1. Hindu Gods and Goddesses

2. 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)

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

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

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

9. Other popular gods and goddesses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. Surya
God of the Sun
Pulled on a chariot by horses

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

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

22. 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