In Hindu belief, the multiplicity of gods is understood as representations of which ultimate reality?

• A. Brahman
• B. Vishnu
• C. Shiva
• D. Maya

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that Hindu worship recognizes many gods as diverse expressions of a single ultimate reality. Brahman is the supreme, universal spirit that underlies everything. The various deities—Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, and others—are different forms or aspects of Brahman, seen through the lens of specific traditions or devotional paths. This allows a rich plurality of worship while preserving the sense of an underlying unity. Maya, by contrast, refers to illusion or the veil that makes the world seem multiplicative and separate; it is not the ultimate reality itself, so it doesn’t explain why many gods are seen as representations of one reality.