More about the Hindu Gods & Goddesses
Learn about the Hindu Gods, Hindu Goddesses, Major Hindu
Deities and their Divine Assistance

Meet the Hindu Gods and Goddesses! The Hindu pantheon is one of the most ancient in the world and resonates so closely with the Vodou pantheon in prayers, rituals and divine intervention we were compelled to incorporate this powerful and mystical tradition within the Erzulie's family of spiritual remedies.

We also wanted our clients around the world to learn a little more about the powerful Hindu Gods and Hindu Goddesses, Major Hindu Deities and their divine assistance based upon the fascinating Ancient Hindu religion, so we included an overview on several of the main Hindu Deities for you to peruse and follow the links to some of the largest and most informative sites about Hindu Gods and Goddesses!

These brief summaries and images of the particular Hindu Gods & Goddesses used in our Hindu Meditative Ritual Kits and Precious Attar Perfume Anointing Oils were graciously provided by http://hinduism.about.com/ & http://www.namaste.it/index.html.

Shiva

The third deity of the Hindu triad of great gods, the Trimurti. Shiva is called the Destroyer, but has also the aspect of regeneration & rebirth. Shiva epitomizes Divine Consciousness and Destroyer of the Universe and is depicted as dark and terrible, appearing as a naked ascetic accompanied by a train of hideous demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces of skulls. As auspicious and reproductive power, he is worshipped in the form of the Linga, or phallus or prayed to for enlightenment. Shiva is depicted as white, with a dark-blue throat, with several arms and three eyes. He carries a trident and rides a white bull. His consort is Parvati (Devi).

Vishnu

Vishnu is thought of as the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe, and yet, represents unconditional love from the Divine. It is throughout this literature and especially through incarnations that Vishnu is raised to higher rankings within the Hindu pantheon and sought after for his warm and embracing energy. He becomes the prominent second god of the Trimurti, the Hindu Triad, while Brahma is first and Shiva is third. In some Puranic literature Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. The concept of Vishnu being the preserver of the world came relatively late in Hinduism. Presumedly it sprang from two other beliefs: that men attain salvation by faithfully following predetermined paths of duty, and that powers of good and evil (gods and demons) are in contention for domination over the world. When these powers are upset Vishnu, it is further believed, descends to earth, or his avatar, to equalized the powers. Further it is thought that ten such incarnations or reincarnations of Vishnu will occur. Nine descents are said to have already occurred, the tenth is yet to come. Rama and Krishna were the seventh and eighth. Vishnu is portrayed as blue or black shinned and has four arms. He has a thousand names and their repetition is an act of devotion.

Ganesh

Ganesha is reputed to be a remover of obstacles he is propitiated before the beginning of any new venture whether it is the building of a new house, the writing of a book, the beginning of a journey or the starting of a new business. His images adorn the walls of innumerable business establishments across India. It is customary for businessmen to seek his blessings each morning before they get down to business. Ganesha is also the god of wisdom and prudence. These qualities are signified through his two wives: Buddhi (wisdom) and Siddhi (prudence). Ganesha has a thorough knowledge of the scriptures and is a superb scribe. This latter quality is manifest through the fact that he is the scribe to whom Vyas Dev (the narrator of the Hindu epic Mahabharata) narrated his enormous epic. Ganesha did this work so thoroughly that the Mahabharata is one of the most harmonious works in the Hindu scriptures. Scholars, both mythical and historical, explain that this is so because, before undertaking to do the work, Ganesha stipulated that the dictation should never falter and that he should, at all times, be able to understand what was being said. Thus, it is not strange that such a conscientious god is propitiated by all and sundry.

Lakshmi

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, love and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Goddess Lakshmi, also known as Shri, is personified not only as the goddess of fortune and wealth but also as an embodiment of loveliness, grace and charm. She is worshipped as a goddess who grants both worldly prosperity as well as liberation from the cycle of life and death. Lore has it that Lakshmi arose out of the sea of milk, the primordial cosmic ocean, bearing a red lotus in her hand and she is often depicted sitting on a lotus flower. Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families, and a favorite of women. Although she is worshipped daily, the festive month of October is Lakshmi's special month. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the full moon night of Kojagari Purnima.

Saraswati

Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, art and music 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. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus -- the symbol of true knowledge -- in the second. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on a string instrument called the veena. She is dressed in white -- the symbol of purity -- and rides on a white swan that symbolizes Sattwa Guna or purity and discrimination.

Durga

Durgha is called the Mother Goddess. The name "Durga" means "inaccessible", and she is the personification of the active side of the divine "shakti" energy of Lord Shiva. In fact, she represents the furious powers of all the male gods , and is the ferocious protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil. Durga is usually portrayed as riding a lion, and carrying weapons in her many arms. She is renowned to slay demons, emotional, spiritual or mental and is the Mother of Kali, another great warrior in the Hindu Pantheon. Durga is revered for fierce protection and enlightenment and removing powerful destructive forces.