Indian God and Goddesses
The Stories Myths Legends and Traditions
In Dravidian times, Ganesha was worshipped as an elephant, signifying the wisdom and majesty of the universe. The invading Aryans, adopted the Dravidian god and affirmed their belief in Ganesha. Ganesha made a ceremonial entrance as an Aryan god. ‘The auspicious god’, he would be worshipped at the beginning of all rites, an unbroken tradition that continues to this day.
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In myths, the birth of Ganesha is celebrated as a divine twist of fate. The most popular myth brings alive the story about the elephant head. It all began when Parvati, wanted to bathe. She needed privacy and since there was no one at hand, she created a guard with the sweat and oils from her body. She brought the figure of a young man to life and told him to stand guard while she bathed.
When Shiva, her husband returned and strode towards their home, he found his way blocked by an unknown soldier. The soldier blocked Shiva’s entry. Shiva was furious, a duel began. The soldier fought well, but was no match against the might of Shiva, who killed him. Parvati came out and saw the dead body, she demanded he be brought back to life.
Shiva sent his hordes to collect the head of the first living being, who was sleeping with head facing north. The north was associated with wisdom, and was also the direction from which the Aryans had invaded.
Airavat, Indra’s white elephant paid the price for Shiva’s blunder. While Airavat slept facing the north, Shiva’s hordes beheaded him. His elephant head was carried away for the dead body. An incensed Parvati demanded that her child be promoted to the status of a primary god. Shiva and all the other gods knew this was the only way they could placate her and Ganesha took his place before all the gods.
All rituals (samskaras), begin with the worship of Ganesha. His image invokes the universe, his head signifies wisdom and his body is globular, Vishwaroopa. Ganesha represents the majesty of the animal kingdom with his head and his vehicle the mouse shows subjugation of pestilent rats. .
His trunk is twisted into an embodiment of ‘Om’, the syllable that created the world. To combat evil, he carries weapons the discus, trident, sword and shield. A broken tusk is a reminder of his battle with a demon, and the fight with the forces of evil. Yet, the same tusk is used by him in the writing of the epic, the Mahabharata. When Vyasa wanted to compose the Mahabharata, Brahma suggested Ganesha be his scribe. Vyasa agreed and Ganesha brought his broken tusk to writing quill. Vyasa dictated the entire epic in verse. Ganesha recorded every word for Gods and men alike.
He carries a modak (sweet dumpling) in one hand, for his appetite is insatiable, and conscious of his role the other hand shows in the ‘abhaya mudra’(do not fear, I am here to protect).
Another legend, explains Ganesha’s role in changing astronomy. In the month of Shravan/Bhadrapad, after a feast of modaks. Ganesha was on his way home. He was riding his mouse, a snake slithered into their path, the mouse tripped and Ganesha took a tumble. His stomach split, and the modaks fell out, Chandra (the moon) was watching and he began to laugh. Ganesha picked up the snake and used it as a belt to hold his stomach together. He looked up, cursed Chandra and banned him from the night skies.
Soon the gods and humankind were dazed glare of the relentless sun. There was no respite of darkness when the moon was banished from the sky. The gods took a delegation to Ganesha and pleaded their case. Ganesha gave in, but made an astronomic condition. The moon would never shine like before. Full moon would be just once a month (earlier every day was a full moon). On other days the Chandra as a reminder of his misdemeanor would wax or wane!
Ganesha straddles the divide between the believers of Shiva and Vishnu. Ganesh idols are worshipped both by Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Ganesha temples are seen in almost every village in India. Chubby and gleeful and elephant headed, Ganesha easily finds his place in the hearts of Gods and people.
Vishnu, preserver of human life is one of the three gods of the Trimurti. He is a generous God and known as being ‘Sattvaguna’ (kind and merciful). Vishnu is the only God of the Trimurti who is reborn whenever there is a crisis on earth.
If ‘Dharma’ (righteousness) is disturbed, Vishnu descends to earth as an avatar (a human form) to fight the forces of evil.
