Hinduism is one of the most unusual religions in the world, in which polytheism (polytheism) reaches incredible proportions. An innumerable number of gods and goddesses decorate the niches of the pantheon.

Three deities - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - are considered supreme.

They constitute the concept of Trimurti, i.e. a triple image uniting Brahma the creator, Vishnu the omnipotent and Shiva the destroyer.

In addition to the three Supreme Deities, Hindus worship many other gods, the most famous of which are the following:

Indra is the god of war, the king of the demigods, the ruler of one of the lower heavens - Amaravati. It is believed that he guards the Eastern side of the world.

Varuna is the all-seeing god of the Vedas, who descended from his heavenly palace to become the god of waters. At the same time, he is the guardian of the Western part of the Universe.

Yama is the guardian of the South Side, the god of death, who rules in Purgatory, where sinners are tormented until their next birth.

Kubera is the god of precious metals, stones, minerals and wealth in general, the ruler of the Northern side of the world. His place of residence is considered to be the beautiful city of Alaka, not far from Mount Kailash. Under his command are countless armies of gnomes (guhyaka) and mountain spirits (yaksha).

Ganesha (Ganapathi) is the elephant-headed god, the second son of Shiva and Parvati, the leader of the ganas (demigods, servants of Shiva). He is the Remover of Obstacles and the patron of all who study various sciences. The most beloved deity of the Hindus, most often depicted in dance. His attributes are one broken tusk, a fat belly, and sits on a rat.

Hanuman is the monkey god, son of Vayu (god of the wind), friend and faithful servant of Rama. In his honor, monkeys are considered sacred.

Kama is the Indian god of love. Like his European counterpart, he is depicted as a handsome youth, armed with a bow and arrows, the only difference being that his bow is made of sugar cane, and his arrows are flowers. Apsaras (nymphs) serve in his service.

In addition, all gods and demigods had wives, who usually bore the same names as male deities, only with feminine endings - for example, Indrani.

Similar to three Supreme Deities, the wives of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the Supreme among the many female deities of the Indian pantheon and are highly revered by Hindus:

Saraswati is the wife of God Brahma, the patroness of art, music and literature. She is depicted as a young, beautiful, fair-skinned woman with a veena (Indian lute) and a book in her hands, accompanied by a swan. According to legend, it was Saraswati who invented Sanskrit.

Lakshmi is the goddess of luck and prosperity, wife of God Vishnu. According to legend, she emerged from the waters of the churned Causal Ocean. She is usually depicted as a blooming, beautiful woman seated or standing on a lotus, often with a lotus in her hand. It is believed that being the wife of Vishnu, she incarnates as the consort of each of his incarnations. Thus, she is worshiped as Goddess Sita, consort of Rama (see below); Rukmini, the first queen of Krishna, and Radha, the eternal lover of God Krishna.

Parvati is the wife of God Shiva in her benevolent aspect, but in her fearsome form she is worshiped as Durga or Kali. In her hostile aspect, Parvati is depicted as scary witch, multi-armed and armed with various types of weapons, with bared fangs, a bloody tongue and a necklace of skulls around her neck.

Vishnu

Vishnu is usually depicted as a four-armed man with dark blue skin, with a crown on his head, holding in his hands symbolic attributes: a conch shell, a sudarshana disc, a staff and a lotus; on his neck is the sacred kaustubha gemstone. Vishnu flies astride Garuda - a gigantic eagle with a half-human face. Hindus revere Vishnu as the "all-encompassing deity" in the sense that all other Gods are either emanations from him or reflect aspects of him.

According to the cosmogonic myth of Hinduism, Vishnu is the eternal ruler on the planets of the “spiritual sky” - Vaikunthas (here he is called Narayana). Sometimes the edge of the spiritual sky of brahmajyoti is covered by a spiritual cloud. This darkened part is called mahat-tattva.

Then Lord Narayana takes the form of Maha-Vishnu and lies down on the waters of the Causal Ocean. At the same time, he is in the meditation sleep of yoga nidra. The moment Maha-Vishnu exhales, countless universes emanate from his pores. They float on the surface of the Causal Ocean, like bubbles of foam. All these universes exist only during one exhalation of Maha-Vishnu.

In each of the many universes the same Maha-Vishnu again enters as Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu and lies down in the Garbha Ocean on the serpent Shesha, who is also one of the aspects of Narayana.

From the navel on the belly of Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu, a lotus stem grows, and on this lotus, Brahma, the lord of that particular Universe, is born. Brahma creates from his mind and body various forms of living beings, which provide the opportunity for Individual Souls (atma) to manifest in material world. He also creates the Sun, the Moon, all the planets of the “material sky” and the various demigods who control these planets, i.e. actually creates his own Universe.

The life time of the Universe is considered equal to the life time of Brahma and is 100 “Brahma years”, which exactly corresponds to the duration of the exhalation of Maha-Vishnu. When Maha-Vishnu breathes in, all the myriad universes, each with its own Brahma, return to the unmanifest state and wait for Maha-Vishnu to exhale again.

The main cosmological cycle in Hinduism is considered to be kalpa - “the day of Brahma”, which consists of 14 manvantaras, or secondary cycles, each lasting 306,720 thousand years, with large intervals between them. 360 such days and nights constitute the “year of Brahma.” Every "cosmic day" Brahma creates the Universe and every "cosmic night" he absorbs it, and while he sleeps, the entire Universe resides in his body in the form of pure potency. Each manvantara contains 71 mahayugas, and each mahayuga, in turn, is divided into four yugas (epochs) - Krita (another name for Satya), Treta, Dvapara and Kali. Their duration is respectively:

• Satya Yuga - 1,728 thousand human years,
• Treta Yuga – 1,296 thousand years,
• Dvapara Yuga – 864 thousand years and
• Kali Yuga – 432 thousand years.

Each Yuga represents a further decline in man's religiosity, morality, strength, stature, longevity and happiness compared to the previous ones. It is believed that we are currently in the age of Kali Yuga, which began about 5,000 years ago.

While the entire multitude of universes are in a manifested state, the Primordial Vishnu monitors the state of affairs in each of them and periodically incarnates in one place or another in whole or in part in order to restore order. In accordance with the most common classification, 10 avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu visited our Earth.

