The real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness.+

The real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness. Physical awareness is not  Self- awareness.  Self-awareness is when the formless Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness,  remains aware of its non-dual true nature. 

That is why Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you, yourself test and judge to be true.

One cannot expect mental spoon-feeding for everything.  The seeker has to do his own homework.  One will not understand it through argument, which leads nowhere but to perversity. 

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra)   

Nothing has to be accepted truth without verification. Nothing is needed for acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana other than perfect understanding, assimilation, and realization of ‘what is what”

Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

Dualist sages could not distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘formless witness.’ The 'I' was the witness. Their highest was the Jiva. One is so much attached to the 'I' that he does not want to think that 'I' does not exist. Again one is unable to detach the ‘I’ from the Real witness.

Most of the modern Gurus are also stuck with ‘I’ awareness as Self-awareness whereas the 'I' awareness is a mere illusion.  The ‘I’ awareness is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the universe is present. The universe is present only when the waking or dream is present.   

The ‘I’ awareness is absent when the mind is absent. The mind is absent then the universe or waking or dream is absent. Thus ‘I’ awareness is merely an illusion.   The ‘Self’ -awareness is ‘I- LESS AWARENESS.

Sage Sankara said: ~ VC -65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never come out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the ‘Self', which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through arguments.

It is impossible to get rid of any conditioning without getting rid of the inborn samskara or conditioning.   The ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is the inborn samskara or conditioning. ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is the mother of all conditioning. Because of this inborn conditioning, one thinks he is an individual separate from the world and world that existed prior to him and he is born in it afterward. 

Until this inborn conditioning is present one is in the grip of duality and he experiences the birth, life, death, and the world as reality.  This inborn conditioning makes one experience illusory duality as a reality.

The goal of the seeker is to realize Atman (consciousness).  Atman (consciousness) is nothing but Brahman.  By realizing Atman (consciousness) as Brahman (ultimate truth) is truth realization or Self-Realization or God-realization. 

There is no need to follow the religion, study scriptures, or glorify gods or Gurus and follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself’  in the labyrinths of philosophy when there is an easier path.

By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

The so-called Gurus and yogis, focus their ambition on seeing that their daily life goes on comfortably. Nobody is ready to inquire about the truth of their true existence.+

The real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness. Physical awareness is not Self-awareness.  Self-awareness is when the formless soul or consciousness, the ’Self’ remains aware of its own awareness.

That is why Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you, yourself test and judge to be true.

One cannot expect mental spoon-feeding for everything.  The seeker has to do his own homework.  One will not understand it through argument, which leads nowhere but to perversity. 

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra)   

Nothing has to be accepted truth without verification. Nothing is needed for acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana other than perfect understanding, assimilation, and realization of ‘what is what”

Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

Dualist sages could not distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘formless witness.’ The 'I' was the witness. Their highest was the Jiva. One is so much attached to the 'I' that he does not want to think that 'I' does not exist. Again one is unable to detach the ‘I’ from the Real witness.

Most of the modern Gurus are also stuck with ‘I’ awareness as ‘Self’ -awareness whereas the 'I' awareness is a mere illusion.  The ‘I’ awareness is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the universe is present. 

The universe is present only when the waking or dream is present.   The ‘I’ awareness is absent when the mind is absent. The mind is absent then the universe or waking or dream is absent. Thus ‘I’ awareness is merely an illusion.    Self-awareness is ‘I- LESS AWARENESS.

Sage Sankara said: ~ VC -65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never come out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the ‘Self', which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through arguments.

It is impossible to get rid of any conditioning without getting rid of the inborn samskara or conditioning.   The ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is the inborn samskara or conditioning. ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is the mother of all conditioning. Because of this inborn conditioning, one thinks he is an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to him and he is born in it afterward. 

Until this inborn conditioning is present one is in the grip of duality and he experiences the birth, life, death, and the world as reality.  This inborn conditioning makes one experience illusory duality as a reality.

The goal of the seeker is to realize Atman (consciousness). Atman (consciousness) is nothing but Brahman.  By realizing Atman (consciousness) as Brahman (ultimate truth) is truth realization or Self-Realization or God-realization. 

There is no need to follow the religion, study scriptures, or glorify gods or Gurus and follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself’  in the labyrinths of philosophy when there is an easier path.

By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Vedic people in Vedic era never worshiped idols and individualized Gods.+

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings. Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC-  Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the ‘Self’, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not  even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together (verses-6)

Why Swami Vivekananda said the masses in India cry to sixty million Gods, and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods?

Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the Gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods? ... The Gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my Soul. You are infinite, deathless, and birthless. Because you are the infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? - Swami Vivekananda  (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

It is because Hindus are idol worshipers of a large number of Gods and Goddesses whereas the Vedic people in the Vedic era never worshiped idols and individualized Gods.  Therefore, the truth of the Vedas, one must know the falsity of our inherited non-Vedic religion, which blocks the realization of the Vedic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

Most people in the world are unaware of the grandeur of the ancient Santana Dharma or Vedic religion which existed prior to Buddhism, Jainism, and present-day Hinduism.  The present-day Hinduism is not the ancient Santana Dharma or Vedic religion.

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which were introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed to help the ignorant populace. 

Many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods by the saints and founders of different caste and creeds in the past. All these conceptual Gods have introduced in place the Vedic concept of God which is free from form and attributes.  Puranic Gods are non-Vedic Gods. Worship of Such Gods has been barred Vedas.   

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshiped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains.  There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme ‘Self’ in i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

In Vedas, God has been described as ~

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the ‘Self’.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the ‘Self’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of real God.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~     God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. 

Thus,   Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ “Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself”.

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost ‘Self’ within the false experience. Thus, it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self.  Thus Atman or Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is God.

As indicated in ISH Upanishads: - By worshipping Gods and Goddesses you will go after death to the world of Gods and Goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spent there is wasted because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards ‘Self’-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of Gods and Goddesses, you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

It clearly indicates that: -If the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then why indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual Gods, Goddesses, and Gurus to go into deeper darkness. Instead,   spend that time moving forward towards ‘Self’-knowledge, which is one’s prime goal.

Self-realization is God-realization.  Self-realization is real worship. Self-realization is the goal of Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Since it is eternal and infinite, it comprises the only truth. The goal of Vedic religion, through the various yogas, is to realize that consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman or God in truth.

The Vedic pantheon of Gods is said, in the Vedas and Upanishads, to be the only higher manifestations of Brahman. For this reason, "ekam sat" (all is one), and all is Brahman.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The goal of Vedic religion is to realize that the consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman.+

The goal of Vedic religion is to realize that consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman or God in truth.

The Vedic pantheon of Gods is said, in the Vedas and Upanishads, to be the only higher manifestations of Brahman. For this reason, "ekam sat" (all is one), and all is Brahman.

The goal is to realize Atman, which is present in the form of consciousness as the Self.  If Atman or consciousness is nothing but Brahman and by realizing Atman (consciousness) as Brahman or the ultimate truth is truth-realization or Self-Realization, then there is no need to follow the religion, study scriptures or glorify Gods or Gurus and follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy, when there is an easier path. 

By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind arises from consciousness and is subsidies as consciousness.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~  “The Self is indeed Brahman, but through ignorance, people identify it with intellect, mind, senses, passions, and the elements of earth, water, air, space, and fire. This is why the Self is said to consist of this and that and appears to be everything. 

In the Vedas, God has been described as: ~

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~   God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus,   Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the   Self within the false experience. Thus it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self.  Thus Atman or Soul, the  ‘Self’ is God.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshipped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains.  There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme Self i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

Yajurveda says: - If one worships anything else as God in place of real God. :~

Translation 1

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc.).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.) - (Yajurveda 40:9)

Translation 2

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti are intent. ("Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538)

Translation 3

 "They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal Prakriti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the Prakriti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time." -(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

So, Yajur Veda indicates that:-

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc. - (Yajurved 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow and suffer terribly for a long time."-(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which were introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed. 

 When the religion of the Veda knows no idols then why so many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods. Why these conceptual Gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Bhagavan Buddha was right in saying: - There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting.+

In the practical world, very few people care to think deeply about this vital question ‘what is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Only a few feel the urge to know ‘what ultimate truth is’. And still, fewer have realized the truth with deeper Self-search.    The ultimate truth is realized by only a few. 

Buddha was right in saying: - There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting.

People are stuck with their accumulated egocentric knowledge and also inherited samskara or conditioning.

Buddha was right in his advice: - Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.

The Soulcentric inquiry goes beyond form, time and space.   Until one inquiry into the world which confronts him, it is impossible to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC~63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? ~ It would result merely in an effort of speech.

The orthodox scholars are stuck with the scriptures holding the scriptures as a yardstick the secondhand knowledge inherited from one generation to the next. 

