Hinduism and Hindu Deities


Hinduism is the original and oldest of the world's living religions.  This religion does not have a founder.  Hinduism encompasses many different gods, scriptures, ideals, beliefs, and practices.  The most revered scriptures are the Vedas, Epics (the Ramayana and Mahabharata), Upanishads and Puranas.  The Vedas are called Scruti (that which is heard) and the rest are known as Smriti (that which is remembered).  They are often seen not only as religious teachings but also a record of history, philosophy and morality.  These scriptures provide an unity within all the diversity of beliefs and practices.
The most commonly expression of worship for the Hindu is their devotion to the Gods.  Devotion to one of the Gods of Hinduism is known as Bhakti.  Hindus believe in one Supreme Being known as Brahman.  The various gods worshipped are perceived as partial manifestations and symbols of that one Being.  Hinduism has an extensive hierarchy of Gods which guides them.  The three great Gods that provide basic beliefs about the roles of Hindu Gods are Brahma, "The Creator", Vishnu, "the Preserver", and Shiva, "the Destroyer".  They make up what is known as the Hindu Triad or Trinity.  The powers that are associated with these Gods were later personified and represented as his consort.
Brahma is the creator of the universe and usually depicted as a bearded deity seated on a lotus (symbolic of a glorious existence) and mounting a swan.  His images are shown as having four faces and four arms.  His hands are usually holding a sacrificial tool, the Vedas, a water pot and a rosary.  The four faces represent the four Vedas, the sacrificial tool indicates that he is the god of sacrifice, and his beard, rosary and manuscript of the Vedas portrays him as a dignified and wise sage.
Vishnu, the Preserver and Protector of the world, is one of the most highly worshipped of the Hindu gods.  He is said to be an amalgam of various god concepts.  His is usually depicted as four-faced and four-armed (sometimes eight) and attributes include a disk, a conch shell, a club, a lotus, a seed, or a clod of earth.  In images, he may be wearing a high crown or a garland across his torso.  In paintings, he is either blue or black.  There are many different forms or avataras of Vishnu.  Avatara means "the descent of the Lord into the world of men and animals".  The ten incarnations of Vishnu are:  Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Man-Lion, Dwarf, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Buddha, and Kalkin.  In these different incarnations, he saves the world from peril and maintains righteousness.
Shiva is the god of destruction.  However, he not only destroys, but creates, sustains, obscures by his power of illusion, and offers grace to the suffering world.  This great god is represented by many different forms and depicted as gracious and terrifying.  He appears in a meditating but happy posture.  His hair is matted which holds the Ganges River and a crescent moon.  A serpent can be seen coiled around his neck and he grasps a trident in one hand and covered with ashes on his body.  His attributes represent his victories over the demons and human nature's calmness.  He is especially known as a "giver" god.  His vehicle is a sacred bull, Call Nandi, which is representational of happiness and strength.
Hindu deities may be many and of different forms, but they all tell their own wonderful stories.  They are often worshipped in temples, homes or portable shrines used for festivals and processions.
References


"Bramha"
Online.  Internet. Available WWW:
http://rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu:8080/god/bramha.html

Himalayan Academy, "God and the Gods of Hinduism." 
Online.  Internet.  Available WWW:
http://www.hinduismtoday.kauai.hi....nanaDana/GodAndGodsOfHinduism.html

"Introducing Hindu Deities."  Asian Art Museum of San Francisco brochure, 1997.
Morgan, Kenneth W.  The Religion of the Hindus.  New York:  The Ronald Press Company,
1953.
"Shiva"
Online.  Internet. Available WWW:
http://rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu:8080/god/shiva.html

"Vishnu"
Online.  Internet. Available WWW:
http://rbhatnagar.ececs.uc.edu:8080/god/vishnu.html