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Hindu Gods and goddesses
Hindu is practiced in Asia, especially in countries like India. The Hindus agree that there is only one God. They believe in Brahman, the formless, absolute, Supreme and Universal Soul. They believe that Braham is the Truth and Reality.
Furthermore, they believe he has no limit or form. He is beloved to be the creator of the universe and every other thing present in it. This is why Hinduism is referred to as a pantheistic religion since it equates God with the universe.
Be that as it may, the Hindu religion is a polytheistic religion because it is populated with many other gods and goddesses; these gods and goddesses are known to personify several aspects of the one true God.
Consequently, those practicing Hinduism are given multiple ways to worship God based on various considerations, like their regional practices, community, and family tradition. Some of the popular Hindu gods and goddesses will be discussed below.
Brahma, the Creator
Brahma remains the very first member of the Trinity in Hinduism. He is referred to as the creator since Hindu worshipers believe that he created everything ever found in the universe.
They also believe that the creation occurs periodically since time is cyclical, according to Hindu belief. Hindu believes that everything in the universe is created, except for the Hindu scriptures and Brahman himself.
They also believe that everything created is maintained for a period followed by their destruction and renewal.
Vishnu
Vishnu is considered in Hinduism as the Preserver. He is also a member of the Hindu Trinity, like Brahma. He is believed to maintain harmony and order in the universe after same had been created by Brahma.
Furthermore, Hinduism teaches that Shiva is the one responsible for the periodical destruction of the things created by Brahma.
Vishnu is worshipped in several avatars or incarnations and many forms. It is a very important and even mysterious god. However, he is less visible than nature gods presiding over rain, fire, and other elements.
He is a pervader, making him the divine essence that pervades the entire universe. His worshipers usually worship him in the form of an avatar.
Avatar means “descent,” and it can also mean divine descent. Avatars are the savior forms of gods descending to the earth and intervene anytime someone needs help. They are also involved in restoring peace and dharma or moral order.
Krishna and Rama are two of the most common avatars used for representing Vishnu.
Shiva
Shiva is called the Destroyer and is also the third member of the Trinity in Hinduism. He is saddled with the responsibility of destroying the universe to prepare it for a renewal of the creations at the end of each cycle of time.
He has a destructive regenerative power, which makes it possible for the essential renewal to occur after the periodic destruction.
Usually, Shiva is invoked by Hindu faithful before they start any spiritual or religious endeavor. The worshipers are of the belief that any bad vibration that may be present in the vicinity where worship is taking place will be eliminated once they praise or utter his name.
Ganapati
He is referred to as the Remover of Obstacles. Also, he is called Ganesha, and he is the first son of Shiva. His worshipers call him Lord Ganapati, and he occupies a very important place in the hearts of Hindu faithful because of his role in removing obstacles.
Many Hindu worshipers have a statue or picture of Ganapati hanging in their homes. Also, many of them have a small replica of Ganapati at the rearview mirror of their trucks and cars. It must be mentioned that Ganapati has an elephant head.
Saraswati
She is the goddess of learning and the consort of Brahma, who is the Creator. Aside from being involved in learning, she is also referred to as the goddess of music, speech, and wisdom. Hindus have a culture of praying to Sarawati before they start any intellectual pursuit.
Hindu students are equally encouraged to pray to Saraswati during college or school terms and before they begin the examination, as well as during the examination.
Lakshmi
She is the goddess of well-being, wealth and good fortune. Furthermore, she is the consort of Vishnu, and she plays a very crucial role in all incarnations.
Durga Devi
Durga Devi is a frightening and powerful goddess, and she is known to fight fiercely to restore moral order or dharma. Be that as it may, her fury is directed to her adversaries, while she is loving and compassionate to her devotees.
Indra
Indra is considered as the lord of the gods and King of Heaven. He is said to wield a thunderbolt, using his power to provide rain and protect his devotees.
Surya
He is equally called the Sun. his name can also be spelled as Soorya. He is a golden warrior that arrives in a chariot that is pulled by seven powerful horses.
Agni
He is the god of fire. He holds an exceptional position in Hindu fire ritual, and he is still very relevant today in Hindu. He is referred to as the sacrifice; that is, the priest that carries out the ceremony.
Some even call him the sacrifice; that is, the item being offered for sacrifice and the ritual fire used for the purpose. Furthermore, Hindus refer to him as a witness to all rites.
Hanuman
He is termed the devoted servant and monkey king. He is featured in Ramayana, the great Hindu epic. His involvement in courageous, devotional and strength-intensive feats earned him a place as a god. He was recorded to have helped Rama, one of the avatars of Vishnu, in innumerable exciting incidents.
How many gods does Hinduism have
There are almost 3 million gods in Hinduism
Conclusion
The above deities are the recognized gods in Hindu. Yes, there are many gods in this form of religion, but the Hindus believe that all these other gods are subject to Brahma, the Creator. As hinted earlier, all the other gods are said to represent an aspect of Brahma.
Consequently, a Hindu believer can focus only on Brahma without considering any of the other gods since worshiping Brahma, the one true and supreme God, also translates to worshipping all the other gods.