Hindu GodsHindu Gods

The Hindu Trinity. . .The Hindu Trinity. . .

•Brahma, Vishnu, ShivaBrahma, Vishnu, Shiva•How to remember it all…How to remember it all…•G.O.D.= G.O.D.= GGenerator (Brahma) , enerator (Brahma) , OOperator perator (Vishnu), (Vishnu), SShiva (Destroyer)hiva (Destroyer)

BrahmaBrahma• The mystical creator, The mystical creator, supreme presence, God. supreme presence, God.

• Vishnu and Shiva are Vishnu and Shiva are different representations different representations of Brahma.of Brahma.

• Facing Four directionsFacing Four directions• Holds ladle, Vedas, holy Holds ladle, Vedas, holy water, prayer beadswater, prayer beads

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ShivaShiva•the Hindu god that destroys the the Hindu god that destroys the universe. universe.

•the source of good and evil.the source of good and evil.

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ShivaShiva

• Halo of fire (birth Halo of fire (birth and death)and death)

• Dancing on the Dancing on the demon of ignorancedemon of ignorance

• Flame of Flame of destruction, destruction, purification, purification, renewalrenewal

• Hands in refuge, Hands in refuge, blessingblessing

• Snakes around neckSnakes around neck

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VishnuVishnu•preserve the universe and preserve the universe and people. people.

•balances good and evil powersbalances good and evil powers•helps people through 10 Avatars helps people through 10 Avatars or earthly formsor earthly forms

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The 10 Avatars of The 10 Avatars of VishnuVishnu

Matsya (Fish)Matsya (Fish)

• As a giant fish, As a giant fish, he warned of a he warned of a great floodgreat flood

• A sage and the A sage and the Vedas were Vedas were rescuedrescued

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Kurma (Tortoise)Kurma (Tortoise)

• Retrieved the Retrieved the gods’ elixir of gods’ elixir of immortality immortality

• It was lost in It was lost in the ocean depthsthe ocean depths

• Carries and Carries and stabilizes the stabilizes the world on his world on his backback

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Varah (Boar)Varah (Boar)

• Rescued the Rescued the earth from the earth from the ocean with his ocean with his tuskstusks QuickTime™ and a

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Narasiha (Man-Lion)Narasiha (Man-Lion)

• Destroyed Destroyed HiranyakasipuHiranyakasipu

• This demon could This demon could not be destroyed not be destroyed by man or animal by man or animal alonealone

•

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Vamana (The Dwarf)Vamana (The Dwarf)

• First human avatarFirst human avatar• Used to trick an Used to trick an evil ruler Bali evil ruler Bali into giving him into giving him all he could cover all he could cover in 3 stepsin 3 steps

• He turned himself He turned himself into a giant and into a giant and covered the covered the universeuniverse

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Parashurama (Rama with Parashurama (Rama with Axe)Axe)

• Kshatriyas were Kshatriyas were in power and in power and ruling corruptlyruling corruptly

• He helped He helped restore Brahmins restore Brahmins to powerto power

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Krishna (hero)Krishna (hero)

• Most important Most important avataravatar

• Powerful and Powerful and charmingcharming

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Rama (Prince)Rama (Prince)

• Usually pictured Usually pictured with Lakshman, with Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman Sita, Hanuman and sometimes and sometimes GaneshaGanesha QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Buddha (sometimes Buddha (sometimes Balaram)Balaram)

• Siddhartha Siddhartha Gautama, the Gautama, the princeprince

• Middle PathMiddle Path• Noble TruthsNoble Truths• Eightfold PathEightfold Path

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KalkiKalki

• Yet to comeYet to come• White horse, White horse, flaming swordflaming sword

• He comes to He comes to destroy the destroy the wicked and wicked and restart a new restart a new creationcreation

• Like. . . .?Like. . . .?

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GaneshaGanesha

• Vehicle is a mouse Vehicle is a mouse (fast-moving)(fast-moving)

• Rope to carry Rope to carry people to truthpeople to truth

• Axe to cut Axe to cut attachmentsattachments

• Dessert to reward Dessert to reward spiritualityspirituality

• Palm extends to Palm extends to blessbless

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Symbolism in HinduismSymbolism in Hinduism

Shakti (Mother Goddess)Shakti (Mother Goddess)

• Active feminine Active feminine powerpower

• Mother goddessMother goddess• All of the All of the trinity have a trinity have a female partner:female partner:

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Parvati (Shiva)Parvati (Shiva)

• Durga - goddess Durga - goddess beyond reachbeyond reach

• Kali-goddess of Kali-goddess of destructiondestruction

• Durga rides a lionDurga rides a lion• Kali rides the Kali rides the corpse of a demoncorpse of a demon

• Happy married life Happy married life (Ganesha and (Ganesha and Lakshmi)Lakshmi)

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Sarasvati (Brahma)Sarasvati (Brahma)

• Speech, wisdom, Speech, wisdom, learninglearning

• Rides on a swan Rides on a swan or gooseor goose

• Scriptures, Scriptures, lotus, plays lotus, plays music music

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Lakshmi (Vishnu)Lakshmi (Vishnu)

• Goddess of wealth Goddess of wealth and prosperityand prosperity

• Daughter of Shiva Daughter of Shiva and Parvatiand Parvati

• DivaliDivali• Adored by GaneshaAdored by Ganesha• Sits on a lotusSits on a lotus• Palms always Palms always extented to blessextented to bless

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Temples and ShrinesTemples and Shrines

Home ShrinesHome Shrines

Home ShrineHome Shrine

Objects of PujaObjects of Puja

BellBell

Diva LampDiva Lamp

Incense stick and Incense stick and holderholder

Water Cup and SpoonWater Cup and Spoon

Kum Kum PowderKum Kum Powder

PrasadPrasad

Shrine at our homeShrine at our home