gods goddesses and avatars

8/3/2019 Gods Goddesses and Avatars
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powerpointAvatar
BrahmaVishnu Saraswati Vaishnavism Rama Krishna
Shiva Lord Nataraj Parvati Kali Durga Shaivism
Dissolution
Devi Shaktism
GaneshaConsort
Trimurti
Brahman Atman Jiva Om
Moksha
Maya Samsara
Kundalini
Chakras
Darshan
Puja

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Gods and Goddesses
andAvatars of
Hinduism

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There can really be asThere can really be as
many Hindu Gods as theremany Hindu Gods as thereare devotees to suit theare devotees to suit themoods, feelings, emotionsmoods, feelings, emotions& social background of the& social background of the
devotees."devotees."
--SriSri RamaKrishnaRamaKrishna
Countless Gods

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Brahman
Brahman refers to the Absolute Reality inHinduism.
All other deities are personifications of
aspects of Brahman. Brahman is eternal without beginning or
end, transcendent, unchanging,
omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, and
without attributes

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Brahman
Take a glass of water. Add some sugar itwill dissolve into the water and you wontbe able to see it or remove it. Now taste
the water and you will taste the sugar inevery drop of the water.
In this analogy the water represents the
world and the sugar represents Brahman,though invisible Brahman is omnipresent(everywhere.)

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Brahman Brahman is the highest conception of God in Hinduism
Brahman is transcendent (beyond time and space, beyondwords), but can roughly be described as Satchitananda - sat:(being): chit ( awareness): ananda (bliss)
Brahman can have no form (above) this Nirguna Brahman
Or Brahman can take a form (as a God or Avatar); this isSaguna Brahman: the noblest reality encountered in the world.

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The many gods of Hinduism represent different aspects of one
and the same ultimate reality, Brahman.
Hinduism views the cosmic activity of the Supreme Being as comprised ofthree tasks: creation, preservation, and dissolution and then recreation.
Three deities (Trimurti) represent these tasks: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Brahma Vishnu Shiva

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Atman Atman is the term used in Hinduism to
describe Brahman within a person.
Before enlightenment the Atman is known
as the jiva.
The Atman is indestructible and after the
death of the body it either achieves
Moksha or is reborn into another body.Rebirth is determined by the law of
samsara and karma.

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Trimurti The three main Gods in Hinduism are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
They are actually the same reality (Brahman), but representseparate aspects of Brahman, and have separate personalities in
the scriptures and to their respective devotees
The are commonly called the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver(Vishnu), and the Destroyer (Shiva)
Mnemonic: G.O.D. = Generator, Operator, Destroyer
Each God of the Hindu pantheon has a Goddess as His partner whois His equal in every respect
Each God has a animal vehicle`
Each God or Goddess can and does take birth as a human
These beings are called Avatars

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In Hinduism all Gods and Goddesses (and Avatars) are
Manifestations of the formless Brahman
Om is a word,
designating a
cosmic sound or
vibration that is all
pervading.
It is the most
common name of
God.
It is the same as
Brahman.

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BRAHMA SARASWATI
(creator (creativity)
Main Hindu deitiesBRAHMAN
(suptreme spirit)
VISHNU LAKSHMI
(preserver) (good luck & wealth)
SHIVA PARVATI
(destroyer) (mother
figure
MAHA YOGI
AVATARS
RAMA KRISHNA
NATARAJ(Lord of the dance)
DURGA(war)
LINGUM
(fertility symbol)
KALI
(death)
GANESH (good luck)
Son of Shiva & Parvati
10 incarnations
of Lord Vishnu
in human oranimal form
including
Buddha and
Kalki (still to
come)

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There are three major devotional traditions:
Vaishnavism (worship of Vishnu)
Generally vegetarianWorship Vishnu or his avatars Rama and
Krishna.
Oriented towards duty and tradition.
Shaivism (worship of Shiva)Worship focuses on union of opposites,
especially creation and destruction.
Tend to emphasize ascetic practices.
Shaktism (worship of the Goddess (or Devi)
Worship the goddess as ultimate reality.
Not as likely to be vegetarian.

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Note: although Brahma iscalled the `creator`, at times
creation can be ascribed to
the other gods and goddesses
(e.g. Shiva or Devi, thegoddess)

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Everything about theEverything about the
depiction of Hindu Godsdepiction of Hindu Godsand Goddesses has aand Goddesses has a
symbolic meaning.symbolic meaning.

