Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Goddess name "Aditi (the free one)" | Hindu / Vedic | Archaic mother goddess. According to the Rg Veda Aditi is said to be the wife of KASYAPA or of BRAHMA and mother of the ADITYAS, a group of minor gods including MITRA, ARYAMAN, BHAGA, VARUNA, DAKSA and Anisa. No other consort is mentioned in the literature. She is also accounted as the mother of HARI. Other legends account her as the mother of the Rain god INDRA. No human physical features are drawn, though she is sometimes identified in the guise of a cow. Aditi is also perceived as a guardian goddess who brings prosperity and who can free her devotees from problems and clear away obstacles. She disappears largely from later Hindu traditions.... |
Goddess name "Aditya (descendant of Aditi)" | Hindu / Vedic / Puranic | Collective name for Sun gods. These numbered six in Vedic times but later increased to twelve. The sons of the primordial goddess ADITI. Also an epithet for SURYA. Attributes: two or more lotuses.... |
God name "Agni Hindu" | Vedic | God of fire and guardian of homes. Vedic |
Demon name "Ahi" | Hindu | A serpent aka Vritra, the Vedic demon of drought. Hindu |
God name "Apam Napat" | Hindu / Persia / Vedic | Child of the waters. One of the Ahuras in Old Iranian religion, a beneficent god who is the giver of water to man. Hindu / Persia / Vedic |
God name "Apam Napat (grandchild of the water)" | Persian / Iran | (1) God of fresh water. He provides water in arid regions and suppresses rebellions.(2) God of fresh water. Hindu (Vedic). Mentioned in the Rg Veda, he is described as golden in appearance.... |
Nymph name "Apsaras" | Hindu / Vedic | The thirty-five million nymphs of Indra's heaven. The daughters of pleasure are fairy-like beings, beautiful and voluptuous, who lure heroes and sages from their devotions. Hindu / Vedic |
Deities name "Apsaras" | Hindu / Vedic | water spirits. Identified as musicians and protective deities of gamblers bringing good fortune. They may also bring insanity.... |
Goddess name "Aranyani" | Hindu / Vedic | Minor goddess of woodlands. Hindu / Vedic |
Goddess name "Aranyani" | Hindu / Vedic | Minor goddess of woodlands. Possibly having evolved from a primitive animistic guardian spirit of animals, Aranyani is an elusive, rarely seen, deity who is recognized in the sounds of the trees, particularly at dusk. She is a benign figure, sweet-scented and unwilling to destroy unless severely provoked.... |
Hero name "Arjuna" | Hindu / Vedic | One of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. His name means 'bright', 'shining', or 'silver'. Hindu / Vedic |
God name "Arjuna (silvery)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Heroic god. Arjuna appears in the Mahabharata epic. One of the princely sons of the mythical Pandu family, his father is INDRA. He generally appears with the warrior god BHIMA. Allegedly responsible for requesting VIS'NU to take his VISVARUPA form but also identified as a minor incarnation or avatara of Vis'nu. Attributes: usually depicted bearing a bow received from AGNI the fire god, but may also appear carrying a sword and shield. Also NARA.... |
Deities name "Aryaman" | Hindu | One of the early Vedic deities (devas). His name literally means a bosom friend, but is often confused as "the protector of the Aryans" Hindu / Vedic |
Goddess name "Aryaman (companion)" | Hindu / Vedic / Puranic | Minor Sun god. In Vedic times, the god of formal hospitality. One of six ADITYA sons of the goddess ADITI. Attributes: club, two lotuses and prayer wheel.... |
Demon name "Asuras" | Hindu / Vedic | A group of power-seeking deities, sometimes referred to as demons. They were opposed to the devas. Hindu / Vedic |
Demon name "Asuras" | Hindu / Vedic | sky gods. Identified in the opening of the Rg Veda, they become demonic in later Hinduism, the antagonists of the DEVA gods.... |
Goddess name "Asvins" | Hindu / Vedic | Divine twin hor√åǧïñå in the Rigveda, sons of Saranya, a goddess of the clouds and wife of either Surya in his form as Vivasvat. Hindu / Vedic |
God name "Asvins" | Hindu / Vedic | Physician gods. Twin gods owning horses, the sons of VIVASVAN and SARANYU. Depicted in a chariot drawn by horses or birds. Attributes: Book, vessel with herbs and water jar.... |