The Gods and Goddesses of India

In Hindu religion, there are three best known writings speaking of the Gods and their exploits. These three writings are:
The Rig Veda, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Raa!ana. In Hindu belief lies rein"arnation, various fors of !oga to raise
awareness, tie as a revolving "ir"le, kara, antras, !antras, et".
There are several "reation !ths in Hindu religion. #ne !th is that the universe "ae out of "haos when a God
$soeties said to be Indra and other ties Vishnu% seperated the heavens fro the &arth. The 'un rose fro the "enter of
the &arth. This now ade three worlds: The heavens, earth, and the air between.
The Gods and Goddesses
(diti
)es"ription: *other of the gods.
Rules #ver: 'k!, earth, past and the future.
(gni
#ther +aes: ,raati.
)es"ription: Has seven tongues whi"h he uses to "onsue sa"rifi"es. -ire God. ,i"tured as a an with three flaing
heads, three legs and seven ars, "lothed in bla"k with soke foring his standard and headdres.
Rules #ver: Rain, weather, stors, prote"tor of the hoe, wealth, power, new beginnings, light, rebirth, iortalit!,
.usti"e, forgiveness, love, virilit!, ediation between the gods and en.
(r!aan
)es"ription: God of the Heavens.
Rules #ver: 'un, *oon, winds, waters, seasons.
(svins
#ther +aes: (swins, +asat!as.
)es"ription: Twin gods of the orning. The! rode in a gold "ar drawn b! horses or birds. The ph!si"ians of the Gods.
Their +aes: )asra and +asat!a.
Rules #ver: *orning and evening stars, healing, old age, prote"tion of love and arriage.
Braha
#ther +aes: ,ra.apati $( for of hi, at least%.
)es"ription: ,art of the triad with Vishnu and 'hiva. -ather of the gods, en and the world. Guardian of the world.
'hown riding a swan and has red skin, four heads and wore white robes. In his four ars he "arries his s"epter $or a
spoon/string of beads%, the Vedas, a bow and a water .ug.
Rules #veR: *agi"k, wisdo, knowledge.
Brihaspati
#ther +aes: Braanaspati.
)es"ription: *aster of agi"kal power and the priesthood.
Rules #ver: *agi"k, priesthood, "reated things.
The Buddha
)es"ription: )ivine Tea"her. (vatar/In"arnation of Vishnu.
Rules #ver: 'piritual illuination, wisdo, self0reali1ation.
2handra
#ther +aes: 'oa.
)es"ription: *oon god whose nae "ae fro the intoxi"ating, hallu"inogeni" drink ade for the gods.
Rules #ver: ,s!"hi" visions and dreas, rising on the inner planes, pleasant forgetfulness.
)evi
#ther +aes: *ahadevi, 3'hakti3.
)es"ription: 'hiva4s 2onsort. *ost powerful of the Goddesses.
)urga
#ther +aes: 5aganatri $aspe"t of the, at least%.
)es"ription: #ne of the triad with the Goddesses 6a and ,arvati. In her aspe"t of )urga ,rat!angira, she is a !ellow
woan with ten ars who "arries a trident, sword, dru and bowl of blood. *other Goddess.
Rules #ver: )eath, destru"tion, futilit!, ruin, "ofort, help, power, nurturing, prote"tion, defense.
Gandharvas
)es"ription: Gods of the air, rain "louds and rain. (dept horseen and usi"ians.
Rules #ver: Truths, edi"ines, usi"al skills, air, "loud and rain.
Ganesha
#ther +aes: Ganesa, Ganapati, Ga.ani.
)es"ription: &lephant0headed god of s"ribes and er"hants. Invoked before an! undertaking to ensure su""ess.
Rules #ver: 7isdo, good lu"k, literature, books, writing, worldl! su""ess, prosperit!, pea"e, beginnings, su""essful
enterprises, .ourne!s, building, over"oing obsta"les, taing dangerous for"es, "obination of for"e and "unning.
Ganga
)es"ription: Goddess of the river Ganges.
Rules #ver: ,urifi"ation.
Gauri
)es"riptoin: Benign aspe"t of the Great Goddess.
Rules #ver: 7ealth, good fortune.
Indra
#ther +aes: ,ar.an!a, 'vargapati, *eghavahana, Va.ri, 'ashra.
