Download Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Hindu Gods and Goddesses
Hinduism can be described both as a polytheistic religion and a monotheistic religion. It is the duality that
allows Hinduism to be described as the most flexible of the major world religions.
The Gods of the Hindu Trinity
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Relationship to the
The creator of the
preserver of the
Destroyer and
Universe
universe
universe
restorer of the
universe
Characteristics
unknowable
Love and salvation
Creative energy and
yoga
Artist Depictions
Cosort:
Four faces
Conch
Trident
book
Discus
Rosary
rosary
Lotus
gourd
gourd
mace
Saraswati
Lakshimi
Parvarti
The Consorts of the Hindu Trinity
Saraswati
Lakshimi
Parvarti
Learning and the Arts
wealth, happiness and
female energy, often
good fortune
called the Mother
Goddess of:
Goddess (takes many
forms)
Shown:
Holding a book and a
with gold, rewarding her
holding many weapons
musical instrument
worshippers
when she is the warrior
goddess
Vehicle:
Peacock or swan
none
sometimes seen riding a
tiger
Avatars (Incarnations) of Vishnu
An avatar is the deliberate descent of a deity (means god) to Earth. This sometimes means as an appearance
or a manifestation but most often as an incarnation.
Vishnu is said to have 10 incarnations:
1. Matsya, the fish - saved the first of mankind from the great flood and rescued the Vedas by killing a demon.
2. Kurma, the tortoise - helped in the churning of the ocean.
3. Varaha, the boar - rescued the earth from the ocean by killing her kidnapper, the demon Hiranyaksha.
4. Narasimha, the half man-half lion - killed the tyrant demon-king Hiranyakashipu, to rescue the demon's son
Prahlada, who was a Vishnu-devotee.
5. Vamana, the dwarf - subdued the king Maha Bali.
6. Parashurama, sage with the axe - killed the thousand-armed king Kartavirya Arjuna
7. Rama, the king of Ayodhya - the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana (sacred text that epitomises the ideal
behaviour of man through stories).
8. Lord Krishna, the king of Dwarka – hero and dictator of Bhagavad Gita (sacred text that deals with politics,
human nature and human weakness).
9. Gautama Buddha - founder of Buddhism, the enlightened one
10. Kalki - has not appeared yet. Kalki will come to earth to bring
the destruction of earth so that it can be born anew.
Hinduism as a MONOTHEISTIC religion:
While a surface view of Hinduism indicates that there are many
Gods and Goddesses, a further exploration yields the realization that
a basic belief of Hinduism is the belief in the ONE DIVINE GOD. But
how does this mesh with some 330 million deities found in the
sacred texts of Hinduism?
Hindus would argue that each deity is a manifestation of the One
True God, in the same way that Christians believe that the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit are one.
There are several analogies that can be made to clarify the argument:
" Take a family man. This one individual, to his wife, he is her husband; to his children, he is their father; to his
employees, he is their boss and to his friends, he is their buddy. In all his different relationships, though he is the
same person, the experience of his wife, his children, his friends and his employees are all unique while having
similarities. Even his name, though he will have one legal name, his wife, children, friends and employees will
address him differently according to their social standing with him. "
(Taken from http://www.myhindupage.org/index.php/god-part-one)
Another analogy says that the Gods and Goddesses are like the rivers. All rivers flow to the sea.
Check your understanding: (You may use your cellphone to help you find answers.)
1. Define the following:
Avatar
Vedas
Bhagavad-Gita
Ramayana
Consort
Polytheism
Monotheism
Pantheism
2. Hinduism is sometimes said to be in agreement with all of the world's major religions. Explain
why this might be so. Consider following: “Jesus as an avatar of Vishnu?” “One god with
many faces.” “Kali (10 avatar) and Christian’s belief in the second coming of Christ.”
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