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Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
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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.... |
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.... |
Goddess name "Balarama (strength of Rama)" | Hindu / Epic / Puranic | Incarnation of the god VIS'NU. May have originated in Vedic times as an agricultural fertility deity. He is the son of VASUDEVA and DEVAKI, though born from the womb of ROHINI. Jointly with KRSNA (his brother), he is identified as the eighth avatara (incarnation) of Vis'nu, or, with RAMA, as the seventh. Legend describes how Vis'nu impregnated the belly of the goddess Devaki with two hairs, one black, one white. To ensure their safety against a demon king, they were transferred before birth to Rohini. Krsna grew to be dark-skinned, and Balarama light. The latter enjoys similar characteristics to Krsna but fails to attract the same popularity. He is usually depicted on the right side of Krsna, rarely standing alone. The consort of Balarama is REVATI and his sons are Nisatha and Ulmuka. Epithets included Ananda (joy). In Jainism he is known as Baladeva. Attributes: arrow, club, drinking cup, fan palm, honey pot, lotus, pestle, pitcher, plough, prayer wheel, shield and sword.... |
Goddess name "Bharati" | Hindu / Vedic / Epic | Is the first of the three great goddesses of Hinduism, the other two being Lakshmi and Durga. Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma, the Creator. Hindu / Vedic / Epic |
Goddess name "Bharati" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Minor goddess of sacrifices. She is invoked to appear on the sacrificial field before a ritual. Usually åśśociated with the goddess SARASVATI. Also regarded as a consort of GANESA.... |
Goddess name "Brhaspati (lord of prayer)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Astral god. The personification of the planet Jupiter. In Vedic texts he appears as a priest. The son of Angiras and the guru of the later Hindu pantheon. Considered to be almost identical with BRAHMA. His consort is the goddess TARA and his son is Kaca. He rides in a chariot drawn by eight horses. Color: golden yellow. Attributes: arrow, ax (golden), Book, bow, rosary, staff and water jar.... |
God name "Budha" | Hindu / Vedic / Epic / Puranic / Buddhist | An astral god |
Planet name "Budha (awakening)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | (1) Astral god. The personification of the planet Mercury. The son of SOMA (CANDRA) and TARA or ROHINI. Depicted in a chariot drawn by eight horses or lions (sometimes a single lion). Color: yellow. Attributes: bow, club, rosary, shield and sword. Also Candraja and Candrasuta. 2. Astral god. Buddhist. The personification of the planet Mercury. Stands on a lotus. Attributes: bow and arrow.... |
God name "Dhanvantari" | Hindu / Puranic / Vedic / Epic | God of the Sun who later became an avatar of the god Visnu. Hindu / Puranic / Vedic / Epic |
God name "Dhanvantari (traveling through an arc)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Sun god. In later tradition a minor incarnation or avatara of the god VISNU, also closely åśśociated with Medicine. In Vedic mythology Dhanvantari carried the ambrosia created from the primeval ocean of milk. He brought medical science to mankind. Only as the religion evolved did he become identified as an avatara. As KANTATMAN (PRADYUMNA), he is thought to be Kama reincarnated after his death at the hands of SIVA. Various other epithets and existences are attributed to this deity. Offerings are due to him at dusk in the northeastern quarter. He is the guardian deity of hospitals which are usually in the vicinity of a sanctuary of Visnu. Attributes: two bowls containing ambrosia. Also Kantatman.... |
Goddess name "Diti" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Goddess. The daughter of DAKSA, a consort of ADITI (in the Rg Veda) or KASYAPA and the mother of a race of demons. Attributes: blue lotus, child and fruit.See also Aditi.... |
Demon name "Garuda (the devourer)" | Hindu / Vedic | Archaic Sun god and Divine vehicle. Originally depicted as a solar deity, Garuda evolved into a bird-like human hybrid who became the deified mount of VIS'NU. Also a chief adversary of nagas (snake-like demons), which he devours. In early depictions Garuda has a parrot's beak. Said to have been born from an egg, the son of Vinata and KASYAPA. Epithets include Amrtaharana, Garutman, Tarksya. Attributes: conch, club, lotus and nectar, but may also bear the attributes of Vis'nu.(2) Mount or vahana of VAJRAPANI. Buddhist. Attributes: flower, horse-head, noose, skin and staff. Three-eyed and three-headed.... |
Deities name "Kalki(n) (with white horse)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | horse god. Possibly the tenth avatara of VIS'NU. He rewards the good and punishes evil. The counterpart of the Buddhist deity MAITREYA. horses became åśśociated with Divine kingship in ancient India because of their speed of movement. Solar deities were perceived to ride horses across the sky and horse sacrifice became highly significant. Kalki is depicted either anthropomorphically or with the head of a horse and has four arms. He is attended by a white horse. Attributes: arrow, conch, prayer wheel, shield and sword. Also Vis'nuyasas.... |
God name "Kalki[n]" | Hindu / Vedic / Puranic / Epic | This god will be the 10th avatar of Visnu that rewards good & punishes people |
God name "Kubera" | Hindu / Puranic / Vedic / Epic | He is the guardian of the north as well as a god of riches |
Spirit name "Kubera (misshapen)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | (1) God of riches. He was originally the head of the YAKSAS spirits of the Forests, but by Puranic times was åśśociated with wealth and productivity. He is also a dikpala guardian of the northern quarter. The son of Pulastya and Idavida, his consorts include Yaksi, VASUDHARA and Vriddhi. Identified with the city of Alaka. He is depicted as a dwarfish figure riding upon a Brahman or a chariot. Color: white. Attributes: generally carrying a purse, but occasionally with various other items. Also Kuvera, Kauveri.(2) God of riches. Buddhist-Lamaist [Tibet]. One of a group of DHARMAPALA with terrible appearance and royal attire. Also a dikpala or guardian of the northern quarter. Color: yellow. Attributes: ax, banner, club, cup, hook, Ichneumon disgorging jewels, noose, reliquary and occasionally a trident.... |
Deity name "Narada (giver of advice)" | Hindu / Vedic, Epic / Puranic | Minor but popular deity. Narada is depicted as a sage who is also a messenger and teacher. Born from the head, or throat, of BRAHMA, and alternatively a minor incarnation of V IS'NU. In various roles he is a guardian deity of women, a musician and a wanderer. Narada, often bearded, is generally depicted standing with the musical instrument which is his invention, the vina (lute). By contrast to his benign nature he is also described as a maker of strife and as vile. Also Kali-karaka; Pisuna.... |
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