)es"ription: 8ing of the Gods, Guardian of the &astern 9uarter. ,i"tured as fair with golden skin riding an horse, elephant
$(iravata% or in a "hariot drawn b! two taw! horses.
Rules #ver: 7ar, weather, fertilit!, lightning, sk!, warriors, violen"e, weather, fertilit!, lightning, sk!, warriors, violen"e,
rein"arnation, rain, strength, braver!, horses, elephants, love, sensual desire, rainbow, personal intervention, law, agi"k
power, rivers, tie, seasons, stors, opposition to evil, "reativit!, the sun, hunting dogs, offerings.
5!eshtha
)es"ription: Goddess of bad lu"k.
Rules #ver: Revenge, dark agi"k.
8ali
#ther +aes: 8ali *a.
)es"ription: 3The bla"k other3 who has a dual personalit! exhibiting traits of both gentleness and love, revenge and
terrible death. 7ife of 'hiva. (s the feale Hol! Trinit! she is "alled ,rakriti $+ature%. ,i"tured with bla"k skin, hideous
fa"e seared with blood, fur ars and bare breasts. 'he despises ost ales.
Rules #ver: Regeneration, revenge, fear, dark agi"k, sexual a"tivities, prote"tion of woen.
8ai
#ther +aes: )ipaka, Gritsa, *a!i, *ara, Ragavrinta, Titha.
)es"ription: God of desire. &ver0!o.ng an riding a parrot and is a""opanied b! his wives Rati, Vasanta, and the
(psaras.
Rules #ver: ,h!si"al love, pleasures, sensual desire, spring, woen, flowers.
8arttike!a
#ther +aes: 'kanda, 'ubraan!a.
)es"ription: 2hief war god with six heads and twelve ars. )efender of the gods. 7oen "annot enter his teples.
Rules #ver: Revenge, dark agi"k, war.
8rishna
#ther +aes: Vishnu $In"arnation of hi%.
)es"ription: *ost faous avatar of Vishnu. Had :;< wives. His birth was announ"ed b! a star and angeli" voi"es. It is
said that 8rishna returns at the end of ea"h age to save the righteous, destro! sin, and establish goodness and holiness.
Rules #ver: &roti" delights, sexual pleasures, love, usi", savior fro sins.
8ubera
#ther +aes: 8uvera, 8hanapati, )hanapati, 5abhalla.
)es"ription: )warf god of &arth and treasures of the earth enthroned in the Hiala!as. -at, white, be.eweled, hideous
dwarf with three legs and onl! eight teeth.
Rules #ver: -ertilit!, wealth, treasure, inerals, gold, silver, .ewels, pearls, pre"ious stones.
=akshi
#ther +aes: Rukini.
)es"ription: Goddess of love and beaut!. 'he gave Indra the drink of soa $wise blood% fro her own bod! so he "ould
produ"e the illusion of birth0giving and be"oe king of the devas.
Rules #ver: Good fortune, prosperit!, su""ess, love, feinine beaut!.
*an.usri
)es"ription: ,atron of graati"al s"ien"e.
Rules #ver: &nlightenent, wisdo, "ivili1ation, books and writing.
*ara
)es"ription: *aster agi"ian.
Rules #ver: Illusion, dark agi"k.
,arvati
#ther +aes: *ena, Haiavati.
)es"ription: God of the Hiala!as, Virgin *other Goddess. Represents union of god and goddess, an and woan.
Rules #ver: )esire, e"sta"!.
,u"han
#ther +aes: ,ushan.
)es"ription: =ead souls to the afterworld. 2onsidered a good guide, leading his followers to wealth.
Rules #ver: *arriage, .ourne!s, roads, "attle, eetings, prosperit!, aterial gain.
Raa
#ther +aes: Raa"handra.
)es"ription: ,rin"el! in"arnation of Vishnu. Hero God.
Rati
#ther +aes: *a!avati.
)es"ription: Goddess of sexual passions. 7ife of Raa.
Rules #ver: =ust, sexual a"tivities.
The Ribhus
)es"ription: (rtisan elves who are the sons of Indra b! 'aran!u. Gods of "rafts, horses and the 'un.
Rules #ver: Herbs, "rops, streas, "reativit!, blessings.
Rudra
#ther +aes: ,asupati, Tr!abaka.
)es"ription: =ord of beasts, an"ient Vedi" god of the dead and prin"e of deons. Rudd! or swarth! an with a wild
teper.