That is why Sage Sankara says:~

VC~ 56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

That is why In Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8   “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

The people who follow religion think that following their inherited religion is their duty.  And questioning the Guru or scholars is irreligious.  Thus, they indulge in rituals and hearing of religious discourses.   They are weak and timid.

That is why Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ “The Soul cannot be realized through hearing the scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ “The Soul cannot be realized by the weak and timid.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy and all the arts can be called lower knowledge. The higher is that which leads to Self-realization. The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless 'Self' has neither caste nor race, neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great and in the small, everlasting and changeless, the source of life.

In pursuit of the truth, the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

In Upanishads the God has been described as:~ ekam evaditiyam- God is only one without a second.+

Hindus are idol worshipers of a large number of Gods and Goddesses whereas in the Vedas the God has been described as:~

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion.

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Yajurveda ~ chapter- 32:~    God is  Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus,   Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Thus,  it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost Self within the false experience. Thus, it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self.  Thus Atman or Soul, the  Self is God in truth.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshiped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains.  There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme Self i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

In  Upanishads, God has been described as:~

In Manduka Upanishad Brahman and Atman are defined as same:~ सर्वं ह्येतद् ब्रह्मायमात्मा ब्रह्म सोयमात्मा चतुष्पात् / sarvam hyetad brahmaayamaatmaa brahm soyamaatmaa chatushpaat –

Manduka Upanishad, verse-2

Translation:~

Sarvam(सर्वम्)- Whole/All/Everything; hi(हि)- Really/Just/Surely/Indeed; etad(एतद्)- This here/This; brahm(ब्रह्म)- Brahm/Brahman; ayam(अयम्)- This/Here; aatmaa(आत्मा)- Atma/Atman; sah(सः)- He; ayam(अयम्)- This/Here; chatus(चतुस्)- Four/Quadruple; paat(पात्)- Step/Foot/Quarter

Fragmented Verse:~ सर्वम् हि एतद् ब्रह्म अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म सः अयम् आत्मा चतुस पात् / sarvam hi etad brahm ayama aatmaa brahm sah ayam aatmaa chatus paat

Simple Meaning:~

All indeed is this Brahman; This Atman is Brahman; God, this Atman has four steps/quarters.

While Brahman lies behind the sum total of the objective universe, some human minds boggle at any attempt to explain it with only the tools provided by reason. Brahman is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination. 

Indeed, the highest idea is that Brahman is beyond both existence and non-existence, transcending and including time, causation, and space, and thus can never be known in the same material sense as one traditionally 'understands' a given concept or object.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Chandogya Upanishad Chapter: ~ekam evaditiyam- God is only one without a second. (6- Section- 2- Verse- 1)

Swethaswethara Upanishad: ~ Na casya kasuj janita na cadhipah, which means of him of Almighty God, there are no parents they have got no lord. Almighty God has no true father, he has no true mother, he has no true superior. (Chapter-6- Verse -9)

Swethaswethara Upanishad: ~ “Na Tasya Pratima Asti- of that God there is no Pratima, there is no likeness, there is no image, there is no picture, there is no photograph, there is no sculpture, there is no statue. (Chapter -4- Verse- 19)

Swethaswethara Upanishad: ~ “No one can see the Almighty God. (Chapter -4, Verse -20)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:~  The Self is indeed Brahman (God, but through ignorance, people identify it with intellect, mind, senses, passions, and the elements of earth, water, air, space, and fire. This is why the Self is said to consist of this and that and appears to be everything. 

In Bhagavad Gita, God has been described as:~

Lord Krishna says Ch. V:~ “Those who know the Self in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter:~  All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20)

According to Sage Sankara says: ~ Ataman is Brahman (God). Thus, the Soul the innermost self is God. Therefore,    all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imaginations based on the false self.  Thus, there are adulteration and add-ons in the past, which has to be bifurcated if one wants pure Vedic essence.  

That is why Swami Vivekananda:~ The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods?

 Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the Gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods? ... The Gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my Soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are the infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? - Swami Vivekananda  (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

As indicated in ISH Upanishads: ~ By worshipping Gods and Goddesses you will go after death to the world of Gods and Goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spent there is wasted because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of Gods and Goddesses, you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

It clearly indicates that: ~ If the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge then why indulge in rituals and glorifying the conceptual Gods, Goddesses, and Gurus to go into deeper darkness. Instead,   spend that same time moving forward towards Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana,  which is one’s prime goal. :~Santthosh Kumaar