1. Fish (matsya). When the Earth was flooded with waters global flood, Vishnu took the form of a fish, which first warned Manu (the progenitor of humanity, the son of Brahma) about the impending danger, and then, on a ship tied to the horn on its head, carried Manu, his family and seven great sages (rishis) out of the flood.
2. Turtle (kurma). During the flood, many divine treasures were lost, including ambrosia (amrita), with the help of which the gods preserved eternal youth. Vishnu took the form of a gigantic turtle and sank to the bottom of the cosmic ocean. The gods placed Mount Mandara on his back and wrapped the divine serpent Vasuki around the mountain. Then they pulled the kite and thus spun the mountain, churning the ocean like an ordinary Indian milkman churns butter. Amrita and many other treasures, including the goddess Lakshmi, floated to the surface of the foaming ocean.
3. Boar (varaha). The demon Hiranyaksha again plunged the Earth into the depths of the cosmic ocean. Vishnu took the form of a giant boar, killed the demon and set the Earth in place, lifting it on his tusk.
4. Lion Man (Narasimha). Another demon, Hiranyakasipu, received a gift from Brahma with the magical ability to become invulnerable. Neither beast, nor man, nor god could kill him, day or night. Taking advantage of his safety, he began to persecute gods and people and even his pious son Prahlada. Then Prahlada turned to Vishnu for help. At sunset, i.e. neither day nor night, the god suddenly appeared from a column in the demon's palace in the guise of a half-lion, half-man and killed Hiranyakasipu
5. Dwarf (vamana). A demon named Bali seized power over the world and, having performed a series of ascetic feats, achieved supernatural power and began to threaten even the gods. Vishnu appeared before him in the form of a dwarf and asked for a gift of as much land as he could measure in three steps. When the gift was promised, the god turned into a giant and took two steps with which he covered the earth, the sky and all the space between them, but generously refrained from taking the third step, leaving the underworld to the demon.
6. Parashurama ("Rama with an axe"). Vishnu took human form, being born as the son of the brahman Jamadagni. When the brahmana's father was robbed by the evil king Kartavirya, Parashurama killed him. The sons of Kartavirya, in turn, killed Jamadagni, after which the angry Parashurama exterminated all the men from the kshatriya (warrior) class 21 times in a row.
7. Rama, prince of Ayodhya, hero of the epic drama Ramayana. Vishnu incarnated in his image to save the world from the oppression of the demon Ravana. Rama is usually depicted as a dark-skinned man, often armed with a bow and arrow. He is accompanied by his loving wife Sita - the embodiment of female fidelity, his three devoted brothers - Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna - and Hanuman, the king of the monkeys, a faithful friend and comrade-in-arms. Rama is revered as an incarnation ideal husband, commander and monarch.
8. Krishna, the most significant of the incarnations of Vishnu.

Stories from the life of this deity are most often addressed in dance. Most people like to depict either his childhood pranks, such as stealing butter from Yashoda (his adoptive mother), or his love affairs with the gopis (shepherdesses), the most beloved of whom was the beautiful Radha.

A detailed biography of the god Krishna is contained in the most famous epic work, the Mahabharata.

His brief history is as follows: Krishna was born in Mathura, into the Yadavas tribe. His father was Vasudeva, his mother was Devaki, the cousin of the then reigning king Kansa. There was a prophecy that Kansa would die at the hands of Devaki's eighth son, so he set out to destroy all her children. But Krishna and his elder brother Balarama escaped the beating; they were adopted and raised by the shepherd Nanda and his wife Yashoda from Vrindavan. Kansa, having learned that the brothers had escaped the death prepared for them, made many attempts to destroy the children. But Krishna, being the incarnation of God, performed many miracles and feats: he killed demons sent by Kansa, sheltered the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the storm, raising Mount Govardhana above their heads with his little finger, etc. In his spare time performing heroic deeds, he tended cows, played the flute for the gopis, and indulged in his childhood pranks.

When he grew up and said goodbye to his idyllic shepherd life, he went to Mathura to fight his evil cousin. He killed Kansa and became the ruler of the kingdom of Mathura, but, pressed on the one hand by Kansa's father-in-law, the ruler of Magadha, and on the other by the nameless king of the Yavanas of the north-west, he left the kingdom and founded a new capital at Dwarka in Saurashtra. Here he married Rukmini and made her the chief of his wives, of whom he had 16,108 and who bore him 180 thousand sons. In the main tale of the Mahabharata, throughout the history of the struggle of the royal families, he appears as a constant friend and adviser to the five Pandava brothers, and before the battle of Kurukshetra, which is the culmination of the epic Mahabharata, he, addressing Arjuna, one of the brothers, utters his great sermon set out in the Bhagavad Gita.

9. Buddha, the last incarnation of Vishnu in the past. According to the Gitagovinda of the great poet Jayadeva, Vishnu incarnated as Buddha out of compassion for animals to put an end to blood sacrifices.
10. Kalki is the future incarnation. Hindus believe that at the end of our dark era, Vishnu will appear in the form of a man riding a white horse, with a flaming sword in his hand. He will condemn the sinners, reward the virtuous and revive the Satya Yuga ("golden age").

