The 10 main Hindu gods, and their symbolism

Unlike other religions that have followers in a large number of countries, Hindu gods are revered mostly in India, where their legends originated 4000 years ago, in the Valley of the Indo.

One of the most interesting differences from other cultures is that Hindu gods are worshiped in daily life; They are not seen as abstract figures but as an intrinsic part of families and the community. Let's see what they are the most representative Hindu gods of Hinduism and what is its associated mythology.

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The most important Hindu gods

Hindu mythology has approximately more than 30 million gods, but evidently there are some deities that are more renowned than others and are more worshiped throughout India. Here we will review the best known Hindu gods

1. Brahma

The supreme creator of the universe for the Hindus is the god Brahma, who can inhabit both living beings and inanimate objects. From this god two other Hindu gods are derived, called Deva and Devi, which represent one or more aspects of him.

A) Yes, Brahma is the creator and the first of the Hindu gods, responsible for having created everything known to man. He symbolizes a source of wisdom and represents intelligence.

In the images he is represented with four faces, which indicate his great capacity for knowledge, and four hands as a sign of the various aspects of the human personality: mind, intellect, ego and consciousness.

2. Vishnu

Vishnu, the Preserver, is one of the most aesthetically beautiful Hindu Gods and appreciated by the Hindu community. He is the Preserver in view of he symbolizes order, peace, and universal love. His purpose is precisely to maintain these values ​​in the world and that is why he motivates his faithful to be compassionate and kind people with their equals. This deity is usually represented with blue skin.

After Brahma, Vishnu turns out to be the second of the Hindu gods in the main trilogy, and Shiva is the third deity.

3. Shiva

As mentioned above, Shiva is the third deity in the trinity of Hindu Gods, known as The Destroyer.

He represents the other side of the Universe with respect to Vishnu. One is the beginning of life, the other is the end. But the end seen as the possibility that everything arises again, for there to be life there must also be death. This is how it should be understood in Hindu philosophy, as a positive energy for the balance of the universe.

Shiva is also recognized as the God of Dance, an art that for Hindus has great religious and spiritual significance. The snake around her neck symbolizes life energy. He has 19 reincarnations.

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4. Lakshmi

She is the wife of Vishnu, considered the goddess of fortune and beauty. She turns out to be one of the most revered deities in the homes and businesses of India.

Hindu mythology tells a magnificent love story between Lakshmi and Vishnu. It is said that when one reincarnates the other does it in the same way to stay together.

To Goddess Lakshmi she is represented as a beautiful woman with four arms and who rises in a lotus flower, and he lives where there is industry, courage and virtue.

5. Krishna

Krishna is another of the Hindu gods that the inhabitants of South Asia love the most. According to Hindu mythology, he is represented as a hero, leader, teacher and friend. That is why he is called the indweller of hearts.

If we take a trip across India, we will be able to see a lot of sculptures and works of art that present him in human form, almost always playing a fluteWell, he is very fond of music. Krishna is said to be endowed with love, and has the power to destroy pain and sins.

6. Ganesha

Son of Shiva and his spouse Parvati, Ganesha joins Krishna and Hanuman as one of the most popular Hindu Gods in the Indian subcontinent.

It has an elephant head with the human body, and is considered the destroyer of obstacles and an envoy of the good news. He is related to art and science, and it is even said that he is the god of intelligence.

One of the most frequent religious practices in the Hindu population is to pray to Ganesha before getting married, or when a project is going to be carried out.

7. Branch

Protagonist of one of the most famous works of Hindu literature, the Ramayana textRama represents an exemplary man with all his virtues: courage, goodness, devotion and piety. His role is to destroy evil and fight for good things.

He is the second most important avatar of Vishnu and his story has a background in the Indian tribal heroes that existed thousands of years ago. He is considered a King and a God.

8. Hanuman

He represents a symbol of strength and constancy. Hindus invoke him in difficult times, keeping in mind that he represents energy and courage. He is known as the Monkey King, by her ape shape.

Hanuman is also a very popular deity in India (and the world). In Hindu mythology his fame originates through his great loyalty to the God Rama, of whom he is a devotee and fellow warrior.

He is also a scholar who knows all the grammars and the holy books, but of such humility that he never boasts of his knowledge.

9. Saraswati

Images of her show her as a beautiful woman playing the zither on a lotus flower. Her clothes are modest, revealing her predilection for knowledge and sensitivity.

Of all the Gods of the Hindu pantheon Saraswati she is the one who represents creativity, music and the arts, that is why she is known as the Goddess of Knowledge. Believers often invoke her to improve understanding and learning ability of her in times of study

10. Kali

She symbolizes the dark side in harmony with the positive side. She is dual in nature and she shows her more as a destroyer of demons than as a ruthless and hostile being.

Compared to other Hindu gods who possess goodness and good values, it is believed that Goddess Kali was born from the wrath of Shiva and therefore represents a destructive force. She is therefore also known as The Dark Mother.

The image of the Goddess shows a stocky woman with a necklace made from the skulls of her enemies defeated in combat. It is said that she symbolizes the death of the ego and the temporary condition of the human body.

Bibliographic references:

• Bakker, F. L. (1997). "Balinese Hinduism and the Indonesian State: Recent Developments". Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- in Volkenkunde. Brill. Deel 153, 1st Afl.: 15–41.
• Robinson, S. (2007), Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge.
• Williams, R. B. (2001). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 136–138.