Rules #ver: Healing, herbs, death, disease, the .ungle, wild anials, the woodlands, "attle, intelligen"e, song, sa"rifi"e,
"reation, prosperit!, thieves, stors, wind, .udgent.
'arasvati
)es"ription: Inventor of 'anskrit and dis"overer of soa in the Hiala!as. Gra"eful woan with white skin, wearing a
"res"ent *oon on her brow and seated on a lotus flower.
Rules #ver: (rts, s"ien"e, usi", poetr!, learning, tea"hing.
'avitri
)es"ription: Rising and des"ending aspe"ts of the 'un. Golden0haired goddess who rides in a "ar drawn b! two brilliant
horses.
Rules #ver: +ight, rest, healing, long life, iortalit!, dispels tribulation.
'hiva
#ther +aes: 'iva, *ahakala, =ingodbhava, Rudra, ,ashupa, Bhutapati, Tr!abaka, )igabara, +atara.a, +atesa, 'hiva
(rdhanari.
)es"ription: *eber of the Hindu triad with Braha and Vishnu. *er"iful fertilit! god who is also an as"eti" who
pra"ti"es !oga. (lwa!s represents great power.
Rules #ver: -ertilit!, ph!si"al love, destru"tion, strength, edi"ine, stors, warriors, long life, healing, agi"k, weapons,
"attle, rivers, fire, death, dan"e, rh!th, editation, war, righteousness, .udgent.
'iva 5nana0)akshinaurti
)es"ription: God of all wisdo.
Rules #ver: 7isdo, editation.
'iva =ingodbhava
)es"ription: God of reprodu"tion and fertilit!.
Rules #ver: -ertilit!, pro"reation.
'ur!a
)es"ription: 2hief 'un God. 'oe stories sa! he is the original sour"e of soa whi"h he gave to the oon to be
distributed to the gods. )ark red an with three e!es and four ars who rides a "hariot pulled b! seven ares, ea"h one
representing a da! of the week.
Rules #ver: *easures, understanding, waters, winds, "oplete doinion, blessings, spiritual enlightenent.
Tara
)es"ription: *other Goddess who helped to "ontrol huan sexualit! in order to a"hieve spiritual enlightenent.
Rules #ver: 8nowledge, "opassion, punishent, threats, "ontrol, enlightenent.
Tvashtar
#ther +aes: Tvashtri.
)es"ription: 2reator of all things and "raftsan of the gods. 2reated agi"kal weapons for the gods.
Rules #ver: (rts and "rafts, skill with the hands, "reativit!, sour"e of all blessings, granter of prosperit!.
6a
#ther +aes: 6a Haiavati.
)es"ription: 2orn Goddess who is part of the trinit! of the Great Goddess. *ediates "onfli"ts between Braha and the
other gods.
Rules #ver: =ight, beaut!, fertilit!, harvest, "rops, the &arth, the dark seasons, !ogi" as"eti"is.
Va.rapani
)es"ription: God of lightning. 'iilar to ,an.
Rules #ver: 7oodlands, ph!si"al love, e"stas!.
Varuna
)es"ription: God of the 'un. 5udge of an4s deeds. 2reated the heavens , earth and the air between the.
Rules #ver: Rain, wind, rivers, the 'un, truth, .usti"e, punishent, heavenl! gifts, law, agi"k power, snakes, deons,
white horses, o"eans, the "reative will, seasons, death, rewards, prophe"!.
Vishnu
)es"ription: 7ith three steps he easured the seven worlds. Interediar! between the gods and an. 'un God. To help
an, Vishnu appears on &arth as a huan avatar. +ine avatars are said to have alread! "oe, with a tenth !et to appear.
Rules #ver: ,ea"e, power, strength, "opassion, love, abundan"e, su""ess, vi"tor!.
Visvakara
)es"ription: God of siths and "raftsen. 2reator and aintainer of ever!thing in the universe, aking things hold their
individual shapes.
Rules #ver: (nials, horses, "reativit!, weapons aking, ar"hite"ture, building, siths, "raftsen.
>aa
#ther +aes: )harara.a, 'aana, ,itripati, 'raddaheva, )andadhara.
)es"ription: 5udge of the dead. God of death, truth and righteousness. 5udges en4s dhara.
Rules #ver: 5udgent, destin!, death, punishent.