the Vadic concept "Na tasya pratima asti" (Yajurveda 32. 3.) that means, there is no image of God.

Also form the difference of prayer in later, we can derive how the Vedas and Puranas (also the concept of God), have been molded over time, and as well the importance of Gods changed, as per requirements of the administrators.

The Hindus also worships various trees, assuming their God; they pray to 'tulsi' (basil), peepal as 'Narayan' (Vishnu); bel, rudarksa, cannabis as Lord Shiva; also many other trees, such as; banyan tree, ashoka tree, mango tree, neem tree, banana tree, coconut tree, sandel wood tree etc. are worshiped by the Hindus, as well these trees are associated with many Hindu rituals, also they are having numerous medical benefits. From such references of ancient scriptures, it is understood that, they learnt the importance of trees and worshiping them was an option for stopping people from harming them.

Also various animals are worshiped as 'Vahana' (carrier or mount) of different Gods, Such as; lion or tiger is worshiped along with goddess Durga, Ox is worshiped along with lord Shiva, Mouse is worshiped along with lord Ganesha,  owl is worshiped along with goddess Laxmi and many other. These indicates as an effort, in order to save these animals and a guidance for being respectful to them. 

So, if you place a stone on a stage, it may become a Hindu God, you place any animal, Hindus found God in that also. Hindus not only worship Gods in the human form, they also worship reverent personalities, as God and have temples of them, with the elaborate rituals being performed in their honor. Personalities like - Sree Ramakrishna, Shirdi Sai Baba, Sree Loknath Brahmachari etc.

Above all, the Hindus worships the different forces and objects of nature by which they are facilitated, so they worship almost everything exists. It's not an example of superstition, but an illustration of respectful human nature. 

Thanks & Regards,

Milan Chatterjee

PS: Swami Vivekananda also mentioned “Jibe prem kore jei jon - sei jon sabiche iswar", means who is kind to the living, he is worshiping God. (Jib seva is Shiv seva).
Even it is heard that, a South-Indian actor Rajnikanth also been worshiped by his fans in a temple.

Source: The Gita, Vishnupuran, Hinduism ( हिंदू धर्म); Image: Google
© Milan Chatterjee