Hanuman, Ganesh & Parvati

Although Brahma is the supreme spirit, like God to Christians or Allah to Muslims, Hindus can choose to worship one or more deities from hundreds of gods and goddesses. Each deity is associated with particular symbols, characteristics or personalities, which make them easy to identify. Sometimes they are superhuman and have many arms or heads and special powers.

The Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva

	Shiva with Nandi, WA505070

A Hindu shrine will always include one of the Trimurti. These are the three most influential gods in Hinduism. Brahma is the creator of the universe, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the creator and destroyer of evil.

How to recognise them:

- Brahma is often shown with four or even five heads. He sometimes has four hands, which hold the four books of the Vedas.

- Vishnu is usually depicted with four arms holding a lotus flower, a conch shell, a club, and a discus. Sometimes he can be seen sleeping on the waves of the ocean, on a giant snake, Shesh-naga, or riding an eagle, Garuda.

- Shiva can be recognised by his long matted hair, the snakes around his neck, and his clothing of tiger skin. He carries a trident and has a third eye in his forehead. He can also be shown in the form of a sacred and powerful bull, Nandi.

Rama & Krishna

	Rama, WA505113

Vishnu has ten incarnations. Rama and Krishna are probably the two most popular.

- Rama is the hero in the epic poem the Ramayana. He is brave and courageous, and a good King, warrior and husband.

- Krishna features in the epic Mahabharata. He is known for being playful and mischievous and was sent to the earth to combat evil.

Ganesh

	Ganesh, WA508206

Ganesh represents wisdom, strength and prosperity. He is often prayed to in times of difficulty as he is the remover of obstacles. A popular god who is recognisable by his elephant's head, Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Shiva was angry and cut his son's head off in a rage. When Parvati heard of this she was very upset and Shiva promised to replace his head with the next living thing he saw, which was an elephant. Ganesh is the Lord of Beginnings and is an important God in welcoming the New Year at Diwali time.

Hanuman

	Hanuman, WA506889

Hanuman is Lord of the Monkeys and Rama's most devoted follower. He symbolises intelligence and determination and plays a vital role in the Ramayana epic. Hanuman can fly, he carries a club, and is so strong that he can lift mountains.

Devi

	Parvati astride a tiger, WA506888

Hindus worship Devi, a goddess figure who appears in various forms. She can be a gentle and beautiful mother figure or a fearsome warrior figure.

- Parvati, the wife of Shiva, is worshipped in her gentle and beautiful, motherly aspect. But sometimes Hindus worship the more active form of her character, known as Durga, the warrior goddess. In a sacred text called the Devi Mahatmya, Durga rides a lion and fights fearsome battles with demons. The goddess Kali also appears on the battlefield, and is said to be very frightening, wearing a necklace of skulls.

- Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, is the goddess of love, luck and good fortune. She is often shown seated on a lotus flower with gold coins falling from her hands. At Diwali time Hindus pray to her to bring prosperity in the New Year.