The Hindu Gods/godesses Flashcards
Describe what Hindu god brahma looks like
Four heads (to look in all directions)
bearded faces,
four arms (all powerful)
Shown with bowl or water jug (he is creator)
Shown with Ladle or spoon (divine status,and importance of offerings during worship)
String of beads
Book (Vedas)
Sits on lotus flower (purity)
Accompanied by white swan ( acts as a vehicle)
Name the three Trimurti Hindu gods/godesses
Brahma, Vishnu and shiva
Facts about brahma
He is creator of the universe
Living beings evolved from him
Hindu sacred writings come from his head
Not worshipped as much as Vishnu or shiva because for the time being his work is done
Facts about Vishnu
Preserver of the universe,protects the world from evil
Represents mercy and goodness
Came to earth in nine different forms,incarnations eg Rama or Krishna
Describe what Vishnu looks like
Shown as blue because he is like the sky,everywhere and everlasting
Four arms
3 vertices lines on forehead, because member if the Trimurti
Holds a discuss and a mace, his magic weapons
Holds a conch shell and lotus flower
Sometimes sen sitting on a serpent ( snakes sacred)
His vehicle is Garuda, the king of birds, half man,half eagle
facts about Shiva
Deity of destruction and reproductive power, by destroying things he makes growth and renewal possible
His energy Shakti is capable of destroying and reproducing things
Shakti us believed to take the female firm as Shiva’s consort pavarti
What does shiva look like?
Many forms
Most well known, shown to lead harsh and simple life
Sits crossed legs on tiger skin,deep in meditation
Wears a loin cloth
Has a moon in long matted hair and a top knot out if which comes the Ganga - sacred river
Snakes entwined in hair and on arms, wrists
Three horizontal lines on forehead (Trimurti)
Blue throat. Three eyes to see past present and future. Third eye closed and opens in anger. Trident(Trimurti) one other hand empty as symbol if protection
His vehicle is Nandi, a white bull (fertility)
