During the ancient times, religion played an important part in the lives of the people and many different types of gods were worshipped. Why was there the need of a god? What was the importance of a god?

For the Aryans of ancient India, they worshipped gods of Nature around them. This was because they could not understand or control the elements and hence, invested them with divinity and personified them For instance, Indra was the war god (thunder and rainmaker) and the most honoured of the Aryan gods. Surya was the sun god. Agni was the fire god; the power to heal, save, defend or destroy. It was a very important god, as fire was a very important element used in the sacrifice of animals. Marriages were also solemnised in the presence of fire. Male gods were dominant. There were 33 gods where there was no hierarchy. The Aryans did not ignore the unity of god; they did believe in a supreme god where all others were manifestations.

The Mayas believed that nature was closely related to the world of the supernatural. Thus, they worshipped many different types of gods that were too, like those of the Indians, related to nature. One example was the sun god called Kinich Ahau. They also believed that they could communicate with the gods who dwell in heaven through prayers, visions, and sacrifice. Another god of nature that they worshipped was the World Tree, which they believed was a giant blue-green tree that connected the world of humans to the supernatural world of spirits and gods. Gods were portrayed as men, women, animals, or creatures that looked like either a person or an animal. Each day, month and number was associated with a god. For example, the number 4 was associated with the sun god and the number 10 was associated with the death god. Which number do you think the rain god represented? (Answer:13)

Greek gods were important too in ancient Greece. Every god and goddess had his or her own religious festival, and there were more than sixty festival days each year. The people offered sacrifices on the altar outside the Parthenon, the largest and most splendid of the temples, before going in to pray to the goddess Athena, the patron goddess of the city. Private devotion was important, as well. Houses had their own altars where families could place offerings to the gods, hoping to receive blessings or avert punishments. Athenians also asked their gods and goddesses for advice about the future through oracles, or fortune-tellers.

The Egyptians worshipped a number of gods and goddesses, most of which were believed to possess a human form, although some had the heads of birds and animals. There was Ra, the sun-god, who was believed to journey across the sky each day with the sun in a boat. There was Osiris, ruler of the underworld, who was said to judge all dead people, to determine if they would be allowed to enter the afterlife. There was the goddess Isis, wife of Osiris and mistress of magic and Horus, son of Isis and Osiris, and god of the sky. Horus was often pictured with the head of a falcon, and it was believed that he had the power to enter into the very body and soul of the pharaoh. The pharaoh was therefore a very unique being - a link between god and man. Since he was thought to communicate with the other gods, the pharaoh also served as the high priest who officiated at major religious festivals.

The Sumers worshipped many gods as well. The most important god was Anu, the father of all gods and the lord of heaven. There was also Enlil, the god of earth and Enki, the god of the waters. Other gods of nature included gods of the rivers and mountains, sun, moon, winds, storms, and planets. There were also personal gods. Sumerians believed that it was their duty to feed and shelter their gods and thus, built numerous temples for the gods to live in.

The ancient Chinese too, believed in gods of nature - in mountains, rivers, forests, trees and rocks. (Why do you think gods were associated with nature in the past? Hint: Consider how the occupation of most of the people in the past. How did they obtain their food?) They also worshipped the souls of dead rulers for protection and blessings.

Even today, some Chinese still pray to the souls of the dead, especially to their ancestors for the same reasons as in the past: protection and blessing. Most Chinese still pray to certain gods of nature such as the earth god and Chu Jung, god of fire. In addition, the Chinese believe in other gods too, such as the god of wealth, the goddess of mercy and the god of war. The god of wealth is an important god to the present-day Chinese, especially to Chinese merchants and businessmen, as they believe that praying to the god of wealth would enable their businesses to prosper and their wealth to increase!

Gods are still worshipped in other parts of the world today as well. For instance, Indians today, who believe in Hinduism, a religion which will be covered in the next article, still worship Hindu gods such as Brahma the Creator, Shiva the Destroyer and Vishnu the Preserver

What are the gods that the people of your country worship? What is the importance of the gods that they worship?

The temple in honor of the supreme god Amen-Ra was erected at El Karnak by Ramses III, one of the rulers of the 20th dynasty, who reigned during the 12th century BC. The view is from the top of a pylon into the main hall of the temple.

Legends of the black god Vishnu are preserved in an Indian epic poem.

An 18th-century Kangra painting depicts Shiva and Ganesa, left, stringing together skulls of the dead while Parvati, right, looks on. Ganesa, their son, is the god first invoked at the beginning of worship or any new undertaking. Nandi the bull, behind the tree, is one of Shiva's chief attendants..

Hathor, Egyptian Cow-Goddess

Ancient Egyptian Fresco of the God Anubis .

Early 19th Century Illustration of Chinese Gods China