Guest guest Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 I want to know more about the major deities of Hinduism, especially what they personify. Like for instance, whether Hanuman is worshipped for physical strength, or saraswati for knowledge and such. It would be better if someone explains which particular force/quality each deity personifies. Thanks in advance. Also how to worship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maadhav Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Just learnig about hinduism is not enough. Assuming that you want to learn to practice hinduism, i suggest first read gita and understand it well. while doing so, if you have nay question, plese ask here. i would be glad to answer. wishing you joyous learning. also not that we hindus have no interest to teach those who hate hindusim/ gita/ krishna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 brahma - creator visnu - preserver/sustainer shiva - destroyer of evil saraswati - goddess of learning/knowledge lakshmi - goddess of wealth/prosperity durga/parvati - wife of shiva, goddess of strength rama - ideal king/man krishna - love, destroyer of evil kartikeya - second son of shiva, known for his perfection, war god and hindu equivalent of mars and ares ganesh - first son of shiva. remover of all obstacles hanuman - courage and hope gauri - the unmarried form of parvati. for purity. young girls pray to her to get a good husband. gayatri - vedas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Then what of Agni, Varuna, Marut, Indra and other gods? I believe they are the most important, especially indra who is the chief of gods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 these are the gods of the various elements and as such are important but not as important as the previous gods mentioned. indra is the chief of gods, true, but does not have power over the main gods mentioned above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 if he does not have power what is the meaning in being the chief of devatas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 In Vedic times, Indra was the supreme ruler of the gods. He was the leader of the Devas, the god of war, the god of thunder and storms, the greatest of all warriors, the strongest of all beings. He was the defender of gods and mankind against the forces of evil. He had early aspects of a sun-god, riding in a golden chariot across the heavens, but he is more often known as the god of thunder, wielding the celestial weapon Vajra, the lightening bolt. He also employs the bow, a net, and a hook in battle. He shows aspects of being a creater god, having set order to the cosmos, and since he was the one who brought water to earth, he was a fertility god as well. He also had the power to revive slain warriors who had fallen in battle. In Brahamanic and later times, Indra slowly lost much of his grandeur. He was supplanted by Vishnu and Shiva as the most important of gods. In later versions of the story of his battle against Vritra, he is portrayed as vengeful and cowardly, and needs the help of Shiva and Vishnu to slay the dragon.Indra also suffered such indignities as Krishna showing himself to be immune to Indra's storm and supplanted himself onto Indra's worshipers. Indra eventually was given the role of weather god and lord of the lesser gods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 obviously this materialistic/darwinian/dogmatic interpretation is not accepted from everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 ..by everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 this is not my interpretation but an article i found. and this is not an interpretation at all. indra is the chief of the lower gods. he doesn't have the power he once had. various books and sources state the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 you can read about indra in vedas and puranas.. why read books of speculators? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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