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Gods of Hinduism
Bhrama
It is a personification of the Absolute, the creator of the world which
is perpertually destined to last for 2,160,000,000 years before it falls
to ruin, at which time Brahma created it. He is known as the creator.
Vishnu
The people who follows this god is known as Vaishnavities, Vishnu is normally
depicted with 4 arms: one hand holding a lotus, a second holding a conch,
a third holding a discus, the fourth carries a mace. Symbolism occurs in
the petals, which are supposed to symbolize the unfolding of creation, the
conch symbolizing the cosmic vibration from which all existence originates,
the mace and discus are gifts for his wife, Lakshmi, goddess of beauty and
fortune for gaining victory over the god Indra. They ride a half bird and
half man known as Garuda. Sometimes Vishnu incarnates into Krishna or Rama.
His wife also incarnates into Krishna's wife Rukmini.
Krishna
Krishna is probably the most popular god. Often, he is shown as surrounded
by a group of gopis and most often with one gopi, Radha a married women.
Shiva
The second group of people worship Shiva, they are known as Shaivities.
Shiva has many forms of which popular ones are Pashupati (champion of
animals) and Nataraja (king of dance). Also can be portrayed is as the
god of asceticism, with matted hair, naked and smeared with ashes, sometimes
with a third eye in the middle of his forehead.
Nataraja
Nataraja is often depicted as having four arms, one holding a hand drum
controlling the rhythm of the universe, the second holding a flame of
the fire of purification, the third offers protection, and the fourth
salvation. Nataraja often dances the tandava, symbolizing the continual
dance of creation and dissolution involving the whole of the cosmos. Temple
dancing is believed to be motivated from here, the devadasis(maidservants
of the gods) used to dance to please gods and pilgrims.
Aims
and Beliefs of Hinduism
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