The Puranas list the Dasavatars’, ten avatars, Vishnu took on to sustain the cosmos. Seen in order, they represent the evolution of mankind from the fish stage to ‘Purusha’ (man).
These avatars were Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar ), Nara-simha (man-lion), Vamana (dwarf), Parashurama (a powerful warrior), Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki (white horse).
A romantic aspect of the myths, is that whenever Vishnu descends to earth he marries Lakshmi (his Goddess wife). They are destined to marry on earth as in heaven. When Vishnu is Rama, Lakshmi is born as Sita. As Krishna he marries her as Rukmini.
Matsya (Fish)
The story of the fish avatar, is Hindu, but the likeness to Noah is uncanny. A great flood threatened to submerge Manu (a patriarch who once ruled the earth). Manu asked a for a bowl of water which he needed for his religious rites. In the bowl was a fish who told Manu that if he looked after him, Manu would be saved from the flood. Manu agreed and took the fish to the ocean.
In the ocean the Matsya grew to whale-like proportions. Taught by Matysa how to build a ship Manu could sail during the flood.
While the deluge ripped the land apart and treacherous waves rose from the ocean, Manu was safe. Matsya was his tether who towed the ark to safety. When they reached the shores they found a dead and barren land ravaged by the storm .
Manu found the cargo contained the seeds for every form of life, from which he could sow the world. Vishnu as Matysa supported Brahma who renewed the world together.
After the deluge, many cosmic treasures sank deep into the ocean. The Asuras (demons) were in race against the Devas (minor gods) to churn the oceans for amrit (the nectar of immortality).
Vishnu appeared as Kurma (the tortoise) who sided with the Devas. Together, they decided they would create a churn for obtaining the amrit.
The serpent Vasuki was threaded around Mount Mandara to create a churn. Kurma dived to the floor of the ocean and balanced Mount Mandara on his back. In the grip of Kurma’s cosmic force, Mount Mandara could not sink into the ocean bed.
The Gods churned, and the nectar of immortality came to their hands. As they continued to churn, fourteen treasures appeared. For Kurma the most precious was Lakshmi, the Goddess of beauty and good fortune who would be his wife.
When the demon, Hiranyaksha dragged Bhoomi Devi (Mother Earth) underwater, Vishnu took the form of Varaha (a wild boar). After a fierce battle he overpowered the demon and lifted Bhoomi Devi from the waters. He pushed with his snout and the land puckered forming the Himalayan Mountains. He dragged more land from the sea and shaped the Indian subcontinent.
During the satayuga (first epoch) a tyrannical Daitya (demon) tormented the world. No god could overcome him and with each battle he won, the Daityas pride grew. Crazed by his invincibility he shot an arrow at a pillar to defy Vishnu. Vishnu burst out as Narasimha (man-lion) and tore Daitya to shreds.
Later Bali, the King of the Daityas had become ruler of the world. He had wisely worshipped Vishnu who had granted him a special boon. Protected by this boon Bali became a cause for celestial concern. When all the other Gods were overcome they pleaded to Vishnu for help.
Vishnu took the form of Vamana (a dwarf), and was born as the stunted child of Kasyapa and Aditi. He went as Vamana to a yagna (sacrifice) being performed by Bali.
Bali was offering sweets to all those present at the yagna.. Vamana held out his hands and said he was a poor peasant. He asked for as much land as he (Vamana) could cover in three steps. Bali took a look at the dwarf peasant and granted him this boon.
Vamana expanded to a cosmic size. His first step covered the earth, the second reached heaven. Vamana’s third step would have reached the lower world but Bali bowed before Vamana realising he had to be Vishnu. Pleased by Bali’s humility, Vishnu spared him and gave Bali a kingdom of his own in the netherworld.
