Goddess Sarasvati: Goddess of Knowledge and Arts Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts, represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. She is the mother of the Vedas, and chants directed to her, called the ‘Saraswati Vandana’ often begin and end Vedic lessons. Saraswati is the daughter of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. It is believed that goddess […]
Goddess Kali: Hindu goddess of death, time, and doomsday The love between the Divine Mother and her human children is a unique relationship. Kali, the Dark Mother is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond, in spite of her fearful appearance. In this relationship, the worshipper becomes a child […]
Goddess Parvati or Shakti – Mother Goddess of Hindu Mythology Parvati is the daughter of the king of Parvatas, Himavan and the consort of Lord Shiva. She is also called Shakti, the mother of the universe, and variousl y known as Loka-Mata, Brahma-Vidya, Shivajnana-Pradayini, Shivaduti, Shivaradhya, Shivamurti, and Shivankari. Her popular names include Amba, Ambika, Gauri, Durga, Kali, Rajeshwari, […]
Lord Hanuman Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon. Believed to be an avatar of Lord Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance, and devotion. Hanuman’s tale in the epic Ramayana – where he is assigned the responsibility […]
Lord Kartikeya – God of War and Victory Kartikeya, the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati or Shakti, is known by many names Subramaniam, Sanmukha, Shadanana, Skanda and Guha. In the southern states of India, Kartikeya is a popular deity and is better known as Murugan. KARTIKEYA: THE WAR GOD He is an embodiment of perfection, […]
Shiva’s Linga Symbol The Shiva Linga or Lingam is a symbol that represents Lord Shiva in Hinduism. As the most powerful of deities, temples are built in his honor that include a Shiva Linga, representing all the energies of the world and beyond. The popular belief is that the Shiva Linga represents the phallus, the emblem of the […]
Manasa : The Snake Goddess The snake goddess Maa Manasa Devi, is worshipped by Hindus, mainly for the prevention and cure of snakebites and infectious diseases like smallpox and chicken pox as well as for prosperity and fertility. She stands for both ‘destruction’ and ‘regeneration’, almost akin to a snake shedding its skin and being […]
Lord Krishna : God of Compassion, Tenderness and Love Krishna is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of the God Vishnu and also as the supreme God in his own right.He is the god of compassion, tenderness, and love in Hinduism and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. Krishna’s birthday is celebrated […]