Gods of Hinduism



Brahma
courtesy The Hindu Universe
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
courtesy Mirrors of India
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 and Radha
courtesy Mohan Ayyar's Hindu Image Gallery
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
courtesy Mirrors of India
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