Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gi ...

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Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Git ...

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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

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

Read more here: » List of deities: Encyclopedia II - List of deities - Semitic pagan

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

Contemporary Hinduism traditionally has four major divisions, Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smarthism. According to Adherents.com there are 580,000,000 Vaishnavas, 220,000,000 Shaivites and 22,000,000 neo-Hindus and reform Hindus. Hinduism is a very rich and complex religion. Each of its four denominations shares rituals, beliefs, traditions and personal Gods with one another, but each sect has a different philosophy on how to achieve life's ultimate goal (moksa, liberation) and on their views of the Gods. E ...

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Hindu deities, Hindu deities - Trimurti, Hindu deities - Popular gods, Hindu deities - Denominations of Hinduism, Hindu deities - Polytheistic gods, Hindu deities - Smartism, Hindu deities - The Trinity, Hindu deities - Vedic Deities, Hindu deities - The 10 Avatars of Vishnu, Hindu deities - The 'Hidden' Avatar, Hindu deities - Relatives, Hindu deities - Mother goddesses

Read more here: » Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - Hindu deities - Denominations of Hinduism

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

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 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

Although the pantheistic system allowed only a subordinate rank to the old polytheistic gods, and the actual religious belief of the people was probably but little affected by their existence, they continued to occupy an important place in the affections of the poet, and were still represented as exercising considerable influence on the destinies of man. The most prominent of them were regarded as the appointed Loka palas, or guardians of the world; and as such they were made to preside over the four cardinal and (according to some a ...

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Hindu deities, Hindu deities - Trimurti, Hindu deities - Popular gods, Hindu deities - Denominations of Hinduism, Hindu deities - Polytheistic gods, Hindu deities - Smartism, Hindu deities - The Trinity, Hindu deities - Vedic Deities, Hindu deities - The 10 Avatars of Vishnu, Hindu deities - The 'Hidden' Avatar, Hindu deities - Relatives, Hindu deities - Mother goddesses

Read more here: » Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - Hindu deities - Polytheistic gods

He is a Lokapala and an Aditya. In art, he is depicted with green or red skin, red clothes, and riding a buffalo. He holds a loop of rope in his left hand with which he pulls the soul from the corpse. He is the son of Surya (Sun) and twin brother of Yami, or Yamuna, traditionally the first human pair in the Vedas. He was also worshiped as a son of Vivasvat and Saranya. He is one of the Ashta-Dikpalas and represents the south. He reports to Lord Shiva the Destroyer, an aspect of Trimurti (Hinduism's triune Godhead). Three hymns (10, 14, and 3 ...

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Yama, Yama - Characteristics of Yama, Yama - Subordination to Shiva and Vishnu, Yama - Yamas as codes of conduct, Yama - Yama in popular culture

Read more here: » Yama: Encyclopedia II - Yama - Characteristics of Yama

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

The Goddess Umā, a personification of the divine "Omkāra", took human birth at the bidding of Brahmā. She was born as a daughter of Daksha Prajāpati, a son of Brahmā himself, and his wife Prasuti. She was named Gowri, the turmeric-hued one, since she was of the fair, golden complexion of auspicious turmeric. As the daughter of Daksha, she is also known as "Dākshāyani". Daksh ...

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Dakshayani, Dakshayani - Legend, Dakshayani - Dakshayani weds Shiva, Dakshayani - Dakshas arrogance, Dakshayani - Dakshayani's self-immolation, Dakshayani - Shiva's rage, Dakshayani - Aftermath

Read more here: » Dakshayani: Encyclopedia II - Dakshayani - Legend

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

Vishnu takes form as an all-inclusive deity, known as Purusha or Mahāpurusha, Paramātma [Supreme Soul], Antaryāmi [In-dweller], and He is the Sheshin [Totality] in whom all souls are contained. He is Bhagavat or Bhagavan, which in Sanskrit means "possessing bhāga (Divine Glory)". Vishnu possesses six such divine glories, namely, Jñāna Omniscient; defined as the power to know about all beings simultaneously; Aishvarya Sovereignty, which persist in unchallenged rule over all; Shakti Energy, or ...

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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 attributes and more

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

In the Vedas, numerous hymns are dedicated to Surya, the Sun personified, and Savitar, "the impeller", a solar deity either identified with or associated with Surya. Even the Gayathri mantra, which is regarded as one of the most sacred of the Hindu hymns is dedicated to the sun god. The Adityas are a group of solar deities, from the Brahmana period numbering twelve. The Mahabharata describes its warrior hero Karna as being the son of Kunti and the Sun God. The Ramayana has its protagonist Ram as being from the Raghu Vam ...

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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 - Hindu mythology

Vishnu has a number of names, collected in the Vishnu sahasranama ("Vishnu's thousand names"), which occurs in the Mahabharata. In Vishnu Sahasranama Vishnu is praised as the Supreme God. The names are generally derived from the anantakalyanagunas (infinite auspicious attributes) of the Lord. Some names are: Acyutah (infallible) Ananta (endless, eternal, infinite) Kesava (slayer of Keshi, having long or much or handsome hair, from Atharvaveda viii , 6 , 23) Narayana (said to mean "He who ...

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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 - Names