gods goddesses and avatars

8/3/2019 Gods Goddesses and Avatars
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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

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