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GODS and GODDESSES

Religions in India
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with religion playing a central role in the lives of most Indians.

80% of the people in India are Hindus, considered one of the oldest religious and philosophical systems in the world. Islam is practiced by 13.4% of all Indians, Christianity by 2.4%, and Sikhism by 1.86%. Buddhism and Jainism both arose on the Indian subcontinent and have a world-wide presence; in addition, Zoroastrianism and Judaism have a long history in India, but their present-day numbers are small.

Hinduism is supposed to be 'apauruseya', i.e., of impersonal origin & so also are the Gods of Hinduism. They are eternal & though the deities appear to be different & independent, they are really facets of the same Brahman, the Supreme God.

As Sri Ramakrishna says, there can be as many spiritual paths as there are spiritual aspirants & similarly there can really be as many Gods as there are devotees to suit the moods, feelings, emotions & social background of the devotees.

The Hindu scriptures were eloquent while describing the qualities of God. He is all-knowing & all powerful. He is the very personification of justice, love & beauty. He is ever ready to shower His grace, mercy & blessings on His creation.

From the Rig Veda, we come to know of the vedic gods eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra & Prajapathi, being the Gods of earth, the heavens & the space.

The main Hindu Gods as we accept today can be broadly classified as Saiva Gods (Siva, His consort, His sons, His other forms), Vaishnava Gods (Vishnu, His consort, His various avatharams) & Sakthi or Saktha (Forms of Goddess Sakthi). There are other sects such as Ganapathyam (Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Siva), Kaumaram (Lord Muruga, son of Lord Siva), Souram (Lord Surya).


The Vedic Gods

Brahma - The God of Creation

Vishnu - The God of Maintenance

Dasavataram
Matsyavataram (Form of a fish)
Kurmavataram (Form of a tortoise)
Varahavataram (Form of a boar)
Narasimhavataram (Form of a lion headed man)
Vamanavataram (Form of a dwarf)
Parasuramavataram
Ramavataram
Krishnavataram
Balaramavataram (some consider Buddha as this avataram)
Kalkiavataram (avataram to restore balance in the Kali yuga)


Siva - The God of Destruction

Saraswathi - Goddess of Wisdom - Consort of Lord Brahma

Lakshmi - Goddess of Wealth - Consort of Lord Vishnu

Parvathi - Goddess Sakthi - Consort of Lord Shiva

Ganesha - Son of Shiva & Parvathi

Stories on Lord Ganesha
Story of Gajamugasuran
Story of Agasthyar - Cauvery
Story of Ravana - Aathma Lingam
Story-Vinayagar wrote the Bharatham
Story of Vakradhunda Vinayagar


Muruga - Son of Shiva & Parvathi

Anjaneya

Nava Maruti


Navagrahams

Surya Bhagavan
Chandra Bhagavan
Chevvai Bhagavan
Buda Bhagavan
Guru Bhagavan
Sukra Bhagavan
Sani Bhagavan
Rahu Bhagavan
Kethu Bhagavan
Navagraha Gayatris

Rudraksham

Hinduism - Introduction
- Article by Venkat

English rendering of Aaditya Hridayam – the Mantra for Victory in life
- by Venkat

HINDUISM
- Article by M.P. Bhattathiry
( RETD. CHIEF TECHNICAL EXAMINER TO THE GOVT. OF KERALA, RADHANIVAS, THALIYAL, KARAMANA, TRIVANDRUM)

HAPPINESS
- Article by M.P. Bhattathiry
( RETD. CHIEF TECHNICAL EXAMINER TO THE GOVT. OF KERALA, RADHANIVAS, THALIYAL, KARAMANA, TRIVANDRUM)


Gurus
Periyavar Arul Uraigal (In Tamil)
(snippets of information from "Deivathin Kural", Jagathguru Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetathisvara Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigalin Aruluraigal by Vanathi Publications).

Links to information, sites on Mahaa Periyavaa, sage of Kanchi

"DASOPADESAM" (The Ten Commandments)
by Paramacharya Maha Swamigal, Jagad Guru Shri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati


Images of Gods

Indian Heritage Pinterest Collection

S.Rajam - evolved technique of water-wash
Legacy of Chitrasutra - Shri S Rajam By Sreenivasarao S Subbanna

Shankaranarayanan, Chennai - Oil paintings

Images of 108 Ganeshas - paintings in traditional styles

Glass paintings & Sketches of Ganesha by Rajan

Digital art pictures from puranic and tantric scriptures by Rajesh Srivatsa

Folk / Regional / Traditional Paintings

Tanjore Paintings



Related links
Ashtalakshmi temple, Besant Nagar, Chennai