Hindu Gods and Goddesses

1
Hindu Gods and Goddesses

• A Brief Introduction to Ramas Initiation pg
  1053
• Epics and Legends

2
The Three Main Gods

• Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the three main gods
  of Hinduism
• Brahma is the creator god
• Vishnu is the preserver god
• Shiva is the destroyer god
• Vishnu is responsible for maintaining the world,
  or else Shiva will destroy it

3
Brahma

• Creator God
• Has 4 heads
• Used to have 5 heads
• Children are named after emotions (Anger, Greed,
  etc.)

4
Vishnu

• Preserver of the World
• Portrayed as blue or black
• Has 4 arms
• Has 1,000 names and people repeat his names to
  worship him

5
Shiva

• Destroyer God
• When one of Brahmas heads lied to Vishnu, Shiva
  cut it off as a punishment for deceit.
• Will destroy the world is Vishnu does not protect
  it.

6
Ganesh

• The Elephant God
• God of Good Fortune
• Newlyweds honor Ganesh at their wedding in hopes
  that he will bless them

7
Kali

• Dark and violent goddess
• Lives in cremation grounds
• Thuggee (pronounced Tug-ee) Followers of Kali
  (Thugs)

8
Lakshmi

• Goddess of Wealth, Fortune, Love, and Beauty
• She has 4-6 arms and 8 different forms, depending
  on what one is praying for

9
Krishna

• The hero in the Mahabharata
• Usually depicted as a baby or an adult playing
  the flute
• Bhakti (devotion) to Krishna is usually for
  strength or compassion
• Very strong warrior

10
Rama

• Hero of the Ramayana, the other great epic in
  Hinduism
• His story shows what happens when one has good
  Dharma and Karma
• His wife, Sita, is Lakshmi in another form