If the first part of the story about the Gods of the Indian pantheon was about the three main Indian Gods who were men, then the second part contains a story about their beautiful spouses - Indian Goddesses: Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati. Lakshmi - wife of Vishnu(the embodiment of his creative energy) and the Goddess of wealth and material well-being. Lakshmi ( Laksmī, « good sign", "happiness", "beauty") is usually depicted and described as a Goddess of extraordinary beauty, standing on a lotus and holding a lotus in each of her two hands. Perhaps that is why she is also called Padma or Kamala. She is also decorated with a lotus garland. Its color has been variously described as dark, pink, golden yellow or white. Together with Vishnu, she is depicted with only two hands. When she is worshiped in a temple (separate temples for Lakshmi are quite rare), she is depicted sitting on a throne in the form of a lotus with four hands holding padma(lotus), shankha(sink), Amrit-Kalash(vessel with the nectar of immortality) and fruits Bilva(wild apple tree). Sometimes instead of a bilva she holds mahalungu(lemon). Now we can try to explain what is hidden behind this highly symbolic picture. If Lakshmi is depicted as dark in color (the color of a thundercloud), this indicates that she is the consort of Vishnu, the dark-faced God. If she is depicted as golden yellow, it means that she is the source of all wealth. If she white, then this denotes the purest form prakriti(nature). The pinkish color, the most commonly accepted, reflects her compassion for all beings, as she is the Mother of all things.
Her four hands indicate the ability to bestow four purusharthas(main goals of human life):
1 — dharma(righteousness based on observance of religious and social principles),
2 — arthu(prosperity achieved as a result of realizing one’s talent),
3 — kama(bodily pleasures that do not violate the harmony of man and the laws of the universe)
4 — moksha(spiritual liberation).
Lotuses in various stages of opening symbolize worlds and beings at various stages of the evolution of consciousness. The fruits in her hands are the fruits of our labor. No matter how hard we work, unless Lakshmi is merciful enough to give us the fruits of our labors, everything will be useless. If the fruit in the hands of the Goddess is a coconut, consisting of a shell, core and juice, then this means that three levels of creation come from her - the gross, subtle and causal worlds. If this fruit is a pomegranate or citron, then this means that different worlds are under her control and she surpasses them all. If it is a bilva fruit, which is not very pleasant to the taste, but is very good for health, then this means moksha, the highest fruit of spiritual life. Amrit-Kalash means that Lakshmi is capable of granting immortality.
Goddess Lakshmi traditionally rides on an owl (uluka), a bird that sleeps during the day and watches at night. In most Hindu and Buddhist temples, Lakshmi is flanked by elephants on both sides, pouring water from jugs donated by the celestial maidens. This image is called Gadzhi Lakshmi. The elephant represents the glory and splendor of Lakshmi.
In our Universe, she initially took birth from a holy sage Bhrigu and daughters of Daksha, Khyati. Khyati gave birth in an unusual way beautiful daughter. She was so beautiful that she seemed to be the embodiment of everyone best qualities in this world. She was named Lakshmi. Since goddess Lakshmi herself incarnated as the daughter of Bhrigu, she also came to be called Bhargavi. From childhood, Lakshmi heard about the glory of Lord Vishnu, she grew up ecstatically listening to stories about his radiance, greatness and power. Her mind was captivated by the image of Vishnu, and, overwhelmed by the desire to possess him as her husband, she began to perform the most severe austerities on the seashore. Her austerities lasted a thousand years, and then the king of the demigods Indra, enchanted by her beauty, appeared before her in the form of Vishnu and said: “I am pleased with your devotion. Demand any good you desire." Lakshmi replied, “Give me the grace to see you in your true form (visvarupa).” Unable to fulfill her request, hiding under someone else's guise, Indra left, ashamed. Many other demigods also made similar attempts, but they were all exposed and expelled. And then Lord Vishnu himself appeared before her and asked what mercy she required for herself. Lakshmi replied, “O God of gods, if You are truly and truly Lord Vishnu, then appear to me in Your Vishvarupa form, in Your true divine form.” Vishnu fulfilled her wish and revealed to her the secret that she was in fact his eternal companion and wife.
Vishnu, guardian of the cosmos and in images She either lives on His chest, sits next to Him, on His lap or at His feet. Vishnu protects the world, Vishnu nourishes it. He is a virtuous father, She is a compassionate mother. He is the blue sky watching over Lakshmi, the red Earth. When Vishnu sleeps, the whole world dissolves. When He awakens, the world manifests itself. When Vishnu sleeps, Lakshmi appears Yoganidra, the cause of sleep. When Vishnu wakes up, Lakshmi becomes Yogamaya, the power of creation. It is said that Lakshmi massages Vishnu's feet to give strength to his struggling joints adharma. By placing Lakshmi at his feet, Vishnu does not allow the wealth of the world and power to enter his head. In other words, he keeps a close eye on Lakshmi, knowing full well the power of wealth to corrupt minds.
The son of Vishnu and Lakshmi is the god of Love Kama(Desire), which is often compared to the ancient Greek Eros. He is depicted as a handsome young man sitting on a parrot (sometimes on a chariot). In the hands of the beautiful god is a bow made of sugar cane with a bowstring made of bees and five arrows made of flowers. The goddess Rati is considered to be Kama's consort. Kama embodies the love of Vishnu and Lakshmi.
Vishnu (in countless avatars and expansions) lives with his eternal consort Lakshmi on the Vaikunthas - spiritual planets, places of eternal bliss. The Vaikuntha planets are located above the material universes, and even Brahma and other Devas dream of going to them.

