List of Hindu deities
Hinduism is the largest religion in the Indian subcontinent and third largest religion in the world. It comprises five major sects or denominations, Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Ganapatism, and Saurism whose followers consider Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti (Devi), Ganesha, and Surya to be the Supreme deity respectively. Smartism sect considers all the above five deities as equal. Most of the other deities were either related to them or different forms (incarnations) of these deities. Hinduism has been called the "oldest religion" in the world, and many practitioners refer to Hinduism as "the eternal law". (Sanātana Dharma). Given below is a list of the chief Hindu deities followed by a list of minor Hindu deities (including demi-gods). Smartism, an older tradition and later reestablished by Jagatguru Adi Shankaracharya, invites the worship of more than one god including Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Shakti and Ganesha (the elephant faced god) among other gods and goddesses. It is not as overtly sectarian as either Vashnavism, Brahmanism or Shivaism and is based on the recognition that Brahman (God) is the highest principle in the universe and pervades all of existence.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva seated on lotuses with their consorts Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati
Main deities
The Hindu trinity, also known are tridev consists of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer and reincarnator. Their feminine counterparts are Saraswati, the wife of Brahma, Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, and Parvati the wife of Shiva. The followers of the last two form two major sects.
Brahma
According to Hinduism, Brahma is the creator of the entire cosmic universe. Although he is the creator, he is hardly worshipped in modern Hinduism. He is identified with supreme vedic god, Prajapati. He married Saraswati, who emerged to give knowledge to create. Some alternative names for Brahma are
Vednatha
Chaturmukha
Prajapati
Hiranyagarbha
Vedagarbha
Kaushal
Devi (goddess)
Main articles: Devi and Shakti
Communities of goddess worship are ancient in India. In the Rigveda, the most prominent goddess is Ushas, the goddess of dawn. In modern Hinduism, goddesses are widely revered. Shaktism is one of the major sects of Hinduism. Followers of Shaktism believe that the goddess (Devi) is the power (Shakti) that underlies the female principle, and that Devi is the supreme being, one and the same with Para Brahman. Shakti has many forms/manifestations like Parvati, Durga, and others but there are also goddesses that are parts of Shakti such as Lakshmi and Saraswati. Devi is believed to manifest in peaceful forms, such as Parvati the consort of Shiva and also in fierce forms, such as Kali and Durga. In Shaktism, Adi Parashakti is regarded as Ultimate Godhead or Para Brahman. She is formless i.e. Nirguna in reality, but may take many forms i.e. Saguna. Durga and Lalita Tripurasundari are regarded as the Supreme goddess in the Kalikula and Srikula systems respectively. Shaktism is closely related with Tantric Hinduism, which teaches rituals and practices for purification of the mind and body. Some different parts of Shakti (Devi) the Mother Goddess:
Parvati and her Navadurgas, Matrikas, and Mahavidyas
Durga (form of Parvati), the slayer of Durgamasura and Mahishasura
Kali (form of Parvati) as Bhadrakali, an auspicious form of Kali and Bharavi/Chamundeshwari often known as Chandi, as a ferocious form of Parvati
Bhumi, the mother Earth known as Prithvi
Lakshmi and her Ashtalakshmi, goddess of wealth and wife of lord Vishnu
Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and music and also wife of lord Brahma
Gayatri, the life giving goddess and the personification of the Gayatri Mantra.
Ganga, the goddess personification of the Ganges River, she later married King Shantanu as his first wife and gave birth to Bhishma Pitamah in the Mahabharat era.
Narmada, the daughter of Shiva, also goddess of river Narmada
Annapoorna (incarnation of Goddess Parvati), the goddess of food
Yami, the sacred river Yamuna and goddess of life
Sati(first wife of lord Shiva), the adi parasakti early life of Parvati.
Shashthi, also known as Devasena, wife of Kartikeya and goddess of children and reproduction.
Savitri (a form of Saraswati), wife of Brahma, born from the left side of Brahma, mother of four Vedas.
Manasa, daughter of sage Kashyap, sister of Vasuki, wife of sage Jaratkaru, mother of sage Astika and goddess of snakes and fertility.
Svaha, considered as the goddess of ash and marriage, daughter of Daksha and wife of Agni.
Dakshina, goddess of yagna, born from the hair follicles of Radha, reborn from goddess Lakshmi and wife of lord Yagna.
Shiva
Main article: Shiva
Shaivism is one of the major Hindu sects. Adherents of Shaivism believe that the god Shiva is the supreme being. Shiva is the destroyer god among the Trimurti, and so is sometimes depicted as the fierce god Bhairava. Shaivists are more attracted to asceticism than adherents of other Hindu sects, and may be found wandering with ashen faces performing self-purification rituals. Some alternative forms of Shiva (and Bhairavs) are listed below:
Ardhanarishvara
Nataraja
Pashupati
Rudra
Dakshinamurthy
Ravananugraha
Vaidheeswara
Lingodbhava
Bhikshatana
Sri Manjunatha
Jyotirlinga Forms, The 12 divine representations of Lord Shiva
Bholenath
Maheshwara
Budhakedar Vrûdhā/वृद्ध (Old) form of Shiva who guided Pandavas to Swargarohini.
