Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Being or Brahman. The most fundamental of Hindu deities are the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. But many other gods such as Ganesha, Krishna, Rama, Hanuman, and goddesses like Lakshmi, Durga, Kali and Saraswati top the popularity chart with Hindus across the world. 14 are shown here however there are over 100 different Gods and Goddesses in Hinduism.
This is Brahma. He is The Creator and his Vehicle is a swan. He has 4 heads, 4 arms, and a reddish complexion. He is not, however, commonly worshipped. He is not to be confused with Brahman (the ground of all being) or the Brahmin (priestly caste)
Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. She is the wife of Brahma and Her vehicle is a swan. She is most commonly known sitting on a white lotus playing a veena. Saraswati represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants to her called the 'Saraswati Vandana' often begin and end Vedic lessons. The goddess of wisdom, art and music, she is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that goddess Saraswati endows human beings with the powers of speech, wisdom and learning.
Here is Vishnu, his vehicle is the garuda (bird). He has 4 arms, a blueish complexion, and rests on a snake. He was also incarnated (born as an animal or human) nine times with one more still to come. He is the main god of Vaishnavism. The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth. Vishnu’s earthly incarnations have 10 major avatars. The devout followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas, and his wife is Lakshmi. Vishnu is popularly worshipped as Lord Venkateshwara in the southern India.
This is Lakshmi, her vehicle is an owl and she is the wife of Vishnu. She is usually shown bestowing coins and flanked by elephants. Goddess Lakshmi means "Good Luck" to Hindus. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four hands, sitting or standing on a full-bloomed lotus and holding a lotus bud, which stands for beauty, purity and fertility.
This is Shiva He is The Destroyer / Transformer. His vehicle is a bull. He has matted hair, a third eye, a blue throat and a trident in his hand. He is often worshiped in the featureless lingam form. He is also the main god of Saivism.The most powerful and fascinating deity in Hinduism, who represents death and dissolution. One of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity, and known by many names - Mahadeva, Pashupati, Nataraja, Vishwanath, Bhole Nath - Shiva is perhaps the most complex of Hindu deities.
Here is Parvati, she is the Divine Mother. Her vehicle is a lion and is the reincarnation of Shiva's first wife. Parvati has many forms, such as the popular Durga and Kali she is often together with Saraswati and Lakshmi as the tridevi ('triple goddess')
Easily recognizable as the elephant-deity riding a mouse, Ganesha is arguably he most popular Hindu God, and one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is depicted has having a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth. His vehicle is a mouse and he is the son of Shiva & Parvati.
Murugan is the God of war. his vehicle is a peacock and he is the son of Shiva & Parvati. Marugan is popular in Tamil areas. He is also known as Skanda He is the Commander of the Gods. He is the son of the lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati, his brother is Ganesha, and his wives are Valli and Deivayanai. Murugan is worshiped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore and Reunion Island.
Here is Durga. She is a fiercer form of Parvati and her vehicle is a tiger. She has ten arms holding many weapons. The Mother Goddess (known variously as Durga, Bhavani, Sherawali, Amba, Chandika, Gauri, Parvati, Vaishno Devi) represents the fiery powers of the gods. The name “Durga” means “inaccessible”, and she is the impersonation of the active side of the divine “shakti” energy of Lord Shiva. She is the protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil.
Kali is the Goddess of time and death, her vehicle is a donkey and she is usually portrayed as dark and violent. Kali, or the dark goddess, is the fearful and ferocious form of the mother goddess Durga. She is depicted as having born from the brow of Goddess Durga during one of her battles with the evil forces. Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth and her eyes are red.
Rama is the 7th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. He is the central figure in the epic story Ramayana.Rama, the perfect avatar of the Supreme Protector Vishnu, is an all-time favorite among Hindu deities. The most popular symbol of chivalry and virtue, Rama is “the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all, the ideal king." He is widely believed to be an actual historical figure - a "tribal hero of ancient India" - whose exploits form the great Hindu epic of Ramayana or The Romance of Rama.
Krishna is the 8th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. He is usually portrayed as a child and a prankster; often shown playing the flute. The great exponent of the Gita, Krishna is the ninth and the most complete avatar of Vishnu, the Godhead of the Hindu Trinity. Of all avatars he is the most popular and perhaps the one closest to the heart of the masses. This blue-skinned deity has influenced the Indian thought, life and culture in myriad ways - not only its religion and philosophy, but also into its mysticism and literature, painting and sculpture, dance and music, and all aspects of Indian folklore.
Hanumanan is an ape-like god known for assisting Rama.Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, described in the epic Ramayana, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon. Believed to be an avatar of Lord Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion.
Here is Surya, he is the God of the Sun, he is depicted as a red man with three eyes and four arms, riding in a chariot drawn by seven mares. Surya holds water lilies with two of his hands. With his third hand he encourages his worshipers whom he blesses with his fourth hand. In India, Surya is believed to be a benevolent deity capable of healing sick people. Even today, people place the symbol of the Sun over shops because they think it would bring good fortune.