Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murti installed in a temple or to the Mah�deva the murti represents. See: murti, puja.

(See also: Deity, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Egyptian deities are often portrayed as having animal heads in art; as an example, Anubis is often portrayed in statuary as having the body of a human, but the head of a canine. Many gods were portrayed with different animal heads, depending upon the situation. The Egyptians did not actually believe that most of their gods had animal heads; rather, they portrayed them that way as artistic symbolism. This may have been for the benefit of the illiterate. Amun, creator deity Anubis, God of Embalming, Friend of the D ...

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List of deities, List of deities - Abenaki, List of deities - African, List of deities - Anglo-Saxon, List of deities - Akamba, List of deities - Akan, List of deities - Ashanti, List of deities - Australian Aboriginal, List of deities - Ayyavazhi, List of deities - Aztec, List of deities - Bahá'í, List of deities - Bushongo, List of deities - Celtic, List of deities - Chinese, List of deities - Chippewa, List of deities - Christian, List of deities - Creek, List of deities - Dacian, List of deities - Dahomey, List of deities - Dinka, List of deities - Efik, List of deities - Egyptian, List of deities - Estonian, List of deities - Etruscan, List of deities - Finnish, List of deities - Ancient Greek, List of deities - Gnostic, List of deities - Guarani, List of deities - Haida, List of deities - Hindu, List of deities - Ho-Chunk, List of deities - Hopi, List of deities - Huron, List of deities - Ibo, List of deities - Incan, List of deities - Inuit, List of deities - Iroquois, List of deities - Islamic, List of deities - Isoko, List of deities - Japanese, List of deities - Judaic, List of deities - Khoikhoi, List of deities - Modern Western mythology, List of deities - !Xũ, List of deities - Kwakiutl, List of deities - Lakota, List of deities - Lotuko, List of deities - Latvian, List of deities - Lugbara, List of deities - Lusitani, List of deities - Mayan, List of deities - Mesopotamian, List of deities - Navaho, List of deities - Norse, List of deities - Pawnee, List of deities - Persian, List of deities - Polynesian, List of deities - Prussian and Baltic, List of deities - Pygmy, List of deities - Roman, List of deities - Salish, List of deities - Sardinian, List of deities - Semitic pagan, List of deities - Seneca, List of deities - Sikhism, List of deities - Slavic, List of deities - Sumerian, List of deities - Thracian, List of deities - Tumbuka, List of deities - Ugarit, List of deities - Yoruba, List of deities - Zoroastrian, List of deities - Zulu, List of deities - Zuni

Read more here: » List of deities: Encyclopedia II - List of deities - Egyptian

Adonis | Anat | Asherah | Astarte | Ba'al | Berith | Dagon | El | Elyon | Elohim | Hadad | Mot | Salem | Shaddai | Yaw Adonai | El | Elohim | Elyon | Shaddai | Shekinah | YHWH Adad | Amurru | An/Anu | Anshar | Asshur | Abzu/Apsu | Enki/Ea | Enlil | Ereshkigal | Inanna/Ishtar | Kingu | Kishar | Lahmu & Lahamu | Marduk | Mummu | Nabu | Nammu | Nanna/Sin | Nergal | Ninhursag/Damkina | Ninlil | Tiamat | Utu/Shamash Adonis Anat Asherah Astarte Baʿal/Hadad Dagon ...

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List of deities, List of deities - Abenaki, List of deities - African, List of deities - Anglo-Saxon, List of deities - Akamba, List of deities - Akan, List of deities - Ashanti, List of deities - Australian Aboriginal, List of deities - Ayyavazhi, List of deities - Aztec, List of deities - Bahá'í, List of deities - Bushongo, List of deities - Celtic, List of deities - Chinese, List of deities - Chippewa, List of deities - Christian, List of deities - Creek, List of deities - Dacian, List of deities - Dahomey, List of deities - Dinka, List of deities - Efik, List of deities - Egyptian, List of deities - Estonian, List of deities - Etruscan, List of deities - Finnish, List of deities - Ancient Greek, List of deities - Gnostic, List of deities - Guarani, List of deities - Haida, List of deities - Hindu, List of deities - Ho-Chunk, List of deities - Hopi, List of deities - Huron, List of deities - Ibo, List of deities - Incan, List of deities - Inuit, List of deities - Iroquois, List of deities - Islamic, List of deities - Isoko, List of deities - Japanese, List of deities - Judaic, List of deities - Khoikhoi, List of deities - Modern Western mythology, List of deities - !Xũ, List of deities - Kwakiutl, List of deities - Lakota, List of deities - Lotuko, List of deities - Latvian, List of deities - Lugbara, List of deities - Lusitani, List of deities - Mayan, List of deities - Mesopotamian, List of deities - Navaho, List of deities - Norse, List of deities - Pawnee, List of deities - Persian, List of deities - Polynesian, List of deities - Prussian and Baltic, List of deities - Pygmy, List of deities - Roman, List of deities - Salish, List of deities - Sardinian, List of deities - Semitic pagan, List of deities - Seneca, List of deities - Sikhism, List of deities - Slavic, List of deities - Sumerian, List of deities - Thracian, List of deities - Tumbuka, List of deities - Ugarit, List of deities - Yoruba, List of deities - Zoroastrian, List of deities - Zulu, List of deities - Zuni

