Will the world come to an end in 2012?

The answer to this question is a big NO. When none of us are sure of our future, why not take a positive approach?

Seriously speaking, 2012 will not mark the end of the world.

The Mayan Calendar, which has predicted Dec 21, 2012 as the last day for the world, correlates to the Hindu calendar in many ways.

The Mayan calendar began its fifth cycle in around 3114 BC, which is slated to run for 5000 years, and end on Dec 21, 2012.

According to Hindu scriptures, Kali Yuga, the last phase of the 'time cycle,' began at around the same time and will also complete 5000 years by 2012. As per the scriptures, the world will end after Kali Yuga.

However, Kali Yuga will not last for just 5000 years. Kali Yuga is again divided into four phases and we are still in the first phase. According to scriptures, the demon Kali comes riding on a horse. The first phase started when his horse kept the first leg on earth. The second phase will only begin when Kali's horse will place its second leg on earth. The sufferings and violence on earth will keep increasing with every leg of the horse.

And since Kali's horse is yet to place its remaining three legs on earth, we humans can rest assured that the world will not end by 2012!!!

But Mayan calendar and its predictions are not completeley misplaced. The Mayan calendar says this world will soon end and that a new golden age will begin.

According to 'Brahma-Vaivarta Purana,' of the Hindus too, a golden age will come in the Kali Yuga. This was told by Lord Krishna Himself. He also said that the golden age will begin after 5000 years of Kali Yuga, i.e., by 2012, and will last for the next 10,000 years.

So, come Dec 21, 2012, let's not wait for the end but hope for a new beginning!

Why do Hindus have so many Gods?

Does God exist?

We still have not been able to prove the exsistance of God. However, Hindus in India believe God exists. And not just one but millions. Now the question is, what is the need for so many Gods when one God himself can fulfill all our wishes?

Not many Hindus can answer this question because not many have questioned their faith. People have been blindly following the religious practices, even to this day, without understanding their relevance.

If I ask you to name one Hindu God then you will probably name the very famous Lord Ganesh. Hindus believe praying to him will remove all obstacles in their life. It is common knowledge that Lord Ganesh has a face of an elephant and he moves around on a mouse. Lord Ganesh loves sugarcane and ties a snake around his tummy.

For any Hindu, who believes and prays to Lord Ganesh, objects and animals associated with the Lord, automatically become sacred. He will respect the elephant because it resembles the Lord. He will not kill the snake and even tolerate the mouse!

Lord Hanuman is also a favourite among Hindus. He is a bachelor and has a face of a monkey. By default, monkeys become sacred and bachelorhood, a virtue.

Goddess Durga lives atop a hill and has a tiger as her vehicle. Thus, the tiger gains significance and also the hills and mountains.

Water flowing through the Ganges is a form of Goddess Ganga and soil is a form of Mother Earth for the Hindus.

Therefore, Hindus have a God for every element of nature. Or should it be rephrased as Hindus see God in every natural element?

Thus, Hindus have so many Gods.