There are many important Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Indian mythology who are worshipped by the people. For the Hindus, they have a single Universal God who is known as the supreme being of Brahma.
The main Hindu Gods are said to be the holy triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva where Brahma is the creator Vishnu is the sustainer and Shiva is said to be the destroyer of the worlds.
Apart from these three Gods, many other gods are present which are considered to be an avatar of these 3. In this particular article, we have tried to cover all these important Gods and Goddesses which are present in Hindu mythology.
History and Folklore
The Hindu Gods and Goddesses of the Indian mythology are considered to be an integral part of the life of almost every Indian citizen.
With the passage of time and year by year, these gods are now being accepted and followed by people other than Indian origin also.
The first mention of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses is very old. It is said that the world was started by the Hindu Trinity, which consist of Lord Brahma, who is the creator of the world, Lord Vishnu, who is considered to be the Sustainer of life on the earth and Lord Shiva, who is considered to be the destroyer of the world.
These three gods were considered to be the main gods of the Hindu mythology and it is believed that the rest of the gods are just the avatar of these three and have originated from them only.
The major gods in the Hindu mythology are Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Kali, Hanuman and Krishna.
The temples of these gods are present in almost every city and town of India and with time, these gods are now even being worshipped in the foreign countries and their shrines have also been established in these countries.
These gods are believed to be the saviour of mankind and the one who always keep a watch on their devotees and direct them on the correct path of honesty and righteousness in their life.
Significance
The Hindu Gods and Goddesses have a lot of significance in Hindu mythology. They are considered to be an integral part of almost all the people who are living in India.
These gods are believed to be the guardian angel of their devotes and the ones who help them at the times of chaos and troubles.
Every year, millions of people keep the names of their child after the names and the synonyms of the names of these Hindu deities as they believe that the name of the god will bring great knowledge and wisdom to the child.
Various temples and shrines are made by the devotees and the government of India for worshipping these gods and goddesses and honouring them with the prayers and offerings every day.
The birthdays of these gods and goddesses are celebrated with utmost joy and happiness by the people by organising free meals, playing colours, dance in the honour of the gods and many such other things.
List of Important Hindu Gods and Goddesses
1. Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is considered to be one of the most important Hindu God in Indian mythology. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
He is depicted in the form of an elephant who is potbellied and is a symbol of knowledge, wealth and success. He is worshipped by all the people who follow Hinduism which makes him perhaps the most important Hindu God.
He is typically depicted riding a mouse who is believed to give support to this particular God for removing all the barriers to the success and reach whatever is the endeavor.
2. Maa Saraswati
Maa Saraswati is considered to be the Goddess of knowledge and music in Indian mythology. She is also considered to be a symbol of art and culture. She is depicted wearing a white coloured pure saree with an instrument Veena in her hand.
She is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Maa Durga.
The prayer which is offered to her by the devotees is known as Saraswati Vandana and it often begins and ends with the lessons about how this particular goddess provides the powers of speech and wisdom to her devotees.
3. Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva is considered to be the destroyer of the worlds. He is the representation of dissolution and death and is also believe that he destroys the world so that it can be created by Lord Brahma.
He is also considered to be the master of dance and regeneration. He is considered to be one of the Godheads in Indian mythology and is a part of the Hindu Trinity.
He is famous by many other names like Mahadeva, Natraja, Vishwanath, Pashupati and Bholenath.
When he is not depicted in the books of paintings in his blue colored skin and human form then he is depicted in the form of a symbol which is called Shiva Lingam.
4. Goddess Kali
Goddess Kali, who is also famous by the name of the Goddess of Darkness is depicted in the books and various mythological pieces of evidence as fierce 4 armed women who has a blue colored skin but sometimes is also depicted having black colored skin.
She is also depicted standing at the top of her husband Shiva, who lies beneath her feet very calmly. Her blood-soaked tongue is hanging out from her mouth and is also holding the head of an asur in her hand.
She is considered to be the Goddess of death and also represents the march of mankind towards the doomsday.
5. Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna is one of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in the Indian mythology who is very famous and is followed by the majority of the youth in India. He is one of the most beloved Gods and is depicted having blue coloured skin.
He is considered to be the god of compassion and love and is frequently pictured having a flute in his hand which he uses it for inducing his seductive powers over others.
Lord Krishna is the central character of the Hindu Scripture Bhagavad Gita and as well as an avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is the Sustainer of the Hindu mythology and part of the Hindu Trinity.
Lord Krishna is widely considered among the Hindu people and his followers are famous by the name of Vaishnavas.
6. Goddess Durga
Goddess Durga is considered to be the mother goddess and is represented sitting on the top of a lion and holding different weapons and astras in her different hands while blessing the devotees using her right hand.
She is considered to be the goddess of powers and the protector of the righteous and the destroyer of the evil. She is usually portrayed in the various books and scriptures as sitting on the lion and caring weapons in the different arms.
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7. Lord Rama
Lord Rama is believed to be the God of truth and virtue. He is considered to be the avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is the Sustainer of the earth and part of the Hindu Trinity.
He is considered to be the perfect embodiment of the humankind and gives the strength to his devotees mentally, physically and spiritually.
He is different from the other Hindu Gods and Goddesses as he is widely believed to be an actual historical figure who is the central character of the great Hindu epic Ramayana.
The people of Hindu culture joyfully celebrate his presence during the festival of Diwali which is considered to be the festival of lights and the winning of good over evil.
8. Lakshmi
The name Lakshmi originated from the Sanskrit word Laksya, which means a goal or an aim. She is considered to be the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and the Goddess of both material and spiritual well-being.
She is depicted in the various mythological books and scriptures as a woman of Golden complexion who has four arms and holds a Lotus bud in her hand while standing on a massive Lotus blossom.
She is considered to be the Goddess of beauty and purity and also the epitome of domesticity. She is worshipped a day before the main day of Diwali as she is considered to be the Goddess of prosperity.
9. Hanuman
Hanuman is a monkey-faced God who is worshipped as a symbol of perseverance and physical strength.
He is also known as the one who gave his true services to Lord Rama and helped him in his battle against the evil forces of Ravana as described in ancient Indian poem Ramayana.
In the times of trouble and problems, it is a common practice among the Hindu people to chant the name of Lord Hanuman or sing the Hanuman Chalisa. The temples of Hanuman are the most common shrines which are found in India.
10. Lord Vishnu
Lord Vishnu is considered to be the peace-loving God of the Hindu Trinity. He is considered to be the preserver or the Sustainer of life on the earth. He represents the different principles of righteousness and truth to the people.
The people who pray to him are called as the Vaishnavas and they believe that in the times of problems and disorder Lord Vishnu will emerge from his transcendence for restoring the peace and order on the planet Earth.
Conclusion
The Hindu gods and goddesses in Indian mythology are worshipped by millions of Indians all around the world. These gods are believed to be originated from the Trinity of Indian culture, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
These Hindu gods and goddesses are a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, hope, mercy, blessings and the ones who direct the devotee on the right path and direction in his or her life so that he or she can attain moksha in the afterlife.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Which Hindu gods are considered to be the main Gods in Hindu mythology?
Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are considered to be the main Hindu Trinity and the ones who are the main gods of the Hindu Mythology. They are also called the creator, the Sustainer and the destroyer of the world respectively.
How can one please the Gods and Goddesses?
A true devotee can please their gods and goddesses by worshiping them every day and offering them with Prasad and flowers and other things which are liked by them. They can also please them by speaking truth and staying on the path of honesty always.