You used small g for god, I suppose you are referring to Devas/Devatas (demi gods).
Just like their are many men/Manushya, who are descendants of Manu and Satarupa.
Same way are many Devas/Suras, who are descendants of Kashyapa and Adhiti. Manu is the son for Surya. Kashyapa is son of Marichi, who is son of Brahma.
Similarly, Dytyas/Asuras are descendants of Kashyapa and Dhiti
Prabhupada synonymously used the word demon for Asuras, on many occasions.
The 33 crore Demigods number 33 - 12 Adityas, 11 Rudra, 8 Vasu, Indra and Prajapati. These Demigods were invoked during Yagyas by Vedic Aryans or those who followed Vedic religion of Sacrifices. The Puranics started worhipping the principal 3 Gods Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh. Lord Krishna gained prominence in Puranic times when SrimadBhagvatam was composed. If we see the history of Hinduism from Satyayuga till the present age. In each age the Supreme Lord is worshiped through various modes of worship ie Tapasya, sacrifices, Puja and Japa. The Demigods are part and parcel of Lord Krishna and aid him in maintaining the universal affairs since Lord Krishna is the enjoyer of sacrifices. Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is worshiped as monotheistic Supreme God in Hinduism and the 33 crore Demigods are his parts and parcels maintaining the various Universal affairs.
With regards to Srimad Bhagvad Gita Chapter 17 (Divisions of faith), According to the modes of nature acquired by an individual, there are three kinds of faiths i.e. goodness, passion and ignorance.
In Verse 17.4 lord Krishna says :
yajante Sattivka Devam - Yaksha rarakshasami rajasa ! pretan-bhuta ganams chanye - yajante tamasa jana !!
Trasnslation : Mens in mode of goodness (sattivka) worship demigod (devam). Men in mode of passion worship demons (rakshas) and Men in mode of ignorance (tamsa) worship ghosts.
As per above instructions from the lord, there are various categories of individual faiths and in order to cater to these individuals there are different categories of worshipables like Demigods, Rakshas and Ghosts.
Now your specific question is about first category i.e. demigods. Why there are so many Gods ?
Here in purport Srila Prabhupad says "When a man is situated in pure goodness, he worships vasudeva" The purport is that those who are completely purified of material modes of nature and who are transcendentally situated can worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Those who desire material benefits they worship demigods. Since there are various expections depending in individual aspirations various departments are created by Lord Krishna and people worship them.
To elaborate further please refer Verse 3.11 from Bhagvad Gita, which goes like this.
devan bhavyatatena - te deva bhavyantu va ! parasparan bhavyanta - shreya param avapsyatha !!
Translation - The demigods, being pleased by sacrifice will please you and thus by co-operation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all. Now here prosperity will have differnt dimentions like wealth, health , rain, intelligence, defence etc. in order to handle this there are various departments headed by different gods like Kubera/Laxmi, Hanuman, Indra, Ganesha, Durga etc.
Hope this makes sense and may answer your question to some extent.
In Hinduism, there is variety. Depending on individual taste and consciousness level, it is possible that different forms of the same lord appeal to different people. Therefore, they are allowed to / expected to put their mind and soul in that form of the lord and attain perfection. The problem that is there today is that people dont have clear understanding of God and Demigod. Nobody has the time to read scriptures and everyone has got their own "favourite god". Therefore, people believe that whoever you pray to, you will get the same result and all of them are the same. That is not the case. There is a definite difference between Vishnu Tattva prayer and demigod worship and the results are also visibly different.
Replies
You used small g for god, I suppose you are referring to Devas/Devatas (demi gods).
Just like their are many men/Manushya, who are descendants of Manu and Satarupa.
Same way are many Devas/Suras, who are descendants of Kashyapa and Adhiti. Manu is the son for Surya. Kashyapa is son of Marichi, who is son of Brahma.
Similarly, Dytyas/Asuras are descendants of Kashyapa and Dhiti
Prabhupada synonymously used the word demon for Asuras, on many occasions.
The 33 crore Demigods number 33 - 12 Adityas, 11 Rudra, 8 Vasu, Indra and Prajapati. These Demigods were invoked during Yagyas by Vedic Aryans or those who followed Vedic religion of Sacrifices. The Puranics started worhipping the principal 3 Gods Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh. Lord Krishna gained prominence in Puranic times when SrimadBhagvatam was composed. If we see the history of Hinduism from Satyayuga till the present age. In each age the Supreme Lord is worshiped through various modes of worship ie Tapasya, sacrifices, Puja and Japa. The Demigods are part and parcel of Lord Krishna and aid him in maintaining the universal affairs since Lord Krishna is the enjoyer of sacrifices. Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is worshiped as monotheistic Supreme God in Hinduism and the 33 crore Demigods are his parts and parcels maintaining the various Universal affairs.
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
With regards to Srimad Bhagvad Gita Chapter 17 (Divisions of faith), According to the modes of nature acquired by an individual, there are three kinds of faiths i.e. goodness, passion and ignorance.
In Verse 17.4 lord Krishna says :
yajante Sattivka Devam - Yaksha rarakshasami rajasa !
pretan-bhuta ganams chanye - yajante tamasa jana !!
Trasnslation : Mens in mode of goodness (sattivka) worship demigod (devam). Men in mode of passion worship demons (rakshas) and Men in mode of ignorance (tamsa) worship ghosts.
As per above instructions from the lord, there are various categories of individual faiths and in order to cater to these individuals there are different categories of worshipables like Demigods, Rakshas and Ghosts.
Now your specific question is about first category i.e. demigods. Why there are so many Gods ?
Here in purport Srila Prabhupad says "When a man is situated in pure goodness, he worships vasudeva" The purport is that those who are completely purified of material modes of nature and who are transcendentally situated can worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Those who desire material benefits they worship demigods. Since there are various expections depending in individual aspirations various departments are created by Lord Krishna and people worship them.
To elaborate further please refer Verse 3.11 from Bhagvad Gita, which goes like this.
devan bhavyatatena - te deva bhavyantu va !
parasparan bhavyanta - shreya param avapsyatha !!
Translation - The demigods, being pleased by sacrifice will please you and thus by co-operation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all. Now here prosperity will have differnt dimentions like wealth, health , rain, intelligence, defence etc. in order to handle this there are various departments headed by different gods like Kubera/Laxmi, Hanuman, Indra, Ganesha, Durga etc.
Hope this makes sense and may answer your question to some extent.
Hare krishna
YS
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
In Hinduism, there is variety. Depending on individual taste and consciousness level, it is possible that different forms of the same lord appeal to different people. Therefore, they are allowed to / expected to put their mind and soul in that form of the lord and attain perfection. The problem that is there today is that people dont have clear understanding of God and Demigod. Nobody has the time to read scriptures and everyone has got their own "favourite god". Therefore, people believe that whoever you pray to, you will get the same result and all of them are the same. That is not the case. There is a definite difference between Vishnu Tattva prayer and demigod worship and the results are also visibly different.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Rashmi