2. Background:
• Hindu mythology dates
back to as early as
7200 BC.
• This is the time when
the first hymns of the
Rig Veda was
composed.
3. Rig Veda
• an anthology of 1028 hymns to
various gods
• Began as a celebration of
natural elements such as
Air, Water and Fire
• Converted into the worship of
cosmic elements
• Formed the triad of the early
VEDIC gods
5. AGNI (Fire)
• Vital spark in the
earth, lightning in the
sky, and SURYA, the sun
• He is the sap in the
plants, which is carried
down to them by the rain.
• Has 7 tongues, each of
which has a separate
name and in being used
for licking up butter
offered in sacrifices
6. VAYU (Wind)
• He drives his horses
furiously.
• God of the wind, rapid
motion and the Father of
fleet-footed
• Father of Hanuman
• Generally associated with
Indra
• Other names are Pavana,
Gandha-Vaha and Satata-
ga
7. SURYA (Center of the
Spheres)
• Other name is
Savitri (brilliance)
• Married to Sanjana
and Chhaya
• Abode is called
Suryaloka
9. BRAHMA (CREATOR)
• Born of the golden
egg, Hiranyagarbha
• Also said to have sprung from
Vishnu’s navel, on a lotus
• He is the uncreated creator
(Svayambhu)
• Lord of scholarship
• 4 Vedas came from his mouth
• From his body, came the 4
castes of the Hindus: Brahmans
(priests) – mouth, Kshatriyas
(soldiers) – arms, Vaishyas
(traders) – thigh, Sudras (menial
workers) - feet
10. VISHNU (PRESERVER)
• The Preserver
• Vehicle: garuda (bird)
• has 4 arms, a blueish
complexion, and rests on a
snake
• was incarnated (born as an
animal or human) nine times
with one more still to come
• is the main god
of Vaishnavism
11. SHIVA (DESTROYER)
• The Destroyer / Transformer
• Vehicle: bull
• has matted hair, a third eye, a
blue throat and a trident in his
hand
• often worshipped in the
featureless lingam form
• is the main god of Saivism
13. SARASWATI
• Goddess of knowledge,
music, and the arts
• Vehicle: swan
• wife of Brahma
• sits on a white lotus playing a
veena
14. LAKSHMI
• Goddess of wealth and
prosperity
• Vehicle: owl
• wife of Vishnu
• usually shown bestowing coins
and flanked by elephants
15. PARVATI
• The Divine Mother
• Vehicle: lion
• the reincarnation of Shiva's
first wife
• has many forms, such as the
popular Durga and Kali (see
below); often shown together
with Saraswati and Lakshmi as
the tridevi ('triple goddess')