The material world is a distorted reflection of the spiritual reality of Vaikuntha. In Vaishnavism, it is believed that those who have achieved the highest spiritual perfection, by the grace of Vishnu, go to the Vaikuntha planets and are liberated from the cycle samsara. The most exalted planet in Vaikuntha is Goloka, the abode of Radha-Krishna.
Lakshmi does not like places where violence is committed, where anger, lies, greed, hypocrisy and envy emanate. But most of all, she hates any perversions in love. Especially if somewhere prostitution and homosexuality are encouraged. Lakshmi leaves such places and everything immediately collapses. Luck, happiness and prosperity also gradually disappear. This is especially true for society leaders. Everything around them depends on their behavior. There have been many examples in history when entire empires, countries, cities, religious and social movements were destroyed due to the sexual perversions of leaders. Lakshmi will never stay in such places, which means there will be no harmony, happiness, or good luck. And even if you manage to save wealth, they will not bring joy.
Goddess Lakshmi manifests her energy through all the flowers that have large sizes, extraordinary beauty and tenderness. For example, flowers of roses, lotus, daffodils, dahlias. Usually these flowers, after being cut, can only live on the love of the one who gave them or who has them. In minerals, Lakshmi manifests her energy through violet ruby, almandine, lapis lazuli, chrysoberyl, spinel (lal), red and yellow jade. Of metals, it is associated with gold.
In man Lakshmi along with Surya(Sun) rules anahata chakra. It controls lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as the distribution maji(adipose tissue) throughout the body. Lakshmi stimulates insulin synthesis. A conflict with Lakshmi in a previous incarnation leads to the fact that a person does not receive a beautiful and harmonious body. If this happens in this life, the body becomes too thin or, conversely, obesity develops.
Goddess Lakshmi is the patroness of cosmetology.
Traditionally, Lakshmi is worshiped in the following forms and manifestations (ashta-Lakshmi), each of which bestows upon humanity one of the highly desirable gifts, or siddhis:
* Adi-Lakshmi — Primordial Mother
*Go-Lakshmi — Cow goddess. Cows were worshiped as Go-Lakshmi. Cows are called Kamadenu, a wish-granter because a person who has a cash cow does not depend on anyone to provide the basic needs of life.
*Vasudha-Lakshmi — Goddess of the Earth (planet Earth). Since she carries the burden of life on her back, she must be very patient, strong and humble. But when people begin to benefit from her wealth and become greedy and arrogant, she refuses to bear their weight. She takes the form of a cow and begs Vishnu, her guardian, to protect her. He does so, taking the form of Parashurama, Rama and Krishna. Sometimes, Bhudevi takes matters into his own hands, allowing his rage to manifest itself through earthquakes and volcanoes.
* Maha-Lakshmi — Consort of Vishnu. She is the highest manifestation of Lakshmi that man, God and demon can perceive, understand and meditate on. She represents the benevolent and generous aspects of Nature.
*Gaja-Lakshmi — Elephant Goddess. Lakshmi is especially fond of elephants: they have no natural enemy in the jungle, and they also free access to food due to their size and strength. They have become a symbol of strength, grace and royal power.
* Dhana-Lakshmi— Goddess of Wealth. Everyone, except ascetics and beggars, seeks wealth and real estate to secure the future.
* Dhanya-Lakshmi— Goddess of Food. Always present in our kitchens in the form of grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Her presence keeps hunger at bay.
*Raj-Lakshmi— Goddess of Power
* Griha-Lakshmi— Goddess of the Home. Her presence fills the room with love and life. Traditionally, the daughter-in-law is considered Griha-Lakshmi as she has the responsibility to raise the next generation of her family.
* Deepa-Lakshmi— Goddess of lamps. Darkness is considered inauspicious and symbolizes ignorance and inertia. Light, on the other hand, signifies vitality, order and life. Lakshmi lives in every lamp and brings light and warmth to everyone's life.
*Arogya-Lakshmi— Goddess of Health. Without health, the pleasures of life have no meaning.
*Soundarya-Lakshmi— Goddess of Beauty
*Bhagya-Lakshmi— Goddess of Fortune
*Santan-Lakshmi— Goddess who gives children. Helps women give birth to children, She also protects children from diseases.
*Vira-Lakshmi— Goddess of Courage
*Vidya-Lakshmi— Goddess of learning and the arts. Helps transform knowledge into wealth.
*Kadak-Lakshmi— Fierce Goddess. Every time society insults a woman, She places the curse of drought or disease on the offending society.
Lakshmi's main mission is to bring eternal happiness to Earth, so She helps us to have a meaningful career. She understands that wealth alone is not enough to become endlessly happy; spirituality and a sense of accomplishment are necessary. Therefore, Lakshmi leads us to such activities that bring joy and prosperity not only to us, but also to others. Lakshmi brings grace, beauty and love into our homes and provides for all our household needs. Ganesha She is adored, and they often work together to help people meet their main life goals.

