Lord Jhulelal: An Analytical Study
by Thakkar Harish Gopalji | 2018 | 62,623 words
This thesis studies Lord Jhulelal, the most important deity revered by Sindhis in India and beyond. Traditional views hold Lord Jhulelal as an incarnation of Vedic Deity Varuna (the river God). Historically, Jhulelal is a binding force for the Sindhi community who had to leave Sindh during the partition of India in order to settle at distant places...
Part 7 - Monotheism or Polytheism
Sindhis call Jhulelal as their Ishtadeva and are staunch believers in him. At the same time, they also worship other Hindu Gods such as Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman. The inclusion of all important deities is a clear indication that they practise polytheism. Therefore, Sindhi people can be called Polytheists.
The installation of idols of other Gods also would ensure that the devotees coming to visit the temple can have darshan of Gods of their choice along with Lord Jhulelal. It also shows that the Sindhis are broad-minded people and they do not want to restrict the Darshan of a devotee to only one God, but one is free to obtain blessings of other Hindu Gods.
The idols of other Gods kept with Lord Jhulelal's idol are also indicative of the idea that more devotees with faith in any Hindu God are able to visit Jhulelal temple resulting in more number of devotees who can have darshan of their favourite deity along with Lord Jhulelal. And as such more and more devotees residing in the vicinity of the temple would feel encouraged to visit the temple.