Hindu Gods/Deities

Question 1

What is the Trimurti?

Answer 1

The three major aspects of the Brahman, the supreme power; Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer
The Trimurti also has ‘consorts’ the three gods female counterparts

Question 2

Krishna

Answer 2

The most popular avatar of Vishnu
Worshipped as a god in his own right
Krishna means ‘dark’
Blue in colour to represent his divine nature and clothed in yellow to suggest earth and show that he is a god in earthly form
Often see playing flute - represents enchanting music that brings out the bliss of realising the true nature of God
Known as the God of love - had 108 wives

Question 3

Shakti

Answer 3

Shakri is a general term for goddess, and is the consort for Shiva, however she tends to be thought of by specific names when she is worshipped. She is most commonly worshiped in her avatar Parvati

Question 4

Avatar

Answer 4

An avatar is an incarnation of God on earth in animal or human form
Bhagavad Gita 4.5
‘I am the basis of the formless Brahman, the immortal and imperishable, of eternal dharma, and of unending divine bliss

Question 5

Do Hindus have a choice in what Gods they focus their worship on?

Answer 5

All Hindus have the option of choosing a particular god/goddess they want to focus their worship on - these gods/goddesses are often worshipped in their ‘murti’

Question 6

What is murti

Answer 6

‘form’; an image or state of a God/Goddess; one or more of these are often the focal point of puja
Bhagavad Gita 12.5:
‘For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifest, the path of realisation is full of tribulations. Worship of the unmanifest is exceedingly difficult for embodied beings.’
This is the idea that it is hard to focus on something that we can’t see

Question 7

Vaishnavism and Shivaism

Answer 7

Two sects/denominations of Hinduism

Question 8

Vaishnavism

Answer 8

Vaishnava worship concentrates on the concept of Bhakti (personal devotion).
Worship often consists of praying specific mantras (e.g. Hare Krishna) and the practice of repetitive prayer known as “Japa”.
Vaishnavas consider that Vishnu is within them as the “antaryami” or God within
Their aim is to serve Vishnu or one of his avatars

Question 9

Shivaism

Answer 9

Shaivites, or Shivas, worship Shiva, who they see as the ultimate reality.
They believe Shiva created the world, and together with Shakti (often in her avatar Parvati) has all the power.
Shaivites are often ascetics aiming for liberation through complete detachment.