In the Treta epoch, (the age of the sacred fires) the warrior class were becoming dominant. Their weaponry made them aggressive. They were subjugating ordinary people. The Gods wanted power to revert to the priests. Vishnu appeared as Parashurama, and took away the powers of the warriors returned it to the scholars.
As Rama, Vishnu came on earth to slay the demon Ravana. A legendary man, his compassionate nature and his belief in duty elevated him as ‘Maryada Purusha’, ideal man.
In his eighth Avatar, Vishnu was Krishna the greatest teacher whose words form a priceless Hindu scripture, ‘The Bhagwad Gita’ or the guide to life.
As the Buddha, Vishnu is a great religious teacher of India. He revealed the secrets of moksha and the path to Nirvana.
Vishnu’s final avatar will be as Kalki (white horse). At the end of the present age (Kal-Yuga) he will come back riding a white horse. Predictions say Kalki will brandishing a flaming sword and destroy last demons on earth.
In his cosmic form Vishnu is seen reclining on a many headed serpent called Ananta and the oceans lie subdued under him. He holds a chakra (discus) in a hand with which he maintains order in the universe. The shankha or conch was retrieved by him during the churning of the oceans, and its deep humming sound is an evocation of the sea. He holds a lotus for peace and a gada (mace) a controlling weapon. Garuda the eagle is his celestial vehicle.
As god and in each of his avatars Vishnu plays the role of the preserver making the earth a safe heaven for his believers.
The eighth avatar of Vishnu is Krishna. While he was on earth as Krishna he fought innumerable demons and conquered the hearts of many women and composed the the ‘Bhagwad Gita’ a Hindu treatise on a battlefield.
Krishna was born on the eighth day of the holy month of Shravana in Mathura (North India). Kamsa, the demon had been warned that the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudev would bring about his doom. Kamsa imprisoned the pregnant Devaki along with Vasudev.
The gods conspired, the child was taken to Yashoda and Nand, cowherds who lived in Vrindavan. As a child, Krishna was mischievous, he had a taste for butter and was affectionately called ‘Makhan chor’ (butter thief).
Meanwhile, Kamsa’s demonic spies were carefully combing the countryside to find Krishna. Putana was the first demon sent by Kamsa to kill the baby Krishna. She fed him poison from her breasts, but Krishna suckled out her life and survived.
Krishna grew up to be the darling of Gokul, all the milkmaids fell in love with him when he played his flute. Krishna would marry Rukmini, an incarnation of Lakshmi but before their wedding he would have to rid the earth of more demons.
Rukmini’s brother had promised her hand in marriage to Shishupal, an incarnation of Ravana(a demon). On their wedding day she eloped with Krishna. Before they could marry, Krishna had to kill the demons Shishupal and Jarasanda.
While every turn in his life is marked by a battle against evil, Krishna is most respected for the Bhagawad Gita or the Song of God. He recited the finest piece of literature on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
As Arjuna’s charioteer, Krishna was the first to see Arjuna overcome by the realisation that he would cause the death of his gurus and relatives. While the armies of the Pandavas and the Kauravas stood facing each other with their arrows drawn, Krishna, recited the Bhagwad Gita, the nucleus of Hindu philosophy.
Shiva is known as the destroyer in the Trimurti. He is the husband of Parvati and their children are Kartikeya and Ganesha.
Shiva’s appearance is quite awesome. He wears a snake Vasuki around his neck. He is also known as Neelkanth (blue-throated), for he holds Vasuki’s poison in his throat. The legend dates back to the time when the gods churned the oceans. Vasuki’s poison threatened the world. Only Shiva could take the poison in his mouth. He held it in his throat forever and earned his name Neelkanth.
Also known as Pashupati, Lord of the animals he sits on a tiger skin subduing aggression. He holds a damru (a small drum) a symbol of creative activity. One hand is raised in the abhaya-mudra, for he is the benevolent force of destruction.
He wears a pair of unmatched earrings that symbolize his being Ardhnarishwara (half man and half woman). One earring is a Kundala, worn by men and the other a Tatanka worn by women. Shiva unites the sexes in his being. The love of Shiva and Parvati (his wife) fused together, they become one, the single creators.
