Question 7
Child: Who are some of these gods and goddesses?
Mother: Most of the gods and goddesses that are worshipped are either
incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, and his wife
Goddess Lakshmi or other deities. Some commonly worshipped gods and
goddesses include: Vishnu (worshipped in various forms and names such
as Venkateshwara, Jagannatha, Tirupati, Bithala or Balaji), Shiva who is also
known as Mahadeva or Mahesha, (Shiva-linga, a symbol of Lord Shiva which is
commonly worshipped instead of his image), Rama, Krishna, Hanumana or
Mahaveera, Ganesha, the older son of Lord Shiva and who is also known as
Ganapati or Vighneswara, and Subramanyam or Kartikeya, the younger son of
Lord Shiva. Shiva's wife Parvati (who is also known as Gauri, Uma or Meenakshi
and also exists in her incarnated form of Durga or Kali is worshipped as a
Divine Mother. Lord Brahma is not usually worshipped but his wife Saraswati
is worshipped as the Goddess of learning. Goddess Saraswati is the favorite
deity of students in schools and colleges. Lakshmi is worshipped as the Goddess
of wealth and prosperity and is favorite deity of business people. Sita, Lord
Rama's wife, and Radha, Lord Krishna's companion, are other feminine deities
who are adored. Commonly Lord Rama is worshipped as part pf a family, along
with his dear brother Lakshamana his wife Sita and his devout hero of the epic
Ramayana, Hanumana. Also, Lord Krishna is usually worshipped along with Radha,
a staunch lover and devotee of the Lord. Gayatri, the most powerful feminine
force and the prescribed deity of the Vedas, is worshipped universally in
Hinduism by reciting the Gayatri Mantra. This mantra is a powerful chant
worshipping the light of the universe. Lord Satyanarayana is another
incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is commonly worshipped in Hindu homes
together with family and friends.
Each Hindu God and Goddess has a form of appearance which carries a special
symbolic meaning. Some of them have multiple arms or heads which represents
their greater capabilities to provide protection for people. Multiple arms
express their domination over all directions of space, and multiple heads
indicate their broad vision. Many Gods and Goddess ride on animal-vehicle
(Vahan) to accomplish their mission. of protecting people. A crown on a
deity's head represents the supremacy of the divine power over common people.
The images or pictures of Gods and Goddesses are used for the purpose of
instilling devotion in us during worship. Later, I will tell you about the
forms and features of some common Gods and Goddesses.