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In addition to the gods listed elsewhere, there are several mythological beings spoken of in current Western culture. The Grim Reaper - A common anthropomorphism of Death Eris, adopted deity of Discordianism Father Time The Flying Spaghetti Monster GOD-JESUS - fortune telling robot, deity of engrish Gremlins - mythical beings that damage aircraft and cause other mechanical mayhem Hotei - A Laughing Buddha Invisible Pink Unicorn - From alt.atheism, a fictional deity s ...

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List of deities, List of deities - Abenaki, List of deities - African, List of deities - Anglo-Saxon, List of deities - Akamba, List of deities - Akan, List of deities - Ashanti, List of deities - Australian Aboriginal, List of deities - Ayyavazhi, List of deities - Aztec, List of deities - Bahá'í, List of deities - Bushongo, List of deities - Celtic, List of deities - Chinese, List of deities - Chippewa, List of deities - Christian, List of deities - Creek, List of deities - Dacian, List of deities - Dahomey, List of deities - Dinka, List of deities - Efik, List of deities - Egyptian, List of deities - Estonian, List of deities - Etruscan, List of deities - Finnish, List of deities - Ancient Greek, List of deities - Gnostic, List of deities - Guarani, List of deities - Haida, List of deities - Hindu, List of deities - Ho-Chunk, List of deities - Hopi, List of deities - Huron, List of deities - Ibo, List of deities - Incan, List of deities - Inuit, List of deities - Iroquois, List of deities - Islamic, List of deities - Isoko, List of deities - Japanese, List of deities - Judaic, List of deities - Khoikhoi, List of deities - Modern Western mythology, List of deities - !Xũ, List of deities - Kwakiutl, List of deities - Lakota, List of deities - Lotuko, List of deities - Latvian, List of deities - Lugbara, List of deities - Lusitani, List of deities - Mayan, List of deities - Mesopotamian, List of deities - Navaho, List of deities - Norse, List of deities - Pawnee, List of deities - Persian, List of deities - Polynesian, List of deities - Prussian and Baltic, List of deities - Pygmy, List of deities - Roman, List of deities - Salish, List of deities - Sardinian, List of deities - Semitic pagan, List of deities - Seneca, List of deities - Sikhism, List of deities - Slavic, List of deities - Sumerian, List of deities - Thracian, List of deities - Tumbuka, List of deities - Ugarit, List of deities - Yoruba, List of deities - Zoroastrian, List of deities - Zulu, List of deities - Zuni

Read more here: » List of deities: Encyclopedia II - List of deities - Modern Western mythology

The traditional Hindu explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". For example Adi Sankara, in Swami Tapasyananda's translation of his commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama (Ramakrishna Math publications) states derivation from this root, with a meaning "presence everywhere" ("As He pervades everything, vevesti, He is called Visnu"). Adi Sankara states (regarding Vishnu Purana, 3.1.45): "The Power of the Supreme Being has entered within the universe. The r ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Etymology

The Vedic mythology is best recorded in the four Vedas, also called the Vedam, which are part of the Hindu Shruti. In Sanskrit the word means Knowledge or Truth, and is cognate with the word "wisdom" in English (as well as "vision" through Latin). Hindus believe that the Vedas existed since time immemorial as vibrations in space, some portions of which are believed to have been perceived by seers and sages, and transmitted accordingly through an oral tradition. Some believe that the Vedas were transmitted orally f ...

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Vedic mythology, Vedic mythology - Background, Vedic mythology - Dimensions, Vedic mythology - The deities, Vedic mythology - The rituals, Vedic mythology - The concepts, Vedic mythology - Vedic quotes

Read more here: » Vedic mythology: Encyclopedia II - Vedic mythology - Background

The "missing sun" motif is a theme in the myths of various cultures. It may have served to explain any of several natural phenomena, including the disappearance of the sun at night (the Egyptian version of the motif described below is an example), the shorter days during the winter (for example, the Japanese one mentioned below), or even solar eclipses. Most myths following the motif involve the disappearance of a solar deity, through imprisonment, exile or death. Some other tales are similar, such as the Sumerian story of Inanna's descent into the underworld. These may have parallel themes but do not fit in th ...