Vishnu
Main article: Vishnu
Vaishnavism is the sect within Hinduism that worships Vishnu, the preserver god of the Hindu Trimurti (the Trinity), and his many incarnations. Vaishnavites regard him to be eternal and the strongest and supreme God . It is a devotional sect, and followers worship many deities, including Rama and Krishna both the 7th & the 8th incarnations of Vishnu respectively. The adherents of this sect are generally non-ascetic, monastic and devoted to meditative practice and ecstatic chanting. Some alternate names of Vishnu the Preserver:
Adi Narayana
Narayana
Thirumal
Perumal
Jagannatha
Hayagriva
Achyuta
Madhava
Venkateshwara, as Vishnu is known in parts of South India
Guruvayurappan
Vaikuntha Chaturmurti
Vaikuntha Kamalaja
Mohini
Lakshmi Narayan
Vishvarupa
Ranganatha
Dashavatara, the 10 incarnations of Vishnu
Madhusudana
Padmanabha
Ananta Shayana
Hari
Upulvan, another name for Vishnu In Sri Lanka
Purushottama
Vasudeva
Govinda
Caturvyūha
Related deities
Yamuna, the life energy, the daughter of lord Surya and the goddess of clouds Saranyu.
Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati and was also called Ganpati, the Ganapatya sectary worshipped Ganesha as their chief deity. He is the god of wisdom and remover of all obstacles. He is worshipped before any other deity.
Kartikeya, son of Shiva and Parvati and was also called Muruga, Karthik, Kumara or Shanmukha, the Kaumaram sectary worshipped Subramanya as their chief deity. He's also the brother of Lord Ganesha.
Ayyappan, son of Shiva and Mohini and was also called Manikanta since he has mani(Rudraksha) in kanta(neck)
Hanuman, is one of incarnation of Shiva and devotee of Rama (incarnation of Vishnu) and was also called Anjaneya, since his mother is anjana
Ganga, holi river in Hinduism.
Hansa, the devoted swan who acts as the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Brahma.
Garuda, the devoted eagle who acts as the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu and the king of all birds.
Nandi, the devoted bull who acts as the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva.
Shani, the son of Sun
Shesha, the king of Nagas
Avatars (incarnations)
Main article: Avatar
Shakti
Adi parashakti
Gayatri
Mahamaya
Yogamaya
Sati
Tripura sundari
Parvati
Aparna
Durga
Rudrani
Mahalsa
Narayani
Kamakhya
Meenakshi
Kamakshi
Vishalakshi
Abhirami
Kanya Kumari
Annapoorna
Shataksi or Shakambhari
Bhramari or Bhramarambha
Kausiki
Akhilandeswari
Uma
Mari
Bhavani
Ambika
Mahadevi
Dasa Mahavidya
Mahakali
Tara
Shodashi
Bhuvaneswari
Chhinnamasta
Bhairavi
Dhumavati
Bagalamukhi
Matangi
Kamalatmika
Navadurga
Shailaputri
Brahmacharini
Chandraghanta
Kushmanda
Skandamata
Katyayani
Kalaratri
Mahagauri
Siddhidhatri
Mahakali
Kali
Bhadrakali
Ugrakali
Chandi
Chamunda
Chandamari
Asta Matrikas
Brahmani dorianlarsen
Maheshwari
Kaumari
Vaishnavi
Varahi
Narasimhi
Indrani
Chamunda
Ganesha
Vakratunda (Vakratuṇḍa) ("twisting trunk"), his mount is an elephant.
Ekadanta ("single tusk"), his mount is a mouse.
Mahodara ("big belly"), his mount is a mouse.
Gajavaktra (or Gajānana) ("elephant face"), his mount is a mouse.
Lambodara ("pendulous belly"), his mount is a mouse.
Vikata (Vikaṭa) ("unusual form", "misshapen"), his mount is a peacock.
Vighnaraja (Vighnarāja) ("king of obstacles"), his mount is the celestial serpent Śeṣa.
Dhumravarna (Dhūmravarṇa) ("grey color") corresponds to Śiva, his mount is a horse.
Shiva
Shankar Avatar
Veerabhadra Avatar
Bhairava Avatar
Khandoba Avatar
Durvasa Avatar
Nataraja Avatar
Ardhanarishvara Avatar
Muneeswarar Avatar
Muthappan Avatar
Pashupati Avatar
Gangeshwar Avatar
Rudra Avatar
Lingam Avatar
Dakshinamurthy Avatar
Ravananugraha Avatar
Vaidheeswara Avatar
Lingodbhava Avatar
Somaskanda Avatar
Bhikshatana Avatar
Sri Manjunatha Avatar
Jyotirlinga Forms, The 12 divine representations of Lord Shiva
Bholenath Avatar
Hanuman Avatar
Brahma
Kashyapa Avatar
Sukra Avatar
Kalidasa Avatar
Chandra Avatar
Samudra Avatar
Jamvanta Avatar
Agastya Avatar
Vishnu
Dashavatara
Matsya, the fish
Kurma, the tortoise
Varaha, the boar
Narasimha, the Half Man-Half Lion avatar.