Historically, Shiva reveals himself in secular as well as religious texts. A Dravidian king he married Sati a daughter of an Aryan king. (Sculptures from The Indus Valley Civilization depict Shiva).
Sati’s father, Daksha opposed their union. After the wedding, at a yagna (sacrifice), being performed by Daksha. Shiva was ignored by his father in law who found him ‘uncivilized’.
Sati couldn’t bear this humiliation of her husband, jumped into the sacrificial fire. When Shiva came to collect her ashes he could only express his deep pain and grief through a violent dance called the Tandav. He terrified all creation as he danced around the earth seven times.
When nothing would pacify Shiva the gods feared his sorrow could destroy the earth. They decided to revive Sati and she was born as Parvati (daughter of the mountains).
Meanwhile, Shiva had renounced the world and gone to Mount Kailash where he had began a hard penance. When Parvati reached Mount Kailash, Shiva was so involved in his meditation that he was immune to Parvati’s presence.
Parvati did all she could to entice Shiva but his meditation was powerful. Finally she asked Madan/Kama (the god of love) for help. Kama told her to dance in front of Shiva. When Parvati danced, Madan shot an arrow laced with flowers at Shiva, whose penance broke.
When Shiva opened his eyes his first sight was Parvati dancing before him. Shiva fell in love with Parvati and became her loving husband. Parvati became his shakti (creative force).
In Mount Kailash their ardour was intense, The Gods worried about the child who would be born from this union. Shiva’s seed dropped on the banks of the Ganga (the river which flows through his matted hair). This lingam is worshipped all over India.
Their first child was Kartikeya or Subramanya. Kartikeya would fight the demon Taraka rescue the world and then return to Parvati and Shiva.
The birth of Parvati’s second child was far more prosaic, Parvati wanted to bathe in privacy and she created a son from the sweat of her body. She asked him to guard the door.
When Shiva returned and walked towards the bathing area, Ganesha blocked his path. Shiva was angry and offended by the impudent new guard who had the nerve to question him. In the battle of wills Shiva beheaded Ganesha.
Parvati was furious and demanded Ganesha be brought back to life. Shiva sent Nandi (his bull) to bring back the first head of an animal who was sleeping with his head to the north.
Nandi brought back the head of Airavat, Lord Indra’s elephant. After this single cosmic misunderstanding the family Shiva, Parvati, Kartik and Ganesha lived together happily.
Somvar (Mondays) are dedicated to Shiva, on every Monday of the year people observe a fast for Shiva.
Parvati, is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Kartikeya and Ganesha. Shiva and Parvati’s marriage can be traced in historical and religious texts.
Shiva was a Dravidian king who married Sati, a daughter of an Aryan ruler. Sati’s father, Daksha disapproved of their union. After the wedding, at a yagna (sacrifice), being performed by Daksha. Shiva was ignored by his father in law and the guests.
Sati, who could not bear this humiliation of her husband, jumped into the sacrificial fire and became the first Sati (a tradition where women would burn themselves on their husband's funeral pyres).
When Shiva collected her ashes, he could only express his deep pain and grief through a violent dance called the Tandav. Terrifying all creation he danced around the earth seven times. Unable to console Shiva, the Gods resolved they would revive Sati.
Sati was reborn as Parvati, daughter of King Himavat who lived in the Himalayas.
Shiva had renounced the world and in Mount Kailash he began a hard penance. Immersed in meditation, Shiva was immune to the presence of Parvati (daughter of the mountains).
Parvati asked Madan/Kama the God of love for help. He told her to dance in front of Shiva. While Parvati danced, Madan shot an arrow laced by flowers at Shiva, whose penance broke. When Shiva opened his eyes Parvati was his first vision. Shiva too began to dance with Parvati and as the gods watched the couple in bliss, their fears were laid to rest.
