Major Hindu gods: Who are they and what is their uniqueness?

Hinduism is one of the oldest and most widespread religions in the world. Over the centuries, this religion, deeply rooted in India, has spread throughout Asia and to many Western countries in search of spirituality. Hinduism is more than just a spiritual path, it is a culture and a way of life aimed at establishing a harmonious relationship between humans, the universe and all beings inhabiting this world. Being a polytheistic religion, Hinduism has many deities that may have different names depending on the different branches of this faith, but we will introduce you to the main ones.

Brahma

Brahma is the creator God of the universe and part of the trinity of the most important deities in Hinduism, known as the Trimurti. He is represented by four faces, symbolising his powerful omnipresence, and four hands, denoting the different elements that make up the essence of man: consciousness, intellect, spirit and ego. According to Hindu mythology, he was born from a lotus flower and brought the world out of darkness, separating good from evil and creating all the creatures that inhabit it. He is the deity of wisdom, as it was from his mind that the four Vedas, or sacred scriptures containing the principles of Hinduism, emerged.

Shiva

Shiva the destroyer also belongs to the Trimurti. Revered and feared, Shiva represents not only the earthly destruction of the world, but also the inner struggle that humans must undergo to abandon the ego and be reborn as spiritual beings. He is depicted cross-legged in a meditative pose, with a snake around his neck. Shiva symbolises death, but not as an end in itself, but rather as the beginning of a new life through reincarnation. It is one of the most respected and honoured gods in all of Hinduism. There is a branch of Hinduism, Shivaism, in which he is considered the chief god.

Vishnu

This is the Hindu God of preservation, the protector who maintains the balance between the creator Brahma and the destroyer Shiva. He is the third main figure of the Trimurti, the sacred trinity of Hinduism. Vishnu is also represented with 4 arms and has 10 avatars, or reincarnations, which he uses to come to Earth to fight evil when some harmony and balance needs to be restored. Vishnu is the Hindu god of peace, kindness and love between living beings.

Hanuman

Hanuman is one of the Hindu deities that attracts the most attention because he is represented as a man with white hair and the head of a monkey. He represents strength and courage to go forward in the face of any difficulty. The so-called monkey god is a faithful companion of the god Rama in his struggle for the triumph of good. It is to this deity that Hindus turn when their strength is weakened and divine help is needed.

Ganesha

Son of Shiva, Ganesha is the god of reason and is depicted with the head of an elephant. He bestows prudence, wisdom and good fortune on those who turn to him. Devotees turn to Ganesh whenever they want to avoid problems. He is one of the most popular gods and Hindus usually seek his protection for any new project that comes up in their lives. Ganesha is often asked for blessings before starting important life endeavours to remove any possible obstacles.

Krishna

In the Hindu religion, this deity is called the dweller of hearts because the god has the power to make pain and evil disappear through his love. He is one of the reincarnations of Vishnu who fights and defeats sin, bringing joy and peace. A virtuous teacher and companion on the path of life, Krishna is a friendly god who is depicted playing a kind of traditional flute. This image gives another indication of his function: he is one of the gods associated with the arts, and especially music.

Lakshmi

Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is the goddess of beauty, love, luck and success. Her figure, which can be found in many homes, is depicted seated on a lotus flower with two elephants sticking out of her back. Richly adorned with golden elements, the goddess smiles as she gives her gifts to all who worship her. She is also revered as the patroness of abundance, prosperity and spiritual well-being.

Kali

This is one of the most powerful female deities in the Hindu religion. As evidenced by various depictions of her, Kali appears with a sword in one of her four hands, and in the other she carries the severed and bloody head of one of her enemies. She is a Hindu goddess who is feared and respected because she destroys her enemies without pity. Kali also wears a long necklace of small heads as jewellery. Her figure represents strength and destructive power in the face of evil.

Rama

In Hindu mythology, Rama is a hero god who descended to earth as an avatar of Vishnu to fight evil embodied by the demon king Ravana. Rama personifies an exemplary human being with qualities such as strength, constancy, virtuous life and the value of justice. In addition, along with his wife, the Hindu goddess Sita, he embodies the image of love and purity of marriage.

Saraswati

This Hindu goddess is the consort of the creator Brahma and one of the main Hindu deities. Sitting on a lotus flower and dressed in white robes, she symbolises purity and wisdom. Saraswati is also considered the goddess of fertility and the inspiration of the arts, particularly music, as she is depicted playing the traditional Indian sitar. Saraswati patronises knowledge, learning and literature, inspiring scholars and students to seek truth.

Conclusion 

Hinduism opens up to us a world filled with deep symbolism and philosophy. Each god, whether creator, destroyer or protector, reflects different aspects of human life and the universe. The interconnectedness of these deities emphasises the importance of balance between beginning and end, creation and destruction, wisdom and passion.