Saraswati - wife of Brahma And Goddess of wisdom, art, music and poetry. Saraswati, literally meaning "she who reveals the essence (Sara) of our own Spirit (Swa)", invented writing and dwells with teachers and in schools. Brahma, with Her help, creates the world, through His four heads She appears as the four Vedas, She is rarely depicted in pictures next to Him, when they are seen together, the relationship looks less matrimonial and more intellectual. Saraswati gives a person the power of speech, wisdom and education. Her other Sanskrit name is Vagishwari(Skt. Vāgīśvarī, lit. "Goddess of Speech").
Saraswati originated from the forehead of her father Brahma. As soon as Brahma saw this beautiful woman, he immediately desired her, despite the fact that she was his daughter. Saraswati did not like the attentions of this old lover of God, she tried to avoid him, but wherever she went, Brahma appeared everywhere. As a result, he grew four faces for himself four parts necks, and above them - another head so that Saraswati can be seen, even if she moves upward. But she still avoided him.
Brahma was very angry. As a creator, he was very powerful. We don’t know how, but according to legend, he managed to marry this elusive girl and create the four main Vedas with the help of her mind. According to legend, Brahma discovered that His wife was too distant and absent-minded to love. He organized the main ritual of sacrifice to fire, during which his wife was obliged to be with him. He warned Saraswati not to fiddle with her toilet for a long time and not to be late at the right time. She was to take her traditional place on the left next to Brahma. But Saraswati took so long to get ready that the hour of the main joint sacrifice to fire by husband and wife passed, and they still did not have time to perform the ritual. When she finally came, Brahma was angry. He threw Saraswati out and took the sage's daughter in her place, Gayatri. Saraswati did not experience family happiness, she had no children. She had a short temper, was easily provoked, and was very grumpy. She had a very independent will and was not very kind to the male gods. Saraswati lived in exile, which she herself strove for. Her calm, dispassionate gaze looks at the past as a very real experience. Her ability to remember something without anger or resentment is the greatest gift for her children: writers, musicians and creators various forms art. They all fought against traditions and old foundations, but this fight was not emotional, but intellectual.
Saraswati sits on a peacock throne in a pose Lalita-asana, her body is white. A distinctive feature of this Goddess is that a veena, a lute, and a sitar are depicted in her hands. She has four arms representing the four aspects human personality in cognition: mind, intellect, wakefulness and ego. She holds the scriptures in one hand and a lotus - a symbol of true knowledge - in the other. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on string instrument, called Viina (Vina). She is dressed in white - a symbol of purity - and sits on a white swan, symbolizing Sattva guna - the guna of purity and discrimination, the guna of goodness.
Saraswati is also associated with anuraga- a rhythm that expresses all emotions and feelings through music or words. It is believed that if children are named after her, they will be very successful in their studies in the future. Saraswati swims at her feet white swan. According to legend, the sacred swan, if offered a mixture of milk and honey, will drink one milk from it. Thus, the swan symbolizes the distinction between good and bad, between the eternal and the fleeting. Due to this inextricable association with the swan, Goddess Saraswati is also addressed as Hamsavahini, that is, the one “who uses a swan as a means of transportation.”
The Goddess of Knowledge and Learning, Sri Saraswati is the embodiment of the Upanishad philosophy. Experience of the Supreme Reality and possession of Knowledge are the necessary qualities of a Guru, a Spiritual Teacher. Goddess Saraswati, therefore, is the image of an ideal Teacher, because has these two qualities. When the seeker practices self-control, deep study, constant introspection and regular meditation, his limited ego achieves liberation (moksha). This state of absolute freedom that a person experiences when he discovers the Higher Self within himself is symbolized by the lotus that Goddess Saraswati holds in her hand - the ego.
Saints and spiritual people give great value worship of Saraswati. People of education and learning revere Saraswati for enlightenment and enlightenment. They say there is no comparison between the status of a king and that of a scholar or spiritual man. A king is limited to the boundaries of his kingdom, while a learned or spiritual man is respected and revered throughout the world.
She is revered in both Hinduism and Buddhism. For Buddhists She is the consort Manjushri, bodhisattvas of wisdom. Buddhists appeal to Manjushri, asking for understanding, wisdom, mastery of teaching, the ability to interpret sacred texts, eloquence and memory. He works with the Lord Maitreya. Sometimes Maitreya and Manjushri are depicted together with Gautama Buddha, where Manjushri represents the wisdom aspect and Maitreya represents the compassion aspect of Buddhist teachings. Like Saraswati, Manjushri bestows the gift of insight.
Goddess Saraswati is associated with water(Saraswati is the name of one of the three main rivers in India), therefore the mantras dedicated to her are cleansing. They bestow vitality, cure diseases, and eliminate imbalance through cleansing negative vibrations. The Vedas say that the Saraswati was the largest river in India, and although for many years scientists claimed that this was nothing more than a myth, archaeological excavations carried out in 1985 discovered ancient riverbed river, which matches the description of Saraswati. This great river, from six to ten meters wide for most of its length, originated in the Himalayan mountains, carried its waters to the west and there flowed into the sea. The Rig Vedas call Saraswati "the best mother, the best river and the best Goddess."
As the Goddess of the river (water), Saraswati personifies fertility and prosperity. It is associated with purity and creativity, especially in all things related to communication, such as literature and public speaking. In the post-Vedic era, she began to lose her status as a river Goddess and became more and more associated with the arts: literature, music and others. Her name is in literary translation means "one that flows", which can equally refer to thoughts, words or a river flow.
Goddess Saraswati manifests her energy through all flowers having a very strong and pleasant aroma. For example, flowers of lilac, jasmine, bird cherry, magnolia, apple tree. Minerals associated with Saraswati energy are amethyst, heliotrope, olivine, mother of pearl, charoite, chrysolite and white jade. Metals - silver.
In man Saraswati along with Varuna(Neptune) rules the creative intellect, Vishuddha chakra, kidneys and water-salt metabolism. It controls the functioning of the endocrine cells of the pancreas.
Saraswati is the one who gives essence (sara) to our own Self (sva). She is the wife of Brahma, the Creator. Creation, creation, can be supported only by “knowing how to create.”
Symbolism of Saraswati:
Lotus - shows that the teacher is established in the subjective experience of Truth.
Peacock - shows that the ego must be suppressed.
Four hands:
— Manas(mind), Buddhi(intelligence), Citta(conditioned consciousness) and Ahamkara(ego). Manas and Buddhi together hold the Vina, an Indian lute. This shows that truly knowledgeable teachers tune the mind and intellect of the seeking student and bring out from him the music of life. If the mind is not “tuned,” then mental agitation and disharmony with the world dominate.
- Chitta holds the Holy Scriptures, implying that only knowledge of the Holy Scriptures can lead us to the Truth.
— Ahamkar holds a rosary, showing the importance of mantras and meditation.
Her sari, always white, reminds us that all valuable knowledge must be pure and untainted by untruth. The beautiful swan reminds us that we must separate the husk from the grain of true knowledge.

Parvati - wife of Shiva And Goddess of Love And Devotion. Parvati (Sanskrit: पार्वती, parvatī“mountain”) is one of the names of the wife of the god Shiva. Is a good form Davy, shakti (that is, female creative energy) of Shiva. Another name of good form is Gauri. In cruel form, Davy bears names Kali, Shyama, Chanda, Durga...According to legend, Shiva's first wife Sati after self-immolation on a sacred fire, some time later she was reborn in the form of Parvati (or Minds), daughter of the king of the mountains Himavata and apsaras Menaki(Exchanges). To win the heart of Shiva, Parvati settled next to him on Mount Kailash, but Shiva, who indulged in severe asceticism, rejected her advances. The gods, wanting Shiva to have a son capable of crushing the asura Taraka, Indra’s enemy, sent Kama to arouse Shiva’s love, but Shiva burned him with the fire of his third eye. Then Parvati herself indulged in asceticism for the sake of Shiva. Testing her, Shiva came to her in the form of a young brahmana and began to blaspheme himself. Parvati rejected the slander and, moved by her devotion and beauty, Shiva married her. From this marriage the winner Taraki was born Skanda(or Kumara) and elephant-like god Ganesha. Together they are a tremendous force. The love of Parvati and Shiva became the basis of the famous epic poem of Kalidasa. The trinity of Shiva-Parvati-Ganesh symbolizes the ideal type of divine family in Indian folk belief. Shiva and Parvati - eternal married couple who strived to be together in all their incarnations. In fact, inseparable from each other, they represent the ideal union of a man and a woman. Often depicted with her husband and Divine sons, Goddess Parvati is a manifestation and example of the feminine principle, an ideal harmonious family life.

Parvati is power (energy) - Shakti, which is a manifestation of the mystery of the female essence and the female universal hypostasis. Goddess Parvati fills the world with magic in order to show how happy family unions can be and how harmonious and beautiful the feminine manifestation of man is.
The image of Parvati, personifying the creative feminine principle and the fertile power of the earth, absorbed the features of ancient tribal goddesses, and therefore she was worshiped under different names. She was considered the main female deity of India and bore the name Davy- Goddess. Shiva symbolizes divine power, space male principle and the highest consciousness of man, and Parvati is the divine mother, mother is nature, the cosmic feminine principle and the feminine principle of man, his the female half and internal energy. Therefore, Shiva is not only God, but also a kind of ideal for Himalayan men, and every girl dreams of being the same as Parvati, the girl prays every day that the Gods will give a husband like Shiva. Parvati appears before the inhabitants of the Himalayan valleys mainly as a merciful and giving Goddess, therefore women of the northern Himalayas turn to her with any questions and problems, on all holidays and family events.
In the paintings, Parvati is depicted as a beautiful woman with the usual number of arms and legs. She is credited with performing only a few miracles. However, when this goddess appears in the guise of Durga, Kali and others, divine abilities awaken in her and characteristics are found that are different from those possessed by Parvati. She is usually depicted with a lion (sometimes with a tiger).
Shri Durga (Jagadamba) represents Parvati without Sri Shiva. She is located in the central part of the heart and is known as the "Mother of the World" due to her nurturing and protective qualities. It gives us a sense of internal security and stability in the world around us. Respecting our mothers and understanding the importance of their influence on our personalities comes through Jagadamba.
The name Durga has its own meaning, so the syllable du reminds me of four asura(demons): poverty ( daridra), suffering ( duhkha), hunger ( durbhiksha) and bad habits ( durvyasana). Sound r means illness ( Rogaghna), and the syllable ha- sins ( papaghna), injustice, anti-religion, cruelty, laziness and other bad habits. Thus, the Goddess destroys all types of evil, symbolized by sounds du, p And ha.
Name Cali translated from Sanskrit means Black. Her other names Durga(Unavailable), Chandika(Cruel) and Bhairavi(Scary). Kali is usually depicted as a nude or panther-skin-clad, four-armed, blue-skinned woman riding a lion or tiger. There is a fierce fire in her eyes, her long tongue sticks out from her bright scarlet mouth, from which drops of blood flow. In her upper left hand she holds a bloody sword, destroying doubt and duality, in her lower left hand she holds the severed head of a demon, symbolizing the ego. With her upper right hand she makes a protective gesture that drives away fear, and with her lower right hand she blesses for the fulfillment of all desires. She is wearing a belt made of human hands, which symbolize the inexorable action of karma. Not on her neck is a garland of skulls, which means a series of human incarnations. The three eyes of the goddess are creation, preservation and destruction. She personifies the merciless time, in blue which it is painted. Goddess Kali symbolizes superiority over everything perishable, temporary, everything that is subject to destruction and death. It defeats the false concepts of the ego, the idea of ​​identifying oneself with the body, and points the way to the knowledge of the immortal nature of the spirit. Kali is often depicted trampling a corpse under her feet. She leads her adherents to the understanding that in order to gain eternal life we need to sacrifice our temporary, mortal nature. That is why to the uninitiated in its mysteries it seems so frightening and destructive. According to the scriptures, it is Kali who triumphs over evil in the great confrontation between good and evil.
So, in order to fully understand the true purpose of the female path, to know perfection and to touch the essence of the great cosmic Shakti, a woman must see in herself both hypostases of the great Goddess, become the embodiment of both Kali and Parvati at the same time. This means - to create and protect the beauty of the “earthly” and at the same time be devoted to the “eternal”, to that which is beyond time and death, to give love and compassion and to be merciless to manifestations of moral and spiritual decline, to remain faithful to goodness and to be merciless to evil. In relationships with men, this means being selective, devoted to a worthy partner who has high goals, maintain and protect fruitful relationships that give development to both partners. In relation to the unworthy behavior of a man, be tough and ruthless, without regret, break off relationships that are unconstructive, humiliating for a woman, leading partners to degradation. Always remember that severity is one of the manifestations of true love.

These energies present in man as wild forces, must be manageable and carried out fruitfully through energy channels in order to implant divine consciousness in it. To do this, a person must enlist the goodwill of various gods, who will arouse in his mind the appropriate mood, which will help him cope with various forces wildlife. On the path of a person’s spiritual advancement, he must develop in himself various signs of this divine spirit in order to achieve comprehensive spiritual improvement.

Vedic deities symbolize the forces present in nature, as well as those living inside people. While discussing the symbolic meaning of the Vedic deities in The Secret of the Vedas, Sri Aurobindo says that “the gods, goddesses and demons mentioned in the Vedas represent various cosmic powers on the one hand, and human virtues and vices on the other.”

Idol worship and ritual performance live at the very heart of Hinduism and have great religious and philosophical significance. All Hindu deities are independent symbols of the path to a specific aspect of Brahman. The Hindu Trinity is represented by three deities: Brahma - the creator, Vishnu - the protector and Shiva - the destroyer.

However, Brahma, although great, is too great and therefore almost unattainable. Vishnu replaces him, and the role of the third deity quietly passes to the goddess Shakti. All Hindus, as a rule, are either Vaishnavas (“who worship Vishnu”), Shaivites (“who worship Shiva”), or Shaktas (that is, “those who worship the Divine Mother Shakti,” usually women). This suggests that in Hinduism, with all its polytheism, there is a certain element of the Holy Trinity.

Indian god Brahma

Brahma has four faces, four arms, matted hair, often a short pointed beard and the skin of a black antelope as a cape. He sits on a lotus or in a chariot drawn by seven swans. In one right hand he holds a rosary and in the other a vessel of water. His gaze expresses happiness and calm. His eyes are closed in meditation.

The heads of Brahma dominate the four countries of the world, from which came the four most ancient Vedas, since he is the deity of wisdom, and his main wife- Saraswati - the goddess of learning.

Its four faces represent the four Vedas: eastern - Rigveda, southern - Yaurveda, western - Samaveda, northern - Atharvaveda.

His four arms represent the four cardinal directions.

The world emerged from water. Therefore Brahma carries water in a kamandalu vessel. The rosary he touches represents Time.

The seven worlds are represented by seven swans (geese).

The lotus on which Brahma sits arises from the navel of Vishnu, representing Mani - the Earth.

Brahma's skin color is red or gold and his clothing is white. His vahana is a swan or a goose. Sculpted figures of Brahma usually have a disc-shaped halo behind the head, slightly larger than the head.

Indian god Vishnu

Vishnu is the most popular of all the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Being in the Hindu triad after Brahma, Vishnu is superior to him. He is the Protector God. Of all the gods of the triad, Vishnu looks the most human, since he is the Almighty. According to his inherent qualities, he is very close to a person, therefore he is very popular.

Vishnu is often depicted sitting on the magical four-legged bird Garuda. He has one face and four or more arms. He is depicted as blue, Vishnu's robe is always yellow. He carries in his right hands an arrow, a rosary and a mace - a symbol of the power that gives the highest knowledge, which contains the essence of life; in his left hands he carries a skin, a cloth and a rainbow. He also holds the chakra (wheel) and gada (rod). The chakra represents the rotation of the world, just like the Wheel of Dharma, the Wheel of Time and the Ring of Planets. The wheel symbolizes the Divine Mind and its ability to destroy and again create the Universe, the existence of which is cyclical, like the rotation of a wheel. The shell is associated with the emergence of all things from primordial waters, since it has the shape of a spiral and is a product of the activity of water. Garuda represents the mind that encompasses the bodies of all creatures. The eight arms of Vishnu symbolize the four directions of light and the four intermediate directions. The conch represents the sky, the chakra (wheel) represents air, the gada (rod) represents light, and the lotus represents water. Vishnu's hand gesture signifies the consolation bestowed upon the believer.

Vishnu is often depicted reclining on the king of snakes Shesha with his wife Lakshmi sitting at his feet. According to one legend, the creator of the world, Brahma, was born from a lotus that grew from Vishnu’s navel. The many-headed serpent king Shesha, on whom Vishnu sits as if on a throne, is the embodiment of the divine creative power, which was not fully realized during the creation of the world (the Sanskrit word “shesha” means “remnant”). Shesha is like waves on the surface of the ocean of primordial waters, similar to life that once arose from these waters of the Universe.

This Indian ideogram symbolizes that the god Vishnu is one for the entire Universe.

In illustrated representations, Vishnu has 4 arms (4 half rings), and a cross in a circle symbolizes the highest active principle.

Indian god Shiva

Shiva is one of the most significant and popular gods of Hinduism. Having first appeared as the deity of anger and the blind forces of nature - Rudra, Shiva has become kinder in our times. Currently, he is one of the most popular gods, many temples are dedicated to him, and he has a large number of adherents. His fans today are divided into many sects. Symbolic meaning of some basic attributes of Shiva:

Rod - represents death. Lemon is the seed of peace. The trident means teaching. Shield - represents Dharma.

Tangled hair is the diversity of Brahman-Absolute.

The crescent moon symbolizes the divinity of Shiva. The serpent Vasuki Yajnopavita is his wrath, which conquers evil.

Tiger skin- symbolizes desire. Bull Naydi - symbolizes Dharma, Law.

1. Four hands - trident, drum, grace position and rosary.

2. Eight hands. The right ones are a rosary, a spear (shakti), a rod (danda) and a spear or trident (sula). Left - ritual rod, skull bowl, grace position and cobra. Elephant skin and crescent moon.

3. Two hands - a spear or trident (sula), bow. Three eyes.

4. Four hands - protective and beneficial positions, deer and drum. Three eyes. Accompanied by Parvati.

Indian god Ganesha

The elephant-headed god Ganesha is a very popular character in Hindu mythology. This is probably the most long-suffering of the Hindu gods: he not only has the head of an elephant, but he is also disabled - he is missing one tusk, which he lost in a fight with a giant. The giant turned into a rat, and since then Ganeshi has been riding him. The poor fellow was born quite a freak - he had a short body and a fat belly. But Brahma ordered that his name be remembered before the names of other gods, and the Goddess of wisdom Saraswati gave Ganesha a pen and ink, and he became the god of learning and education, the patron saint of all students and schoolchildren.

In addition, Ganesha became the patron of merchants and travelers and received Brahmanical dignity. He always sits on a rat, which was given to him by the earth goddess Prithivi for eternal service.

In order for only true devotees of Shiva to reach the heavenly abodes, Ganesha began to invent obstacles for people, darkening their minds and forcing them to strive for wealth and temporary pleasures. Although Ganesha is the leader of the lower pantheon and is in the service of Shiva, he is revered primarily as the deity of wisdom, business and the removal of obstacles. Ganesha was also called uponthey still call for help in every matter; many Sanskrit works begin with an appeal to him (a separate Ganesha Purana is dedicated to him). Images and temples of Ganesha are extremely popular, especially in southern India.

Shakti - feminine principle

Shakti is an integral part of Shiva and the feminine energy of Purusha. Moreover, it is the embodiment of the dynamic principle. Shiva is strong and active only with Shakti and passive without her. Although Shakti, of course, is a goddess in herself, she actually acts here a whole series deities, some in a positive aspect and others in a negative aspect.

The principle of the One Mother-Wife was described in the Puranas, in the story of the birth of the Triad - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and at the same time Devi, whom Shiva took as his wife.

Indian goddess Devi

The charming Devi, or Mahadevi, is the most significant and diverse of all the goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. Her image goes back to the ancient mother goddess and at the same time is closely connected with the concept of “shakti” - the divine creativity. This goddess personifies fertility, abundance, protects religious and family rules, is a champion of culture, a symbol of the realization of a woman’s potential and material well-being. This goddess is a powerful protector from the machinations of evil spirits and from hatred; her image serves as a talisman. Women usually ask her for various benefits, as well as active protection from evil spirits, diseases and evil.

The image of this goddess influenced the formation of other goddesses, completely independent in their functions, initially belonging to local cults, which usually show only their formidable hypostasis.

Indian goddess Saraswati

This goddess of learning and culture is one of the most popular among fans of various religions of Hindustan.

She is usually depicted sitting on a lotus and playing the veena, musical instrument, resembling a lute.

According to legend, Brahma was so fascinated by his own daughter that he had a passionate desire to constantly see her, and therefore his face appeared in all directions - he constantly looked at his daughter.

Thus Brahma acquired five faces.

Indian goddess Sri or Lakshmi

The goddess of abundance and prosperity, she was born when the gods churned the ocean to extract from it the drink of immortality - amrita.

She is one of the most popular goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. This is probably due to the fact that the desire to be rich is one of the basic human desires.