Parvati lured Shiva into marriage and away from asceticism. He became a householder and she became his shakti, the creative force of the cosmos.
In Mount Kailash their ardour was intense, the gods were worried about the child who would be born from this union. Shiva’s seed dropped on the banks of the Ganga (the river who flows through his matted hair). This is the lingam that is worshipped all over India. Their first child was Kartikeya or Subramanya. Kartikeya would fight the demon Taraka rescue the world and then return to Parvati and Shiva.
Parvati’s second child was Ganesha. Legends say his birth was determined by Parvati's desire for privacy. She wanted to bathe and created a son from the sweat of her body. She asked Ganesha to guard the door. When Shiva returned to their living area, Ganesha confronted him. Shiva who was unaccustomed to being blocked at his doorstep fought Ganesha and beheaded him. When Parvati saw her son lying beheaded, she was furious and demanded Ganesha be brought back to life.
Shiva sent his hordes to bring back the first head of an animal who was sleeping with his head to the North. They brought back the head of Airavat, Lord Indra’s elephant. Ganesha was given primary status as a god and Parvati was appeased.
Parvati is the only female deity, who like Vishnu has the ability to change her form. She appears in incarnations as Durga and Lakshmi. As Parvati she is soft, gentle and sattvic. As Durga she becomes a powerful warrior, and as Kali a bloodthirsty Goddess who can even demand sacrificial killings.
Son of Shiva and Parvati, and brother of Ganesha, Kartikeya is the God of War. Shiva his father is also identified with Agni the God of Fire. His heritage gives him the daunting responsibility of defending all the Gods.
Katikeya has a bow and arrow slung across his back ready for war. He rides a peacock and commands the celestial armies. He is known by many names, all with the same meaning - fierce warrior, Skanda, Subramaniam and Murugun.
Lakshmi the Goddess of Fortune, lived in the ocean and was discovered by Vishnu her husband in his avatar as a tortoise!
The story began when the Devas (minor gods) were in race against the Asuras (demons) to obtain amrit (the nectar of immortality). The Devas consulted Vishnu was on earth as Kurma, a tortoise. They decided they would churn the oceans for the amrit.
They created a churn by threading the serpent Vasuki around Mount Mandara. Kurma dived to the ocean floor and balanced Mount Mandara on his back. In the grip of Kurma’s cosmic clutch, the mountain could not sink into the ocean bed.
The gods churned and received the nectar of immortality and then fourteen treasures came to their hands. For Kurma the most precious was Lakshmi, the Goddess of beauty and good fortune who would be his wife.
Vishnu carried Lakshmi from the ocean married her first in heaven and then many times on earth. Each time Vishnu descended on earth in an avatar, he would marry an avatar of Lakshmi. A cosmic couple, they would wed on earth as in heaven.
When Vishnu appears as Parashurama, he marries Lakshmi as Dharini. When he is Rama, Lakshmi is born as Sita. As Krishna he marries her as Rukmini.
Lakshmi plays a central role in creation, for she is Vishnu’s shakti. Her birth in the oceans bestowed her with boundless fertility. On earth she is known as ‘Prakriti’, nature, the mother of all living beings. When Vishnu and she are together, they fly through the skies on Garuda, an eagle.
Without Vishnu, Lakshmi is never alone, two elephants shower her with the waters of the Ganga. Dressed in a red sari, she wears rich gold ornaments that express her ties with good fortune.
She sits on a lotus, signifying her spiritual power, an ascension from murky water flowering into purity. The lotus is understood as a symbol of the cosmic world.
Lakshmi is the most popular goddess in the Hindu Pantheon. Each month of the year finds a festival to celebrate Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth.
In the month of Kartik on Diwali, Lakshmi Pooja precedes the welcome of the New Year. At a time when the last year comes to a close and it is the eve of the New Year, people pray to Lakshmi, for success, wealth and prosperity.
United by their belief in the Goddess of good fortune, Shree Lakshmi, Hindus revere Lakshmi with boundless affection each year.
