Hindu Gods & Goddesses

Brahma

The Creator

Vehicle: swan

has 4 heads, 4 arms, and a reddish complexion

not commonly worshipped

not to be confused with Brahman (the ground of all being) or the Brahmin (priestly caste)

Saraswati

Goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts

Vehicle: swan

wife of Brahma

sits on a white lotus playing a veena

Vishnu

The Preserver

Vehicle: garuda (bird)

has 4 arms, a blueish complexion, and rests on a snake

was incarnated (born as an animal or human) nine times with one more still to come

is the main god of Vaishnavism

Lakshmi

Goddess of wealth and prosperity

Vehicle: owl

wife of Vishnu

usually shown bestowing coins and flanked by elephants

Shiva

The Destroyer / Transformer

Vehicle: bull

has matted hair, a third eye, a blue throat and a trident in his hand

often worshipped in the featureless lingam form

is the main god of Saivism

Parvati

The Divine Mother

Vehicle: lion

the reincarnation of Shiva's first wife

has many forms, such as the popular Durga and Kali (see below); often shown together with Saraswati and Lakshmi as the tridevi ('triple goddess')

Ganesh

God of the intellect and the remover of obstacles

Vehicle: mouse

son of Shiva & Parvati

has an elephant's head

Murugan

God of war

Vehicle: peacock

son of Shiva & Parvati

popular in Tamil areas

also known as Skanda

Durga

A fiercer form of Parvati

Vehicle: tiger

has ten arms holding many weapons

Kali

Goddess of time and death

Vehicle: donkey

usually portrayed as dark and violent

Rama

The 7th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu

the central figure in the epic story Ramayana

Krishna

The 8th avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu

usually portrayed as a child and a prankster; often shown playing the flute

Hanuman

an ape-like god known for assisting Rama

Surya

God of the Sun

pulled on a chariot by horses