Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Trimurti (Hindu Trinity) The Trimurti is made of three main Hindu gods. Each has a specific job. Brahma (the creator) Vishnu (the preserver) Shiva (the destroyer)

Lord Brahma The Creator Vehicle: swan Has 4 heads, 4 arms and a reddish complexion Not commonly worshiped

Lord Vishnu The Preserver Vehicle: garuda (bird) Has 4 arms, a blueish complexion and rests on a snake Was incarnated (born) nine times with one more still to come.

Lord Shiva The Destroyer Vehicle: bull Has matted hair, a third eye, a blue throat and a trident in his hand. Often worshiped in the featureless lingam form.

Saraswati Goddess of knowledge, music and the arts Vehicle: swan Wife of Brahma Sits on a white lotus while playing a veena

Lakshmi Goddess of wealth and prosperity Vehicle: owl Wife of Vishnu Usually shown bestowing coins and flanked by elephants

Parvati The Divine Mother Vehicle: lion The reincarnation of Shiva’s first wife She has many forms, such as Durga and Kali

Other popular gods and goddesses

Ganesh Gods of the intellect and the remover of obstacles Vehicle: mouse Son of Shiva and Parvati Has an elephant’s head

Murugan God of war Vehicle: peacock Son of Shiva and Parvati Popular in Tamil areas Also known as Skanda

Durga A fiercer form of Parvati Vehicle: tiger Has ten arms holding many weapons

Kali Goddess of time and death Vehicle: donkey Usually portrayed as dark and violent

Rama The 7th avatar of Vishnu The central figure in the epic story the Ramayana

Sita The wife of Rama Sita is an incarnation Lakshmi. She is known as the goddess of agriculture and fertility.

Krishna The 8th avatar of Vishnu Usually portrayed as a child and a prankster. Often shown playing the flute

Radha Wife of Krishna Also known as Radhika, Radha is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She is the goddess of devotion and love.

Hanuman An ape-like god known for assisting Rama. The son of the god of the wind.

Surya God of the Sun Pulled on a chariot by horses

Indra The King of Heaven and lord of all gods Wields a thunderbolt and is a protector and provider of rain

Agni God of Fire Holds a special place in Hindu fire ritual as the sacrificer, the sacrifice and the witness to all rites.

Gayatri Goddess of the Gayatri mantra She presides over the morning chanting of the prayer Known as the Veda-Mata or mother of all the Vedas