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Everything about the depictionEverything about the depiction
of Hindu Gods and Goddessesof Hindu Gods and Goddessescan be taken eithercan be taken either literallyliterally oror
symbolicallysymbolically andandphilosophically, depending onphilosophically, depending on
the level of the believersthe level of the believersunderstanding.understanding.

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BrahmaBrahma
It is often said that the Hindu pantheon has three gods at itsIt is often said that the Hindu pantheon has three gods at itshead: Brahma, the creator of the universe; Vishnu, thehead: Brahma, the creator of the universe; Vishnu, thepreserver of life; and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance.preserver of life; and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance.
Brahma is a representation of the impersonalBrahma is a representation of the impersonal brahmanbrahman in ain ahuman form, usually with four faces facing the cardinalhuman form, usually with four faces facing the cardinal
directions and four armsdirections and four arms

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Brahma (Creator) and Saraswati, his Consort/wife.
Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and speech.
Her Vehicle is the swan.

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Goddess Saraswatisymbolizes Divine Knowledge
Saraswati
means the
one who
gives the
knowledge
of ones
own Self
and
Universe.

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Vishnu (maintainer of the universe)Consort: Lakshmi (good fortune and prosperity)
Vehicle: Garudaeagle/human hybrid

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VishnuVishnupreserves the working order of thepreserves the working order of the
universeuniverse
Lord Vishnu the PreserverLord Vishnu the Preserver
"Only the unlearned deem"Only the unlearned deemmyself (Vishnu) and Shivamyself (Vishnu) and Shiva
to be distinct; he ,I, andto be distinct; he ,I, andBrahma are one, assumingBrahma are one, assumingdifferent names for thedifferent names for thecreation, reservation andcreation, reservation anddestruction of thedestruction of theuniverse.universe. We, as the triuneWe, as the triuneSelf, pervade all creatures;Self, pervade all creatures;the wise therefore regardthe wise therefore regardall others as themselves."all others as themselves."
~~ Vishnu explains the Nature of the TrinityVishnu explains the Nature of the Trinity(trimurti)~(trimurti)~

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Vishnu appears in many avatars (traditionally ten, the
last, who has not yet appeared, is Kalki, who will come
when he is most needed).
The two most important avatars of Vishnu are Rama
and Krishna.
Krishna (right) and Arjuna, his disciple, devotee and friend (left).
Gods are traditionally depicted as blue.

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Shiva
The Great God of yogisand yogic practice
Often represented asKing of Dance
Often represented in
meditation in theHimalayas

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ShivaShivaShiva destroys the world at the end of time. He alsoShiva destroys the world at the end of time. He also
destroys ignorance by granting enlightenment.destroys ignorance by granting enlightenment.
Lord Shiva the DestroyerLord Shiva the Destroyer

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Shiva destroys the world at the end of time. (It returns
to an unmanifest form).
The image ofShiva as the Cosmic Danceris veryphilosophically complex.
In part, it is seen as the image of Shivas rhythmic play
which is the source of all movement within the universe.This is represented by the circular or elliptical frame
surrounding the Lord.
Secondly, the purpose of his dance/play is to release thesouls of all men from the snare of `maya` or cosmic
illusion .

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Shiva (in the guise of the destroyer) has Kali as his
consort. Kali destroys demons, i.e. the (selfish) human
ego and its negativities. This causes enlightenment.
Shiva the Cosmic Dancer Kali

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Shiva as Lord Nataraja, the Divine Dancer, in
Spiritual Bliss.
Dwarf - demon offorgetfulness
Snake - Kundaliniyogic energy
Drum -pranaenergy
Fire - apanaenergy
Two hands in themiddle - blessingof fearlessness
Head Ornaments- Sun, moon andfire
27

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Shiva Nataraja, the
Lord of the Dance.
The third eye on the
forehead of the Lord is a
symbol of his omniscience.
The cobra wrapped around
his neck represents the
Kundalini, a divine energy
present, but asleep, in
every living being at the
base of the spinal cord.
Through spritual practices
the sleeping kundalini
awakens, and as it moves
up the spine, it awakens
spiritual centres along the
spine, bringing various
spiritual experiences and
powers. When it reaches
the top of the head, one
achieves enlightenment..28

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHIVAS DANCE
First, it is an image of his rhythmic play which is the source of all movement within the
universe. This is represented by the circular or elliptical frame surrounding the Lord.
Secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the souls of all men from the snare of
illusion.
Lastly, the place of the dance is actually within the heart.
Nataraj is a visual interpretation of Brahman. It is the representation of reality at the time
of cosmic destruction. We being life forms, cosmic destruction would mean the
disappearance of all life. The half moon shown in the head of Nataraj is a symbol only.
The fall of the moon would result in cosmic destruction.

