Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
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God name "Lubangala" | Bakongo / Democratic Republic of Congo, central Africa | Rainbow god. The chief adversary of the storm god. He stills the thunder and makes his appearance in the sky. Considered to be the guardian of the earth and sea, including the village and its community.... |
God name "Lupercal" | Roman | The place where Romulus and Remus were suckled by the wolf (lupus). A yearly festival was held on this spot on Feb. 15, in honour of Lupercus, the god of fertility. On one of these festivals Antony thrice offered to Julius C?sar a kingly crown, but seeing the people were only half-hearted, C?sar put it aside, saying, "Jupiter alone is king of Rome." Roman |
God name "MITHRA (friend)" | Persian / Iran | God of the upper air. Originating in India, Mithra is a god of light who was translated into the attendant of the god AHURA MAZDA in the light religion of Persia; from this he was adopted as the Roman deity Mithras. He is not generally regarded as a sky god but a personification of the fertilizing power of warm, light air. According to the Avesta, he possesses 10,000 eyes and ears and rides in a chariot drawn by white horses. In dualistic Zoroastrianism, which effectively demoted him, Mithra is concerned with the endless battle between light and dark forces; he represents truth. He is responsible for the keeping of oaths and contracts. He was born from a rock and, according to legend, engaged in a primeval struggle with Ahura Mazda's first creation, a wild bull, which he subdued and confined to a cave. The bull escaped, but was recaptured by Mithra, who slit its throat. From the blood sprang plant life on earth. His chief adversary is AHRIMAN, the power of darkness. Mithra is not generally worshiped on his own, but as an integral part of the Mithraic worship of Ahura Mazda, where he acts as an intercessor between gods and men. In the Hellenic period he was transformed more closely to the role of a Sun god. See also AHURA MAZDA.... |
Goddess name "MORRIGAN (queen of demons)" | Celtic / Irish | war, fertility and vegetation goddess. A complex goddess displaying various characteristics which are both generative and destructive (see also ANAT, INANA, IS'TAR, ATHENE). At the festival of Samain, she mates with the DAGDA to ensure the future prosperity of the land and as queen Maeve (Medb) of Connaught she was ritually wedded to the mortal king whose antecedent was Ailill. As Nemain (panic) and Badb Catha (raven of battle), she takes on a more warlike and destructive aspect. Rather than engaging directly in conflict, she uses her supernatural powers to spread fear and disarray. The Irish hero Cu Chulainn was thus visited on the battle field by BADB driving a chariot and dressed in a red cloak and with red eyebrows presenting an intimidating appearance. She is capable of changing her shape into various animal forms and in the guise of a raven or a crow is able to foretell the outcome of battle.... |
Goddess name "Maha-Sarasvati" | Hindu | Goddess, an emanation of Laksmi Hindu / Puranic |
Goddess name "Maha-Sarasvati" | Hindu / Puranic | (1) Goddess. An emanation of LAKSMI. Attributes: Book, hook, lute and rosary.(2) Goddess. Buddhist. A variety of SARASVATI. Depicted upon a lotus. Color: white. Attributes: garland of pearls and white lotus.... |
God name "Mahadeya (mighty god)" | Hindu / Puranic | God. An important epithet of SIVA with three heads (two male, one female) signifying the three aspects—Aghora (right), Saumya (center) and Sakti (left). Attributes: ax, bell, hook, mirror, noose, staff, sword, tree and trident. Also identified as a manifestation of Siva and one of the EKADASARUDRAS (eleven forms of RUDRA). In northern India among tribes including the Gonds, the expression Mahadeo (great god) is directed toward Siva as the supreme deity.... |
God name "Mahakala (the great death)" | Hindu / Puranic | (1) God. A violent aspect of S IVA. His SAKTI is Mahakah. Rides upon a lion. Color: black. Attributes: five arrows, ax, Brahma-egg, club, cup, rosary of skulls, staff and trident. Three-eyed. Also considered to be a form of the god BHAIRAVA in which context he is a guardian of the faith.(2) Guardian god of tents and science. BuddhistLamaist [Tibet]. Derived from the Hindu god S iva and an emanation of the five DHYANIBUDDHAS. Also one of a group of DHARMAPALAS with terrible appearance and royal attire. A deity of riches. He treads on the god Vinayaka, or on a man, a corpse, or on two elephant-headed men. Color: black, blue or white. Attributes: mainly elephant skin, prayer wheel and trident, but may hold various other objects.... |
Goddess name "Mahakali" | Jain / India | (1) Goddess of learning. One of sixteen VIDYADEVI headed by the goddess SARASVATI.(2) Form of the goddess KALI. Hindu. Also a SAKTI of MAHAKALA. Attributes: conch, cup, headdress, hook, knife, noose, rosary of skulls, staff, sword, waterjar and wheel.... |
Goddess name "Mahamanasika (great-minded)" | Jain / India | Goddess of learning. One of sixteen VIDYADEVI headed by the goddess SARASVATI.... |
Goddess name "Mahamantråñuśarini (following the great sacred text)" | Buddhist | Guardian goddess. One of a group of five MAHARAKSAS (protectresses) who are thought to be personifications of amulets or mantras. Also an emanation of the DHYANIBUDDHA RATNASAMBHAVA, alternatively of AKSOBHYA. She is a guardian of the west, south and eastern quarters according to separate traditions. Color: blue, black, green, white or red. Attributes: most commonly noose and staff. From four to twelve arms; may be three-headed.... |
Goddess name "Mahamantråñuśarni" | Buddhist | Guardian goddess Buddhist |
God name "Mahapadma (great lotus)" | Hindu | Snake god. Attributes: rosary and waterjar. Three-eyed.... |
Goddess name "Mahapratisara" | Buddhist | Guardian goddess Buddhist |
Goddess name "Mahapratisara (great protectress)" | Buddhist | Guardian goddess. One of a group of five MAHARAKSAS (protectresses) who are thought to be personifications of amulets or mantras. A guardian of the central or southern direction. Also an emanation of the DHYANIBUDDHA RATNASAMBHAVA. Color: yellow. Attributes: arrow, ax, banner, bow, conch, image of Ratnasambhava on crown, jewel, noose, parasol, prayer wheel, reliquary, sword, staff and trident. Three-headed and three-eyed.... |
"Mahasarasavati" | India | One of the 108 names of Kali. India |
Goddess name "Mahaskti/ Mahesvari/ Mahakali/ Mahalkakshmi/ Mahasarasavati" | India | She is not only in the Divine mother, goddess of war, påśśion, & wisdom but she is the Supreme creator of the universe |
Goddess name "Mahi (earth)" | Hindu / Vedic | Minor goddess of sacrifice. She is invoked to appear on the sacrificial field before a ritual, and is identified with the act of prayer. Usually åśśociated with the goddess SARASVATI.... |