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In Hinduism, there are diverse approaches to conceptualizing God and gender. Many Hindus focus upon impersonal Absolute (Brahman) which is genderless. Other Hindu traditions conceive God as androgynous (both female and male), alternatively as either male or female, while cherishing gender henotheism, that is without denying the existence of other Gods in either gender.〔John Renard (1999), Responses to 101 Questions on Hinduism, Paulist, ISBn 978-0809138456, pages 74-76〕〔, Hinduism Today, Hawaii〕 The Shakti tradition conceives of God as a female. Other Bhakti traditions of Hinduism have both male and female gods. In ancient and medieval Indian mythology, each masculine deva of the Hindu pantheon is partnered with a feminine devi.〔(The Concept of Shakti: Hinduism as a Liberating Force for Women )〕 ==History== Male and female deities are extensively mentioned in the Vedas. The earliest ''mandalas'' (books) of Rig veda, estimated to have been composed sometime in 2nd millennium BCE, mention both gods in both genders. Goddess of Dawns (''Ushas'') is praised in twenty Hymns of Chapters VI.64, VI.65, VII.78 and X.172, with Hymn VI.64.5 declaring goddess Ushas as the one who must be worshipped first.〔〔(Rigveda ) Hymn VI.64.5, HH Wilson (Translator), Trubner & Co London, page 7〕 Goddesses, other than Ushas, mentioned in early Vedic literature include ''Prthivi'' (earth), ''Aditi'' (mother of gods, abundance), ''Sarasvati'' (river, nourishment), ''Vac'' (sound and speech), and ''Nirrti'' (death, destruction).〔 Similarly male gods feature prominently in the Vedas, with ''Indra'' (rain, lightning), ''Agni'' (fire), ''Varuna'' (rta, law), ''Dyaus'' (sky, virility), ''Savitr'' (''Surya'', sun), and ''Soma'' (drink) some of the most mentioned. The two deities most mentioned in Rigveda are Indra and Agni, both male.〔David R. Kinsley (1986), Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520053939, pages 6-8〕 Surya is the third most revered god, again a male.〔William Joseph Wilkins, , London Missionary Society, Calcutta〕 Each is mentioned, anywhere rain and fire is evoked. They are profusely praised, with ceremonies and prayers to all gods and goddesses symbolically organized around fire (Agni yajna). The hymns seek strengthening of fire, and it is god Indra who increases the energy of the fire, while god Surya increases his brightness. Max Muller states that, while there are difference in frequency of mentions, gods and goddesses in Rig veda are "neither superior nor inferior; almost every one is represented as supreme and absolute".〔 Gross states that ancient and medieval Hindu literature is richly endowed with gods, goddesses and androgynous representations of God.〔RM Gross (1978), (Hindu Female Deities as a Resource for the Contemporary Rediscovery of the Goddess ), Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 46, No. 3 (Sep., 1978), pages 269-291〕 This, states Gross, is in contrast with several monotheistic religions, where God is often synonymous with "He" and theism is replete with male anthropomorphisms.〔 In Hinduism, goddess-imagery does not mean loss of male-god, rather the ancient literature presents the two genders as balancing each other and complementary. The Goddesses in Hinduism, states Gross,〔 are strong, beautiful and confident, symbolizing their vitality in cycle of life. While masculine Gods are symbolically represented as those who act, the feminine Goddesses are symbolically portrayed as those who inspire action.〔 Goddesses in Hinduism are envisioned as the patrons of arts, culture, nurture, learning, arts, joys, spirituality and liberation.〔David R. Kinsley (1986), Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520053939〕〔 God is not either male or female concept in ancient Indian literature. Androgynous concepts of god are common place as well.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「God and gender in Hinduism」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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