1. Polytheism: This is the belief in multiple Supreme Gods. This is the level of the lower most form of the Faith as followed by people with least understanding of the philosophy, those with Tamasika Bhakthi. Many illiterate and primitive tribes and villagers in India as well as around the world, in Africa and Europe practiced this form of beliefs for a long time. This is similar to the beliefs of Hellenic faiths [Greek], Druids and Pagans. Many World religions, even those that profess in One God, in a way profess multiple gods or multiple focus of worship, one denying the other or one superior to the other.This is also similar to the followers of Hindu Dharma as practiced according to Agamas and Temple worship where, they see "God" as in several forms to serve different purposes as the need may be and believe in different Gods. Here Hindu Dharma Faith differs in that as we evolve in our thoughts, the different "Gods" slowly merge in to different aspects of One Supreme.

Note: Polytheism is not just having multiple gods. It has more to do with there being multiple ways to achieve salvation. Thus, Hinduism says that each person has to create his own spiritual experience. A guru is only a guide, but ultimately the person takes responsibility for the path chosen. The guru cannot be expected to know the sum total of the environment of his shisha. What the guru says may well have to be modified to one's situation. In a way, it is the multiple expression of a Monotheism with variations according to indivisual Spiritual aspiration, realization and the needs.

2. Henotheism: This is the practice that came as a natural evolution out of the Polytheism. Here the practice consists of elevating one Deity as a "Superior" for a particular ritual while keeping other forms at a lower level and at another ritual or function raising another one as the main or superior Deity. Many Hindu Vedic ritual practices perform rituals of the similar type. Ancient European Religions used this method and also had such practices.

3. Monotheism: The faith of One God, who is Superior to all His creations and creates, protects and dissolves the entire universe and all the created beings. Here the "God" is different from the Human Soul. Here the "God" is different from the Human Soul. Visishta-adhvaita and Dvaitha follow this path. Here the Divine Soul - "Paramaatma" is identified as separate from the Human Soul - "Jivatma". Smartha Sampradhaya practice has a combination of all the four forms explained here but mostly it claims itself to be Monotheism. Advaitha beleifs starts as Monotheism but ultimately matures into Monism. Most Western Faiths which claim to be part of Monotheism, at leat among some followers, who often profess the idea of "My God" and "Your God" and denying all other Gods, ends up more like Henotheism and, in a way, a concept of multiple gods, one better than the other.

4. Monism: This is the ultimate faith of a Yogi who has understood the true Nature of the Supreme and the true Philosophy of Hindu Dharma. Here, the Paramatma and Jivatma appear as the two aspects of the One and the Same Supreme Truth and are Non-differentiated. They appear in their intuitive mind as just two aspects of One Supreme, just as all His Avatharas, Manifestations and Creations and also of all the worlds in the Universe are different aspects of the same Self in various forms.To a large extent, Advaitha follows this path, in that, here the Jivatma is a part of the Divine Soul or Paramatma and is capable of a merger with the Divine ultimately, so it is like Monism or Advaitha.

The Spiritual Ralization explained in Hindu Dharma in the Bhakthi pathway accepts all these four paths according to every individuals needs and knowledge of understanding the Truth. Here we can recognize that the paths of Polytheism, Henotheism, Monotheism and Monism are all the different sides of one and the same belief based on the level of understanding, devotion and realization. The Spiritually Realized person understands that the Supreme Pramathma exists everywhere, in the form of the mass and enery or power around and all over the universe. It has mass like a particle and energy like the electromagnetic force, a magnetism that holds It together and a timing with vibration that makes It movable and unmovable at the same time. For the ordinary unrealized souls of all of us, the Bhakthi path serves as a medium to recognize the Supreme and the powers. Our prayers and recitation of Manthras gives us the proper vibrations of the forces in us very much like iron gets magnetized.

PARA-BHAKTHI is the form of devotion with contemplation on the formless and unmanifested Brahman. It is the highest form of bhakthi suitable only for few learned people, the Jñana Yogis, who have the true knowledge of God. This level is achieved only by True Spiritual Realization of the supreme Divinity in all creations in the universe. At this level, the human and the Supreme merge as in one as Monism.

APARA-BHAKTHI or Gauni-bhakthi is the lower level of love and devotion to a manifested Iswara and prayers to one of His forms accepted as Ishta-Devatha or a personal God. There are many levels or many grades in this form of devotion and the most important ones being - Bhaya-bhakthi, Anyaya-bhakthi and Ekantha-bhakthi. These are the various levels of search for the Supreme Truth as "God".

Ekantha-bhakthi is the purest and Sattvika form of devotion. Here, the devotee loves God for His own sake and not for His gifts. He learns to crave for his personal God alone, in prosperity as well as in adversity. He sees the presence of God, as his Ishta-devatha, in all places, at all times. This is the True Monotheism that most Hindus try to achieve , all inclusive.

Anyaya-bhakthi [meaning "not another"] is the exclusive and passionate, or the Rajasika form of worship of one's Ishta Devatha in the heart. It is an intense form of monotheism and gives a healthy direction to the spirit of devotion. But, it shall not give rise to bigotry and cruelty towards those who have different concept of God and different methods of approach. Among Hindus, it is well recognized that the "gods" whom others worship are only different forms of his own Ishta-devatha. This is the level with half understanding and exclusive form which denies other forms and feel their form of Monotheism is the Only Truth. In one way it is part of the Henotheism, recognozing only one form or aspect of the Supreme Divinity.

Bhaya-bhakthi is the very external form of worship of a Deity as God. It is the adoration paid to a form of God outside ourselves. It is the most basic form of a faith, based on the unenlightened or Tamasika form of feeling that God is external to us and dwells in a particular locality like the prayer room or Temple. The pilgrimages, worship of several images of God, symbols and sacred books are examples of this. Most popular religions do not rise above this level. This is in a way Polytheism, except that they accept only one of the many forms or deny the other forms because of a "Fear of God". This is the common simple blind faith of "God-fearing" ones.

Please also see the chapters on: "Concept of God in Hindu Religion"