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Kundalini theGoddess within

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Kundalini
We all have a divine energy within us called the
Kundalini. The Kundalini, usually referred to
either as a goddess or a serpent which s inactive
in most people until awakened through spiritualpractices.

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Kundalini `sleeps`at the baseof the spine. But when
awakened, she rises throughthe `chakras`, energy centres in
the spinal cord up to the brain
bringing about enlightenment..

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Chakras
There are seven
chakras along the
spine. When these
energy centres are
awakened the
spiritual practitioner
achieves variouspsychic powers.
Traditional Indian painting

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Chakras are energy centres in
the body that the awakenedkundalini energy rises through.

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Contemporary Paintings of the
Chakra system

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Chakras
Chakras are energy
centres located along
the spine through which
the awakenedkundalini energy rises.
There are seven
chakras, each, when
awakened, confers
special powers on the
yogi.

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Devi (the goddess) is sometimes worshipped as the
supreme manifestation of Brahman. All other gods and
goddesses would then be considered emanations of her.Devi is the sanskrit word for Goddess. Sheis the female counterpart of each God
without whom the , which represents
consciousness or discrimination, remains
impotent and void. Goddess worship is an
integral part of Hinduism.Devi
is,quintessentially, the core form of every
other Hindu Goddess.
Devi or the divine feminine is an equal
conterpart to the divine masculine. She,
manifests herself as her own Trinity.
Saraswati + Brahma
Lahksmi + Vishnu
Parvati + Shiva
Each of these forms has many other forms.

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FeminineFeminine TheologyTheology --
A Gift of Hindus to the World Hinduism is the ONLY major religion that worships God also as
a woman. All other major faiths see God as a Fatherly figureonly.
Even in Male oriented Hindud traditions, Devi plays animportant role.
In Hindu Dharma, Wisdom/Knowledge, Prosperity, Power etc.,represented symbolically by feminine Hindu deities

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Parvati, consort and equal of
Shiva

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ArdhanaariishvaraArdhanaariishvaraShivaas Half-Woman
Since God is actually Brahman, he isneither male or female. Hindus representthis in many ways.
In the Shaiva tradition, God often
represented as a half woman In the Vaishnava tradition, Vishnu often
incarnates as a woman to preserve andprotect Dharma (Mohini avatar)
When God is worshipped as parent,mother takes precedence over father
aspect. Both Women and Men are manifestations of
God (contrast: According to the Abrahamicfaiths, man was created in the image of God,and women from that mans extra rib!)

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Durga
another `demon`slaying form ofDevi

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Shakti, the Powerful Devi, Killer of
Mahishaasura

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Ganesha
(son of Shiva and Parvati)The Gods can have children.

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Ganesha
the Lord of success anddestroyer of evils andobstacles
worshipped as the god ofeducation, knowledge,wisdom and wealth
one of the five primeHindu deities

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Everything about the Gods is SymbolicEverything about the Gods is Symbolic

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Worship

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Hindus worship principally through Darshan, seeing an
image of the divinity and receiving its blessing and grace.
Shrines can be anywhere, in great temples, by the road, but
especially in the home.
Puja is the act of ritual worship, in which the god is offered
fruit, flowers, incense, water, honey or cloth in a special orderto symbolize an offering of the self to the god/goddess.
In some cases deities are led in procession through the
streets (at festivals, etc.).
Sometimes the worshipper will take a pilgrimage to a sacred
place, the most well-known being Benares, on the Ganges
River.

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A Hindu Priest performing a puja
to the Goddess Kali.

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The two main areas where
puja is offered is in the templeor in the home.
The home is the main centreof worship.

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Most Hindu homes have a puja room, or
at least a corner of the home where they
can do a daily puja.

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Kali temple
Kolkata, India

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Hindu temple interior,
Singapore

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Ancient Shiva temple at Rameswaram,inside
walkway

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Hindu temple, Toronto

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Key TermsAvatar
Brahma
Vishnu Saraswati Vaishnavism Rama Krishna
Shiva Lord Nataraj Parvati Kali Durga Shaivism Dissolution
Devi Shaktism
Ganesha
Consort
TrimurtiBrahman Atman Jiva Om
Moksha
Maya Samsara
Kundalini
Chakras
Darshan
Puja

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