The life of Rama, ideal man and great warrior is the story of India’s second epic, ‘The Ramayana.’ The seventh avatar of Vishnu, Rama brings to life a quality known as ‘Maryada Purush’ ideal man.
In the 3rd century BC, Valmiki wrote the epic ‘Ramayana’, immortalising the life of Rama.
He was born as Ramachandra the eldest son to King Dashratha, who ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya in north India. Early in his life, a sage called Vishwamitra recognized Rama as an avatar of Vishnu and sought his help in the slaying of a female demon, Taraka. Right from his fight against evil Rama was victorious. This victory foreshadowed the great battle with the demon, Ravana.
First Rama would marry. His wife is his celestial partner Lakshmi, who descended in avatar as Sita. To win her hand, Rama showed his prowess as a warrior. Rama was the only suitor who could bend the great bow of Shiva, in front of the entire court of King Janaka. Rama and Sita married and returned to the Kingdom of Ayodhya.
However his step mother Kaikeyi obstructed his path to the throne. She wanted her son, Bharat to inherit the kingdom and conspired against Rama. Rama was sent into exile for fourteen years.
Sita and Lakshmana (Rama's brother), went with him into the forest where trouble soon followed. When Rama spurned the advances of a Surpa-Nagara a female demon she attacked Sita. Lakshmana defended Sita and wounded Surpa-Nagara.
Ravana, Surpa Nagara’s brother entered the fray. Ravana was the ten headed demon King of Lanka, As wily as he was vicious, Ravana tricked Rama and Lakshmana and kidnapped Sita.
While Rama was searching for Sita, a spirit called Kalabandha told Rama to go to the Monkey King, Sugriva for help. Rama and Lakshmana went to King Sugriva who was in the midst of a crisis. Bali, his brother had taken the kingdom that rightfully belonged to Sugriva.
Rama and Lakshmana took on a war with Bali and restored the kingdom to Sugriva. King Sugriva offered Rama the services of his general Hanuman, to help find Sita. Hanuman was able to discover Sita’s whereabouts. She was imprisoned by Ravana in his island nation of Lanka.
To rescue Sita a bridge was built to reach Ravana’s kingdom. Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman and an army of warriors crossed the bridge and flooded into Lanka. In the war between good and evil, all the demons were killed. Ravana was killed by Rama and Sita was rescued.
Together Ram, Sita and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya. Rama was crowned king and the era when he governed was called ‘Ramrajya’ in recognition of a time when democracy was given the highest dignity.
Hanuman originated in a Dravidian past and was accepted into the Aryan age. He is also known as Maruti, Pavanaputra and Anjaneya. In the Ramayana, India’s second epic written by Valmiki in the 3rd century BC, we meet Hanuman as a Commander in Chief, of the army of King Sugriva (a Monkey King).
The son of a wind god Vayu, Hanuman uses his ancestry and his ape like agility to help Rama win the war against Ravana.
Rama and Hanuman had first met when they had fought as fellow warriors for King Sugriva. They restored Sugriva to his kingdom. An ever grateful Sugriva offered Rama the services of Hanuman to help find Rama’s wife, Sita. Sita had been abducted by Ravana. Rama had been unable to find her and sought Hanuman’s help.
Sita was imprisoned in Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom an island off the southern tip of India. Brandishing his mace, Hanuman took a single leap across the gulf separating the two countries and located Sita. The demons of Lanka tried to trick Hanuman. They set fire to his tail, hoping to distract him, Hanuman turned his tail on the city and set Lanka on fire, burning the demons to cinders.
During the battle, General Hanuman swung the war in Rama’s favour. When Lakshmana was wounded, Hanuman flew to the Himalayas for the medicinal herb Sanjeevani. Unable to identify the Sanjeevani, he wrested the entire mountain from the land and carried it to Lakshmana.
Today people celebrate his strength, and agility in temples consecrated to Hanuman.
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