Vamana, the Dwarf
Parashurama, the cosmic Warrior Brahmin
Rama, the emperor of Kosala and the hero of the epic Ramayana
Krishna, central character in the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita. Some texts mention it as Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna
Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Some texts mention it to be Krishna.
Kalki who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga
Lakshmi
Bhargavi
Sridevi
Sita
Radha
Rukmini, Ashtabharya and junior wives of Lord Krishna.
Padmavati
Vedavati
Tulasi
Satyabhama
Kamala
Bhudevi
Andal
Ashta Lakshmi
Adi Lakshmi, The ancient form of Lakshmi
Dhana Lakshmi, The Money Lakshmi
Dhanya Lakshmi, The Grain Lakshmi
Gaja Lakshmi, The Elephant Lakshmi
Santana Lakshmi, The Progeny Lakshmi
Dhairya Lakshmi, The Valarous Lakshmi
Vidya Lakshmi, The Knowledge Lakshmi
Jaya Lakshmi, The Victory Lakshmi
Additional Forms
In some Ashta Lakshmi lists, other forms of Lakshmi are included,
Aishwarya Lakshmi, The Prosperity Lakshmi
Saubhagya Lakshmi, The Giver of Good Fortune
Rajya Lakshmi, The Royal Lakshmi
Vara Lakshmi, The Boon Lakshmi
Saraswati
Savitri
Vani
Brahmani
Mahasaraswati
Gayatri
Vāc
Rigvedic deities
The Rigveda speaks of Thirty-three gods called the Trayastrinshata ('Three plus thirty'). They consists of the 12 Adityas, the 8 Vasus, the 11 Rudras and the 2 Ashvins. Indra also called Śakra, lord of the gods, is the first of the 33 followed by Agni. Some of these brother gods were invoked in pairs such as Indra-Agni, Mitra-Varuna and Soma-Rudra.
Adityas
Mitra, the patron god of oaths and of friendship,
Varuna, the patron god of water and the oceans,
Śakra, also called Indra, the king of gods, and the god of rains
Dakṣa,
Aṃśa,
Aryaman,
Bhaga, god of wealth
Vivasvat, also called Ravi or Savitṛ,
Tvāṣṭṛ, the smith among the gods,
Pūsan, patron god of travellers and herdsmen, god of roads,
Dhāt, god of health and magic, also called Dhūti
Vamana
Rudras
Main article: Rudras
The Ramayana tells they are eleven of the 33 children of the sage Kashyapa and his wife Aditi, along with the 12 Adityas, 8 Vasus and 2 Ashvins, constituting the Thirty-three gods. The Vamana Purana describes the Rudras as the sons of Kashyapa and Aditi. The Matsya Purana notes that Surabhi – the mother of all cows and the "cow of plenty" – was the consort of Brahma and their union produced the eleven Rudras. Here they are named: Nirriti, Shambhu, Aparajita Mrigavyadha, Kapardi, Dahana, Khara, Ahirabradhya, Kapali, Pingala and Senani. Brahma allotted to the Rudras the eleven positions of the heart and the five sensory organs, the five organs of action and the mind.
Vasus
Assistants of Indra and of Vishnu
Main article: Vasu
Agni the "Fire" god, also called Anala or "living",
Varuna the "Water" god, also called Antarikṣa the "Atmosphere" or "Space" god,
Vāyu the "Wind", the air god, also called Anila ("wind")
Dyauṣ the "Sky" god, also called Dyeus and Prabhāsa or the "shining dawn"
Pṛthivī the "Earth" god, also called Dharā or "support"
Sūrya the "Sun" god, also called Pratyūsha, ("break of dawn", but often used to mean simply "light"), the Saura sectary worshipped Sūrya as their chief deity.
Soma the "Moon" god, also called Chandra
Samudra the "Sea" god, also called as "Sagar"
Ashvins
Main article: Aśvins
The Ashvins (also called the Nāsatyas) were twin gods. Nasatya is also the name of one twin, while the other is called Dasra.
Number of deities in Hinduism
Most of the Hindu temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu (including his incarnations Krishna and Rama), Brahma, Shakti (the mother goddess, hence including the forms of Durga and Kali and the goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati), Ganesh and Hanuman. The Hindu scriptures claimed that there were 33 Koti or 3 crore gods, koti, in Sanskrit, means crore and “types” (33 कोटि = prakar, tarah ).[citation needed] Crore also translates to 10,000,000 or 10 million.
One theory is that the number 3 crore (30 million) gods refers to the total count of all living beings in nature signifying that god exists in every living being. This is in line with the belief of Indians to respect all living beings as gods. It is estimated that the world population was around this number about a 1000 years ago when this number would have originated.[citation needed] It also explains the many gods (e.g. the grama devatas or village gods who were clearly living persons at one time and many of the other gods who were believed to have been persons, e.g. Rama and Krishna).[citation needed]
Another theory is that the number might be figurative but there are several names and forms for the multitude of gods.
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