The Gods of Hinduism You Will Find in Yoga

The origins of the Hindu religion are rather unclear. We know that it is based on the Vedas, sacred texts dating back to 1,800 BC.

According to some sources, the gods of the Hindu religion are so numerous that it would be impossible to count them! It is not easy to find your way around, especially since the main gods have "avatars", that is to say incarnations. The same god can therefore have several appearances...

Here are the main gods and goddesses of Hinduism that we have listed:

1. The gods of the Trimurti (trinity), formed by the gods Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva.

Brahma

Is the Creator God. Born from a lotus flower, he has four crowned heads and four arms and he is reading the Vedas. His vehicle is a swan (or sometimes a goose). His shakti is Saraswati. The term shakti is used to designate energy, feminine power. Saraswati is in some ways the wife of Brahmā.

Although Brahmā is a major god, he is only very little worshipped and only one temple is truly dedicated to him, in Pushkar.

Vishnu,

Also called Narayana, is the Protector God. He fights for good and descends to Earth to help humanity. He also has four arms, each holding a sacred symbol. His mount is the eagle Garuda and he is also accompanied by a multi-headed serpent. His consort is Lakshmi. Vishnu has many avatars.

Shiva

Is the god symbolizing destruction. Very popular, he has several avatars and attributes, which are important spiritual objects. His symbol is the lingam. He has the power to destroy the Universe with his third eye, which he therefore keeps closed. However, destruction is not as fatal as one might think since it is the initiator of reconstruction, according to the immutable cycle of life. Shiva's mount is the white bull Nandi, which also has its own legend. His wife is Parvati, who is also very powerful and can become a force of destruction (she is then called Kali).

2. Secondary Gods of Hinduism: Ganesh, Krishna and Devi  

Ganesh

The son of Parvati, is the protector of the home, and represents wisdom. He is recognizable by his elephant head and his plump body. Ganesh is very popular in India and it is common to see him represented in statuettes or drawings in homes, shops or even cars in order to benefit from his protection.

Krishna

Is an avatar of Vishnu but is often accepted as a god in his own right. He is recognizable by his blue skin and his instrument, the flute. Krishna is the object of many devotional cults throughout India.

Devi

Is the mother of all gods, who has a thousand faces and a thousand names. She is the mother goddess, the loving and faithful woman, but also the destroyer. The term Devi is also used to designate the goddesses as a whole.

The Hindu religion is therefore relatively complex, but also very rich in symbols and legends. Stay connected to discover some stories of these divinities soon!