Myriad paths that is hinduism

In India, the Hindus worship many gods, gurus and spiritual paths. Below is a small list that I can think of

• Lord Siva, 
• Ganesh, 
• Durga (or Kali), 
• Kartikeya (or murugan)
• Vishnu, 
• Lakshmi, 
• Saraswati, 
• Navagraha
• Sai Baba, 
• Shankar Baba, 
• Kalki avatar, 
• Sri Aurobindo, 
• Aurobindo Mother, 
• Amritanandamayi devi, 
• Swami Nityananda, 
• BKS Iyengar, 
• J Krishnamurthy, 
• Sivananda, 
• Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 
• Ramana Maharishi, 
• Ramakrishna paramhamsa, 
• Vivekananda, 
• sadhguru
• Brahmakumaris, 
• Chinmaya mission, 
• Theosophical society,
• Shankara mutt,
• Swaminarayan, 
• Isha yoga etc

This is just a small list. I have not included the yogis, babas and other myriad spiritual leaders. It is practically impossible to convince one of Krishna. The only reason people of this world seek religious/spiritual shelter is to fulfill material desires. They want to live happily in this world but not to get out of it. They want good health (or avert disease), stable job, nice house, beautiful spouse, long life, children, good education, children marriage etc etc.

This sort of mentality is the reason why we have so many so called gurus, swamis and gods incarnating in every corner of modern day India. The Hindus believe all of them are authentic as long as they can alleviate their material pangs. Even worse, to justify the different paths, Hindus believe that all gods come from the same source and that all lead to the same goal. Lord Krishna is the same as Siva same as Ganesh same as Durga etc So when a Krishna Conscious devotee uses Vedic scripture to prove the Supremacy of Krishna, he is ridiculed and labeled fanatic. It is practically impossible to convince a modern day Hindu to accept Krishna as the Supreme and that everybody else is subservient to Him. 

There is nothing wrong in approaching other gods or gurus for material benefit, however, these gods and gurus cannot release one from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, it is only Krishna who has the power to absolve all of one's karma and liberate one from the cycle of birth and death. It is only Krishna who can transport one to the spiritual world. Every other god and guru will only guarantee our stay in this material world. We may gain some pious credits and also be materially well off, but at the time of death we will be forced to accept another body and continue our suffering. Nobody (including the powerful Lord Siva) can help us at the time of death.

Therefore Krishna declares that even if you have material desires, just come to Me (Krishna) and I will fulfill all of your desires. 

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā

mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ

tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena

yajeta puruṣaḿ param

A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be full of all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead. – SB 2.3.10

The Supreme Personality of Godhead referred above is Lord Sri Krishna. Krishna also says

mattah parataram nanyat

kincid asti dhananjaya

mayi sarvam idam protam

sutre mani-gana iva

O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. - BG 7.7

avajananti mam mudha

manusim tanum asritam

param bhavam ajananto

mama bhuta-mahesvaram

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be. - BG 9.11

So to say that Krishna comes from a higher source cannot be true because Krishna declares His position to be Supreme and that everything is subservient to Him. He also cannot be human because He has a transcendental body devoid of material degradation. There is no scripture contradicting or proving otherwise.  To further illustrate my point on Krishna, below is a prayer by Lord Siva.

namas ta asisam isa

manave karanatmane

namo dharmaya brhate

krsnayakuntha-medhase

purusaya puranaya

sankhya-yogesvaraya ca

My dear Lord, You are the topmost of all bestowers of all benediction, the oldest and supreme enjoyer amongst all enjoyers. You are the master of all the worlds' metaphysical philosophy, for You are the supreme cause of all causes, Lord Krsna. You are the greatest of all religious principles, the supreme mind, and You have a brain which is never checked by any condition. Therefore I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto You. – SB 4.24.42

Siva and Krishna to be the same or for that matter any god to be same as Krishna cannot be true because Siva is glorifying Krishna to be the cause of all causes and that he has the Supreme mind of all. Unless Siva and Krishna are two different and separate beings, how can Siva glorify Krishna as the supreme? Therefore to say that all gods are same and come from the same source and lead to same goal is a material sentiment with no credible scriptural evidence. 

Because people approach gods and gurus with a desire to enjoy this world, there are so many so called philosophies and truths in the name of religion or spirituality. And to satisfy one's own ego, one spiritual path or religion is as good as the other. This way no one is hurt and everyone is happy. Besides, as long as people approach gods and gurus for selfish material interests, there will also always be people exploiting (cheaters) in the name of religion or spirituality or yoga etc

If one is serious about one's own benefit, then one has to approach the scriptures and saintly people with only one question - that is - how to get out of this material world of birth and death? If we are serious to find an answer to this question, then the answer is unanimous - that is - surrender unto Krishna with love and devotion. This is the Supreme Truth and there is no truth superior to this.

In this age of Kali, the scriptures and saintly people recommend only one method of surrender and subsequent deliverance from birth and death - that is - chanting the Holy Names of God.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

By chanting the Holy Names of God, one can easily cross over the material ocean (samsara) of birth and death and eternally situate oneself at the Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. There is no loss!

Chant Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna