Vedic Gods : Indra, Surya, Vayu, Agni, Varuna
Trimurthy :Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh
Dieties :Ganesha, Rama, Krishna, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati
Brahma:- Brahma is the first of the powerful Hindu Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer. The creator of life, he said to be Prajapati, the creator of the Vedas (see Scriptures & Folklore). He is often depicted as a wise old bearded man standing on a lotus, which has led to his being referred to as one ‘born of a lotus’.
Saraswati:- The goddess of learning and wisdom, Saraswati is the consort of Brahma. She is believed to have invented the Sanskrit language and is the patroness of the arts and sciences. Floating on a lotus, she is often shown playing the veena (a stringed musical instrument).
Vishnu or Narayana:- One of the three most powerful Hindu gods, Vishnu is the second of the Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer. When Vishnu is asleep on the coils of Ananta (the many-headed snake), the universe is in a state of dissolution. When he wakes up, the universe evolves. The cycle goes on thus., and it goes on forever. Periodically, Vishnu descends to earth to protect truth and virtue and to destroy evil. His earlier avatars (incarnations) were in animal forms. In his seventh, eighth and ninth incarnations, Vishnu appeared as Rama, Krishna and Buddha respectively.
Lakshmi:- Vishnu’s consort, Lakshmi, is the Goddess of wealth, plenty and prosperity. Bedecked with jewellery, she is shown sitting on a lotus. When Vishnu appeared on earth in the form of Rama, she faithfully followed as his wife Sita. In Vishnu’s avatar as Krishna, she became both Radha and Rukmini.
Shiva:- Shiva, the most-feared of the Hindu gods, has the aspect of an ascetic and is the destroyer in the great Trinity. He has many roles to play. He is the Great Yogi meditating on Mount Kailasa (in the Himalyas). He is Nataraja (Lord of Dance), creating and destroying. He is Bhooteshwar, the lord of wandering spirits and lost souls. He is Pashupatinath, the lord and protector of all animal life. In another aspect he is the seed of life and his phallic symbol is worshipped in many temples. The cobra, the bull Nandi, the trishul (trident) and the linga (phallus) are all symbols of Shiva.
Shakti:- Shiva’s spouse is Shakti (Energy) in the forms of Uma, Parvati and Durga. While Shiva stays aloof meditating on Mount Kailash, his power to act is embodied the form of the goddess or Devi. In her beneficent form she is Parvati, while in her terrifying form she appears as Kali. The cult of Shakti worship is especially strong in North India and in the eastern state of West Bengal.
Ganesha:- The elephant-headed god, son of Shiva and Parvati, is known for his wisdom and brings prosperity. His birthday is considered the most auspicious day of the year and Hindus always invoke his name before beginning any new enterprise.
Rama:- Vishnu in his avatar as Rama is referred to as Purshottam, the perfect man whose each act is governed by dharma. The purpose of the incarnation was to rid mankind of the menace of the powerful, ten-headed demon-king, Ravana.
Krishna:- The most human of the Hindu gods, as a child he delighted in stealing butter. As a youth wearing a crown of peacock feathers and dressed in yellow silk, he held cows spellbound as the flute-playing cowherd. As the beloved of all the gopis (milkmaids), he held them entranced with the magic of his flute and performed the rasleela (dance) with them. In his mature years, Krishna appears as an astute statesman and later the wise philosopher whose teachings are embodied in the Bhagwad
Gita.
