how many gods are there in hinduism

In Hinduism, the number of gods is traditionally said to be 33 types of deities, not 330 million as commonly misunderstood. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and other Vedic texts mention 33 supreme gods, which include 8 Vasus (deities of material elements like earth, fire, wind), 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, and 2 Ashvins. The confusion about 330 million gods arises from the Sanskrit word "koti," which can mean both "types" and "crores" (millions). These 33 gods represent different aspects of the universe and cosmic principles rather than a literal headcount of deities. Hinduism also believes in the supreme ultimate reality, Brahman, from which all these gods emanate as manifestations.