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Solar deity, Solar deity - Missing sun, Solar deity - Examples, Solar deity - Chinese mythology, Solar deity - Hindu mythology, Solar deity - Trivia

Read more here: » Solar deity: Encyclopedia II - Solar deity - Missing sun

Unlike many other cultures, the Chinese do not personify nor worship the sun or the moon. The most likely reason is the heavy influence of Taoism and I Ching in Chinese culture because the moon represents Yin and the Sun represents Yang which are the basis of everything in nature. (See Yin and yang.) In Chinese mythology (cosmology), there were nine suns in the sky in the beginning. The world was so hot that nothing grew. A hero called Hou Yi shot down eight of them with bow and arrows. The world became better ever since. In an ...

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Solar deity, Solar deity - Missing sun, Solar deity - Examples, Solar deity - Chinese mythology, Solar deity - Hindu mythology, Solar deity - Trivia

Read more here: » Solar deity: Encyclopedia II - Solar deity - Chinese mythology

The "missing sun" motif is a theme in the myths of various cultures. It may have served to explain any of several natural phenomena, including the disappearance of the sun at night (the Egyptian version of the motif described below is an example), the shorter days during the winter (for example, the Japanese one mentioned below), or even solar eclipses. Most myths following the motif involve the disappearance of a solar deity, through imprisonment, exile or death. Some other tales are similar, such as the Sumerian story of Inanna's descent into the underworld. These may have parallel themes but do not fit in th ...

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Solar deity, Solar deity - Missing sun, Solar deity - Examples, Solar deity - Chinese mythology, Solar deity - Hindu mythology

Read more here: » Solar deity: Encyclopedia II - Solar deity - Missing sun

The traditional Hindu explanation of the name Viṣṇu involves the root viś, meaning "to settle, to enter", or also (in the Rigveda) "to pervade", and a suffix nu, translating to approximately "the All-Pervading One". The early commentator on the Vedas,Yaska, in his Nirukta, defines Vishnu as 'vishnu vishateh; one who enters everywhere', and 'yad vishito bhavati tad vishnurbhavati; that which is free f ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - Pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - In the Vedas, Vishnu - In the Brahmanas, Vishnu - In the Upanishads, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Etymology

Unlike many other cultures, the Chinese do not personify nor worship the sun or the moon. The most likely reason is the heavy influence of Taoism and I Ching in Chinese culture because the moon represents Yin and the Sun represents Yang which are the basis of everything in nature. (See Yin and yang.) In Chinese mythology (cosmology), there were nine suns in the sky in the beginning. The world was so hot that nothing grew. A hero called Hou Yi shot down eight of them with bow and arrows. The world became better ever since. In an ...

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Solar deity, Solar deity - Missing sun, Solar deity - Examples, Solar deity - Chinese mythology, Solar deity - Hindu mythology

Read more here: » Solar deity: Encyclopedia II - Solar deity - Chinese mythology

The Goddess (Devi) – usually venerated as Durga or Kali – is widely revered, often alongside her consort Shiva. The worship of Shiva has generally found adherents among the higher castes in Bangladesh. Worship of Vishnu (typically in the form of his avatars Rama or Krishna) more explicitly cuts across caste lines by teaching the fundamental oneness of humankind in spirit. Vishnu worship in Bengal expresses the union of the male and female principles in a tradition of love and devotion. This form of Hindu belief and the Sufi ...

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Hinduism in Bangladesh, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Deities and other religious aspects, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Demographics, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Hindu Rights on Bangladesh

Read more here: » Hinduism in Bangladesh: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism in Bangladesh - Deities and other religious aspects

A temple was built many centuries later around the shrine, and several kings have been responsible for building of the temple, including Raja Todaramal. Over millennia, many saints had visited the shrine and offered worship to Lord Venkateswara. Notable among them is Sri Ramanujacharya, who is believed to have installed chakra and conch on the deity after a dispute. The Venkateswara Suprabhatam, being the morning recital of prayers and songs of awakening, is believed to have been written and sung by one of Ra ...

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Venkateshwara, Venkateshwara - The legend, Venkateshwara - Socio-cultural history

Read more here: » Venkateshwara: Encyclopedia II - Venkateshwara - Socio-cultural history

Sthala Puranasm (literal meaning: the legend of the place) recounts the particular legend associated with ancient Hindu temples. Accordingly, the legend of Venkateswara's Avatara (incarnation) is believed to be as follows: Sage Bhrugu, who according to Hindu mythology is believed to have an extra eye in the sole of his foot, once visited Sri Maha Vishnu. At that time, Vishnu was in a private meeting with his consort, Goddess Lakshmi, and failed to immediately receive and honour the sage. The sage felt humiliated and angry, and ...

