Gods & Goddesses Flashcards
Atman
The individual Self. He is the lord of the microcosm (body). He is described in the Upanishads as the immortal, transcendental, imperishable Self, who cannot be reached through senses or the mind, but only in a non-dual state of self-absorption. Like Brahman, he is not worshipped in temples or public places, but only internally through concentration and meditation.
The highest gods of Hinduism
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Brahma
The creator god. He is originally known as Prajapati. He is the first born, father of the gods, humans and demons. He is also the revealer of the Vedas to humans. He has several mind-born sons. In the early Upanishads and Vedic hymns he is credited with incarnations and described as the Cosmic Person (Purusha) as well as Isvara. In some verses, he is also described as Prakriti or Nature and enjoyed an exalted position in ancient times, when the original Kshatriyas ruled the land. With their decline, his popularity declined. He is presently worshipped only in a few temples, mostly located in the areas adjoining or forming part of the ancient Sindhu Saraswathi region, where the Kshatriyas ruled in ancient times. His abode is called Brahmaloka.
Vishnu
The preserver responsible for the preservation and maintenance of creation. He goes by several names, such as Narayana. He has also manifested upon earth as incarnations (avataras) and manifestations (vyuhas), partial incarnations (amsavataras) and aspects such as Jagannatha, Panduranga, Ranganatha, Varadaraja, Venkateswara etc. India is dotted with numerous temples of Vishnu and His numerous aspects and incarnations. His abode is known as Vaikuntha.
Shiva
The most popular deity of Hinduism in ancient times, worshipped in numerous form and diverse communities throughout the Indian subcontinent and even outside. [While Saivism lost ground to Vaishnavism in the last century, it is still a very popular sect of Hinduism with dedicated followers.] As in case of Vaishnavism, Saivism has several sects and sub sects. Followers of Siva worship Him as the Supreme Brahman who is responsible for the creation, preservation, and destruction of the worlds, besides delusion and liberation of the beings. In popular Hinduism he is considered the destroyer. [He goes by several names such as Rudra, Ardhanariswara, Mahadev, Mahesvara, Isvara etc.] He has also several aspects, manifestations, emanations and attendant deities. His abode is called Kailās. He is worshipped in the temples and households in his anthromorphic form and in the form of Sivalinga. In Tantra, he is also worshipped in the form of symbols.
Trimurthis
The “Trinity of Hindu gods” in English representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In reality, they represent the triple functions of Brahman in creation. In their highest aspect, they are said to be the same, but different in their functional aspect, each ruling over a particular sphere and participating in creation along with their attendant deities. [They are often compared to the Isvara, Hiranyagarbha and Viraj aspects of Brahman. Brahma is the reflection of Brahman in rajas, Vishnu in sattva and Siva in tamas.]
Shakti
Goddess of “feminine divine energy.” Also known as Mother Goddess, Divine Mother, Prakriti, Maya and various other names. In creation she represents materiality and objectivity. Hence she is also known as the Field (kshetra). In beings, she represents the mind and body. If Brahman (and, in Samkhya philosophy, Purusha) is the instrumental cause of creation, Shakti is the material cause. If Brahman/Purusha represents the will and consciousness, Shakti represents the numerous objects, worlds and beings in which the will and consciousness of Brahman/Purusha remains hidden. In the Tantra tradition, Shakti is considered the highest supreme reality itself, with Brahman remaining in the background as the passive witness consciousness. In Vedic tradition she is a dependent reality, but in tantra she is independent. As the companion of Shiva, Shakti is worshipped in numerous temples across India.
Saraswathi
Goddess of knowledge and learning. She symbolizes knowledge, virtue and creative intelligence. She is the consort of Brahma. [As the source of knowledge, she is also the cause of knowledge, wisdom and liberation among intelligent beings. She is responsible for refinement in speech, all artistic expressions and civilized behavior. Saraswathi means the flowing one. A river that flowed in the ancient past in the northwestern India is extolled frequently as Saraswathi. [The civilization that thrived on the banks of the river and adjoining areas is known as Sindhu-Saraswathi civilization. The goddess is responsible for many crafts and skills.] Some descriptions suggest hamsa or swan as her vehicle, while some mention peacock. She is usually depicted carrying a veena, an Indian musical instrument.