Lakshmi is also associated with beauty and good fortune.

She is depicted both alone and with Vishnu. If Vishnu was accompanied by Bhu or Saraswati, she invariably also accompanied him and was then called Sri.

As the popularity of the cult grew, the image of Lakshmi absorbed large number folk beliefs and has become a favorite among Indian women.

The god of love Kamadeva (Kama) belongs to the pantheon of the most ancient deities of India. Translated from ancient Indian, his name literally means “love, desire, attraction of feelings.”

How did Kamadeva appear?

IN different sources The birth of Kamadeva is described in different ways. For example, according to the Vedas, Kama was born on his own, emerging from the heart of Brahma. Other myths call the parents of Kama the supreme god and goddess Lakshmi. Kama had two wives - Priti, personifying love, and Rati, responsible for passion. Kama's children were daughter Trishna (which means "thirst") and son (or brother) Krodha (the embodiment of anger).

Kamadeva and Rati.

The many faces of the god of love

The God of love has many other names that further reveal his essence. He is subject to the intoxication of love, then he is Madana (“intoxicating”), the excitement of the soul, for which he is called Manmatha (“confusing the soul”). In addition, Kama is the source of pleasure (Sringarayoi) and the destroyer of peace (Shamantaka).

His epithet, which sounds like “deprived of members” or Ananga, is very interesting. He received this name after literally losing his body. One of the legends says that the gods asked Kama to help Parvati, awakening love for her in the heart of Shiva’s associate. Having moved to the sacred Mount Kailash, the place of residence and meditation of Shiva, Kama prepared to pierce the heart of the god with a love arrow.

However, the formidable god noticed Kama and incinerated him in the heat of his rage. Having turned into an incorporeal entity, Kama could not generate love feelings and for several years the earth did not know love. Stories about Kama's further fate differ. According to some, over time, Shiva allowed Kama to incarnate again, and Krishna became Kama’s father in a new incarnation. Others claim that Kama received a bodily shell only for a certain period, 3 spring months.

God of love Kamadeva: how was he represented?

Usually Kamadeva appears before us in the form of a young man sitting on a chariot or a special riding animal (vahana). In this case, his role is played by a motley parrot. In Kamadeva's hands is a bow made from sugar cane with a string coated with sugar. That's why bees are always circling and landing around. Each arrow is crowned with one of the deity's favorite flowers. Kama needs a bow and arrows to “hunt” for the hearts of young people.

He often lies in wait for couples, shooting his arrows at them and awakening love in them. The God of love is no stranger to pranks: sometimes his flower arrows fly into the hearts of ascetic hermits, married women, or even young maidens. Usually Kama “attacks” in the spring, when nature awakens from winter sleep and everything around blossoms.

The god of love also has his own banner, depicting an unprecedented sea creature that simultaneously resembles a crocodile and a dolphin.

There are already many publications dedicated to one of the most famous works scientific literature- Kama Sutra. And there is not one about the patron god of Love itself, and the art of love - Kama (Old Indian kama - “desire”, “sensual attraction”, “love”). I'm correcting myself. 🙂

Kama is one of the most ancient Vedic gods. The Vedas tell us that he is “self-born”, emerging from the heart of Brahman, as the son of Dharma.

But already in epic literature slightly different information is given. Here Kama is the son of the goddess of happiness and family well-being Lakshmi and one of the supreme gods - Vishnu. He has two wives (many Indian gods were polygamists) - Rati - the goddess of love passion and Priti - love. The younger brother (in other sources - son) of Kama is Krodha (“anger”). The daughter of Kama is Trishna (“thirst” - in this case we mean the thirst for existence, caused by desires).

God of love Kama.

Kama-deva is depicted as a young man sitting on a parrot (this is his vahana - a riding animal) or on a chariot. In his hands is a bow made of sugar cane with a bowstring made of bees and five arrows made of flowers. The Kama banner depicts a makara - a fantastic sea monster (something between a dolphin and a crocodile).

Kama has many epithets: Manmatha (“confusing the soul”), Manasija (“born in the soul”), Madana (“intoxicating”), Shamantaka (“destroyer of peace”), Sringarayoii (“source of pleasure”).

They also call him Ananga - “Deprived of members.” Here is a reference to the popular legend of the incineration of Kama by the god Shiva. It tells how the goddess Parvati, who was in love with Shiva, could not achieve reciprocity from him, since he performed a great yogic feat and meditated endlessly. Kama came to her aid, sneaking up and shooting a flower arrow into the heart of Shiva. Of course, he wanted the best. And he achieved his goal - Shiva fell in love with Parvati. But on the other hand, no one should be disturbed during yogic practice - neither people, nor, especially, gods. Mahadev, disturbed by Kama, incinerated him with the power of his third eye.

I know four versions of what happened next. According to the first, Kama remained incorporeal. According to the second - his body is returned to him for three spring months - this is connected spring holidays, and, in particular, Holi. The third, most common version says that Parvati and Rati were able to persuade Shiva to return Kama’s body. And the fourth version was found in the Soundarya Lahari (Tantric Shakta poem): “Devi’s navel is the deep lake into which Kama dived to escape when his body was on fire from the rage of Shiva, the row of hairs on Her belly is the steam rising from this” :)

Once upon a time in my youth 🙂 I wrote a hymn to Kama. I think over the past years it has not lost its relevance :)

Kamadeva and his wives

Hymn to Kama.

O Kamadeva, put into my mouth the words that will be said about Love.
For there is nothing in this Universe sweeter than Love.

For there is nothing higher in this Universe than Love.

For there is nothing in this Universe more accessible and more difficult to achieve than Love.
And the words that come to us
when we talk about Love,
are they worthy of it?

And what can you say in words,
can they convey
the heavenly nature of Love?

Can they bring us closer
to the solution greatest secret Universe?

Can they teach us Love?

Oh, Self-born, reveal to me the secret of your song,
that song where there are no words,
for they are not needed for what can only be heard with the heart.

O Kamadeva, burned by Love itself,
Your reed bow is life itself.
From your flower arrows-desires
there is no protection and no salvation,
but whoever was not wounded by your arrow -
did he live?
for if life is a product of Love,
if life itself is Love,
then how can you live without Love and outside of Love?