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Venkateshwara, Venkateshwara - The legend, Venkateshwara - Socio-cultural history

Read more here: » Venkateshwara: Encyclopedia II - Venkateshwara - The legend

Hindus have always been facing persecutions from the government starting from 1950s, but during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the Hindus and Muslims united under one banner to liberate the nation. Therefore, in the starting state, the Hindus and Muslims were living quite happily. However, as claimed by the Hindu rights organizations, the Hindus did face persecution from different fundamentalist groups of t ...

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Hinduism in Bangladesh, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Deities and other religious aspects, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Demographics, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Hindu Rights on Bangladesh

Read more here: » Hinduism in Bangladesh: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism in Bangladesh - Hindu Rights on Bangladesh

Hindus in Bangladesh in the late 1980s were almost evenly distributed in all regions, with concentrations in Chittagong, Khulna, Jessore, Dinajpur, Faridpur, and Barisal. The contributions of Hindus in arts and letters were far in excess of their numerical strength. In politics, they had traditionally supported the liberal and secular ideology of the Awami League. Hindu institutions and places of worship received assistance through the Bangladesh Hindu Kalyan Trust (Bangladesh Hindu Welfare Trust), which was sponsored by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Government-sponsored television and radio broadcast readin ...

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Hinduism in Bangladesh, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Deities and other religious aspects, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Demographics, Hinduism in Bangladesh - Hindu Rights on Bangladesh

Read more here: » Hinduism in Bangladesh: Encyclopedia II - Hinduism in Bangladesh - Demographics

Once during their numerous love games, things got out of hand between Shiva and Parvati. What had started in jest turned into a serious matter with an incensed Shiva threatening to walk out on Parvati. No amount of coaxing or cajoling by Parvati could reverse matters. Left with no choice, Parvati multiplied herself into ten different forms for each of the ten directions. Thus however hard Shiva might try to escape from his beloved Parvati, he would find he ...

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Mahavidya, Mahavidya - Birth of Das Mahavidyas, Mahavidya - Worship of Das Mahavidyas

Read more here: » Mahavidya: Encyclopedia II - Mahavidya - Birth of Das Mahavidyas

In their strong associations with death, violence, pollution, and despised marginal social roles, they call into question such normative social "goods" as worldly comfort, security, respect, and honor. The worship of these goddesses suggests that the devotee experiences a refreshing and liberating spirituality in all that is forbidden by established social orders. The central aim here is to stretch one's consciousness beyond the conventional, to break away from approved social norms, roles, and expectations. By subverting, mocking, or ...

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Mahavidya, Mahavidya - Birth of Das Mahavidyas, Mahavidya - Worship of Das Mahavidyas

Read more here: » Mahavidya: Encyclopedia II - Mahavidya - Worship of Das Mahavidyas

Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Maya is the samvit (the primary intelligence) of Vishnu, while the other five attributes emerge from this samvit and hence Maya is his ahamata, activity, or Vishnu's Power. This power of God, Maya, is personified and is called Maya, Vishnumaya, or Mahamaya, and She is said to manifest Herself in, 1) kriyāshakti, (Creative Activity) and 2) bhütishakti (Creation) of Universe. Hence this world cannot part with His creativity i.e., ahamta, which is a feminine form and is called Maya. His vehicle is Garuda, the eagle; who is a part of His creation. He needs no ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Relations with other Deities

Major branches of Vaishnavism include:- Srivaishnavism (espoused by Ramanuja who advocated Vishishtadvaita), Dvaita (espoused by Madhvacharya or Madhva) Gaudiya Vaishnavism (espoused by Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu); the Hare Krishna movement or ISKCON adheres to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. See also the articles on Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Theology, and Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

It is not clearly known when or how the worship of Vishnu began. In the Vedas, and the information on Aryan beliefs, Vishnu is associated with Indra. However, Shukavak N. Dasa, a Vaishnavite scholar, in reference at this link has commentated that Srivaishnavites would note that: The praise of Indra and other devas in the Vedas are not intended for the particular deity, but for the Supreme Being, Brahman, who is the inner soul of devas and all other beings. The various deities addressed in the hymns are simply different ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - Worship

In the Rigveda, Vishnu is mentioned 93 times. He is frequently invoked with other gods, especially with Indra, whom he assists in killing Vritra, and with whom he drinks Soma. His companionship with Indra is still reflected by his later epitheta Indrānuja and Upendra. His distinguishing characteristic in the Vedas is his association with Light, or even his identification with the Sun. He appears as striding across the heavens in three paces, by Rigvedic commentators explained as denoting the threefold manifestations of light in the form of fire, lightning, and the Sun, or as designating the three daily stations of ...

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Vishnu, Vishnu - Etymology, Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu, Vishnu - Theological attributes and more, Vishnu - Relations with other Deities, Vishnu - Iconography, Vishnu - Worship, Vishnu - Names, Vishnu - Theological beliefs and philosophy

Read more here: » Vishnu: Encyclopedia II - Vishnu - pre-Puranic Vishnu