Lakshmi
Goddess of abundance who is responsible for health, wealth, luck and happiness. She is the consort of Vishnu. She was born in milky oceans during the churning of the oceans and gifted to Vishnu. She is usually depicted with four or two hands, either alone or in the company of Vishnu. When alone she is shown either seated in a lotus or standing in it, with elephants in the background. She goes by many names, the most popular being Sri. She incarnated several times upon earth along with Vishnu and participated in his duties as the preserver. Owl is described as her vehicle. She has numerous forms. Worship of eight forms of Lakshmi, known as ashta-lakshmis is a very popular Hindu tradition.
Parvathi
The consort of Shiva and goddess of love, devotion, and destruction. She personifies numerous aspects of Mother Goddess and is sometimes equated with the Mother of the Universe. [She also figures prominently as Uma Haimavathi in the Kena Upanishad.] She is also considered the second incarnation of Mother Goddess after the self-immolation of her first incarnation as [Dakshayani or] Sati. There are numerous shakti pithas installed in various parts of India to worship Sati. She goes by several names such as Durga [Haimavathi, Girija, Uma, Lalitha, Rudrani]. She has both pleasant and fierce aspects. [In some Puranas, she is described as the sister of Vishnu.] In images, she is depicted either alone or in the company of Shiva. In the Ardhanarishwara form, as Prakriti she is represented as one half of Siva, the Purusha.
Indra
The leader of gods, the lord of the heaven and the chief deity who figures prominently in the Vedas, with a quarter of the Rig-Veda Samhita devoted to his praise. The hymns extol him as a great warrior who slew his enemies including the demon Vrata and clipped the wings of mountains with hismighty weapon the thunderbolt. [He is depicted in the Upanishads as the student of Brahma and teacher of Prataradana son of Divodasa. The white elephant Airavat is his vehicle and Indrani is his consort.] By the time the Puranas were composed, this mighty god of the early Vedic period lost his prominence and was relegated to an inferior position.
Agni
Figures prominently in the Rig-Veda, with the highest number of hymns addressed to him. [They describe him as the highest god, priest, messenger, master of wealth, minister of sacrifice, dispeller of night and provider of wealth and progeny to the worshippers, who brings the gods to the sacrificial place.] He manifests are fire upon earth [lightning in the mid-region and the sun in the highest realm]. [In images he is depicted as an old man with two heads, three legs, a red body, pot belly, seven tongues, four horns and seven arms, each holding different objects with his consorts Svaha and Svadha on either side. The ram is his vehicle. In the body he personifies the digestive power.]
Vayu
The wind god who is described in the Vedas as the lord of the mid-region and a great absorber. In the body he represents the breath. He rides upon a chariot drawn by a large number of horses [depending upon the intensity with which he blows. As an invisible deity he forms part of the subtle realm. He figures prominently in the hymns regarding Soma sacrifice. They describe him as a drinker of Soma and friend of Indra. In the images he is depicted as a blue colored god with four hands.]
Surya
The sun god, and one of the solar deities (Adityas). [He is described in the Vedic hymns as the foreseeing one, a flying bird, a jewel in the sky, and the giver of light, with radiant hair who knows all that lives and who traverses the sky and the mid-region seeing all things that have birth, riding on a chariot driven by seven horses. He is also praised as a healer who cures the diseases of the heart and takes away the yellow hue. Savitr, to whom the Gayatri mantra is addressed, is an aspect of the sun before sunrise. In some hymns he is also addressed as Pusan.]
Varuna
Described in the Vedas as the god of wind, rains, clouds, water, rivers and oceans. [Some hymns beseech him for protection and forgiveness since he is the king and guardian of moral laws who keeps a close watch on the people and their actions with a thousand eyes. He knows the ways of men as well as the ways of gods. Some hymns also elevate him as the highest God who sustains the Asvattha tree whose roots are in heaven and branches below and who created a wide pathway for the sun to traverse the sky. In some hymns he is associated with Indra as Indra-Varuna, the guardian of men and in some with Mitra as Varuna-Mitra. In the images he is depicted as riding a crocodile or seven swans with four hands holding a conch, a vessel of precious stones, lotus and noose.]
