The 10 main Hindu gods and their symbolism.

A review of the mythology of this religion originating in the Indian subcontinent.

Unlike other religions that have followers in a large number of countries, Hindu gods are mostly worshipped in India, where their legends originated 4000 years ago, in the Indus Valley.

One of the most interesting differences with respect to other cultures is that Hindu gods are worshipped in everyday life; they are not seen as abstract figures but as an intrinsic part of families and the community. Let's see which are the most representative Hindu gods of Hinduism and their associated mythology. and what is their associated mythology.

The most important Hindu gods

Hindu mythology has approximately more than 30 million gods, but obviously there are some deities that are more renowned than others and are more worshipped throughout India. Here is a review of the best known Hindu gods

Brahma

The supreme creator of the universe for Hindus is the god Brahma, who can inhabit both living beings and inanimate objects. From this god are derived two other Hindu gods, called Deva and Devi, which represent one or more aspects of him.

Thus, Brahma is the creator and the first of the Hindu gods, the one responsible for having created everything.He is responsible for having created everything known to man. He symbolizes a source of wisdom and represents intelligence.

In the images he is represented with four facesHe is represented in the images with four faces, which indicate his great capacity of knowledge, and four hands in sign of the diverse aspects of the human personality: mind, intellect, ego and conscience.

2. Vishnu

Vishnu, the Preserver, is one of the most aesthetically beautiful and appreciated Hindu Gods in the Hindu community. He is the Preserver in view of the fact that symbolizes order, peace, and universal love.. His purpose is, precisely, to maintain these values in the world and therefore motivates his followers to be compassionate and kind people with their equals. This deity is usually represented with blue skin.

After Brahma, Vishnu happens to be the second of the Hindu gods of the main trilogy, and Shiva is the third deity.

3. Shiva

As mentioned above, Shiva is the third deity in the trinity of Hindu Gods, known as the Destroyer.

He represents the other side of the Universe from Vishnu. One is the beginning of life, the other is the end. But the end seen as the possibility of everything arising again, for there to be life there must also be death. This is how it should be understood in Hindu philosophy, as a positive energy for the balance of the universe.

Shiva is also recognized as the God of Dance, an art that for Hindus has great religious and spiritual significance. The snake around his neck symbolizes life energy.. He has 19 reincarnations.

4. Lakshmi

She is the wife of Vishnu, considered the goddess of fortune and beauty. She happens to be one of the deities to whom more obeisances are paid in homes and stores in India.

Hindu mythology tells a magnificent love story between Lakshmi and Vishnu. It is said that when one is reincarnated, the other is reincarnated in the same way to stay together.

Goddess Lakshmi is depicted as a beautiful four-armed woman who rises on a lotus flower and lives wherever there is industriousness.and lives wherever there is industriousness, courage and virtue.

Krishna

Krishna is another of the Hindu gods most loved by the inhabitants of South Asia. According to Hindu mythology he is represented as a hero, leader, teacher and friend. That is why he is called the dweller of hearts.

If we take a trip all over India, we can see a lot of sculptures and works of art that depict him. sculptures and works of art that present him in human form, almost always playing a flute, as he is very fond of music.He is a great lover of music. It is said that Krishna is endowed with love, and has the power to destroy Pain and sins.

6. Ganesha

Son of Shiva and his spouse Parvati, Ganesha joins Krishna and Hanuman as one of the most popular Hindu Gods in the Indian subcontinent.

He possesses an elephant's head with a human body, and is considered the destroyer of the world.He is considered the destroyer of obstacles and an envoy of good news. He is associated with art and science, and is even said to be the god of intelligence.

One of the most frequent religious practices among the Hindu population is to pray to Ganesha before getting married, or when a project is going to be carried out.

7. Rama

The protagonist of one of the most famous works of Hindu literature, the text RamayanaRama represents an exemplary man with all his virtues: courage, kindness, devotion and piety. His role is to destroy evil and fight for good things.

He is the second most important avatar of Vishnu and his story has antecedents in the Indian tribal heroes that existed thousands of years ago. He is considered a king and a god.

8. Hanuman

He represents a symbol of strength and constancy. Hindus invoke him in difficult times, considering that he represents energy and courage. He is known as the Monkey Kingbecause of his ape-like form.

Hanuman is also a very popular deity in India (and the world). In Hindu mythology his fame originates through his great loyalty to the god Rama, to whom he is devoted and a fellow fighter.

He is also a scholar who knows all the grammars and sacred books, but of such humility that he never boasts of his knowledge.

9. Saraswati

The images show her as a beautiful woman playing the zither on a lotus flower. Her clothes are modest, revealing her predilection for knowledge and sensitivity.

Of all the gods of the Hindu pantheon, Saraswati is the one who represents creativity, music and the arts.She is known as the Goddess of Knowledge. Believers often invoke her to improve their capacity of understanding and learning in times of study.

10. Kali

She symbolizes the dark side in harmony with the positive side. She is dual in nature and She is shown more as a destroyer of demons than as a ruthless and hostile being..

In comparison to other Hindu gods who possess goodness and good values, Goddess Kali is believed to be born of Shiva's wrath and thus represents a destructive force. That is why she is also known as the Dark Mother.

The image of the Goddess shows a burly woman wearing a necklace made from the skulls of her enemies defeated in combat. It is said to symbolize the death of the ego and the temporary condition of the human body.

Bibliographical references:

• Bakker, F. L. (1997). "Balinese Hinduism and the Indonesian State: Recent Developments". Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Brill. Deel 153, 1ste Afl.: 15-41.
• Robinson, S. (2007), Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge.
• Williams, R. B. (2001). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 136-138.