Supreme God (Hinduism)

Hinduism consists of six main sects, each with belief in Supreme God. In Hinduism, God is described as the Absolute Reality, Supreme Spirit and Supreme Personality. Although Supreme God is mentioned in different forms by different sects, the majority of Hindus, regardless of sect, accept that the Supreme God is Ishvara.

Forms that are considered the Supreme God are usually mentioned under the title Bhagavan.

Vaishnavism

Vaishnavism considers Vishnu/Krishna to be the Supreme God. Although they accept both Krishna and Vishnu as the Supreme God, they argue over which of these forms are the primary name/form of God.

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the fundamental sacred texts of Vaishnavism, is considered to be the revelation of the Supreme God. In the Bhagavad Gita, the Supreme God declared His existential position as follows:

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्त: सर्वं प्रवर्तते ।

इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विता: ॥ ८ ॥

"I am the source of all; from Me, all emanates. Realizing this and filled with feeling, the intelligent devote themselves to Me."

— Krishna, Bhagavad Gita 10.8

Arjuna defined the Supreme God in the Bhagavad Gita as follows:

परं ब्रह्म परं धाम पवित्रं परमं भवान् ।

पुरुषं शाश्वतं दिव्यमादिदेवमजं विभुम् ॥ १२ ॥

"You are the Supreme Brahman, supreme abode and ultimate purifier, the eternal divine Person and original God—unborn and almighty."

— Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita 10.12

स्वयमेवात्मनात्मानं वेत्थ त्वं पुरुषोत्तम ।

भूतभावन भूतेश देवदेव जगत्पते ॥ १५ ॥

"Only You Yourself know Your Self by Your Self, O Supreme Person Who causes beings to be! Lord of beings! God of gods! Master of the universe!"

— Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita 10.15

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Krishna is considered the prime form and name of Supreme God and foundation of all other forms including Vishnu. For this reason, Krishna is called by the term Svayam Bhagavan, which means "God Himself".

Sri Vaishnavism

In Sri Vaishnavism, Vishnu/Narayana is considered the essential form of the Supreme God.