History, Mythology, and Art of Deities

1. Hindu Deities

2. Hindu Trimurti
1. Brahama - The Creator
2. Vishnu - The Preserver
3. Shiva- The Destroyer
Brahman Vishnu Shiva

3. Trimurti (history)
Earliest record:
Poem Kumarasambhava “the Birth
of the War God” (4th Century AD)
Earliest depiction:
Sadashiva Stone relieve on a cave
temple on Elephant Island, India
Historians claim the Trimurti, was
an attempt to reconcile different
legends from the Vedic period into
one meta narrative.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, February 21). trimurti. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/trimurti-Hinduism

4. Brahma Vishnu Shiva
Krishna - Vishnu’s Avatar Ganesh Murugan

5. 1. Brahma
The Creator
Not equal to Brahman
Holds book of knowledge

6. Brahma’s Heads
The four Vedas
Four Yugas (epochs)
Had a 5th head but Shiva cut it off

7. Brahma (history)
• First described 700 BC - 100 AD
• Earliest sources Mahabharata and the
Puranas.
• Described in ancient writings as
Grandfather
• Described as Prajapati (the first god)
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Brahma” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 89
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

8. Brahma (Mythology)
• Born from a comic golden egg (or)
• Born from a Lotus in Vishnu’s Naval
• Created good/evil; light/darkness
• Created: gods, demons, ancestors, and men
• Created Manu, the first man
• Created plants & animals on earth
• Created night & day: demons to rule night,
good goes rule the day
• Then abandoned his body became spirit
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

9. Brahma (Mythology)
• Brahma looked with lust at a goddess
and Shiva cut his 5th head off.
• Brahma lied and lost most of his
worshippers and that’s why he has few
devotees
• Vishnu made him the creator with no
other responsibilities.
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

10. Brahma (Art)
• Depicted Red, with 4 heads. Shiva cut
off his fifth
• The 4 Vedas, or 4 Yugas
• 4 arms: rosary (prayer beads)
symbolizing time, water pot (creation or
cleansing man); Veda (makes
knowledge possible); lotus flower (from
which he came).
• Sits in a lotus flower from which he
came
• Brahma is red because creator.
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

11. Brahma (Hinduism)
• Only two temples in India to Brahma:
Pushkara, and Rajasthan.
• Does not come to earth, and hardly
involved.
Cartwright, Mark. (16 May 2015). “Brahma” . World History Encyclopedia

12. Saraswati
Brahma’s wife
Goddess of learning

13. 2. Vishnu
The preserver
Preserves world until destroyed
Discis is weapon to cut down those
who upset Dharma

14. Vishnu (history)
• Earliest mention in Vedas
• Minor, only ritual importance
• Mentioned 64 times in Rig Veda
• Earliest story: saved world from
flood
• Late Veda period, identified with
Vasudeva, a minor god in Western
India.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Vishnu” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 492

15. Vishnu (history)
• In the Mahabharata Epic, he is
identified with Krishna (whom
Krishna is incarnation) and
established in Trimurti.
• Later the other legends are joined to
his story: the other gods become
incarnations of Vishnu
• Later, it is taught he has 10 avatars
(10 stories joined with Vishnu)
• In Bhagavad Ghita a following of
devotees develops and becomes
(Vishnuism)
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Vishnu” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 492

16. Vishnu (Art)
• Dark Blue—blue aura, blue energy,
• Four arms
• Atop the Cobra Sheshtnag
representing the many desires of
the mind. He sits over them
showing he has control.
• Sometimes seated over throne
• Conch: produces sound “OM” the
primeval sound of creation.
• Discus: cut down abhorrent men or
symbolizes the mind
• Lotus: glorious existence
• Mace: mental & physical strength.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Vishnu” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 492

17. Vishnu (Mythology)
• Bhagavata Purana epic, has most
of the Vishnu stories.
• He becomes pre-existing god
• Gives nectar of immortality to
other gods
• Story: gods wanted nectar of
eternal life. Vishnu helped produce
it. Demons tried to run off with it.
Vishnu created Maya (illusion) to
distract them, give nectar to gods.
Physical world to this day is MAYA,
illusory.
Cartwright, Mark. (2012). “Vishnu”. In World History Encyclopedia

18. Vishnu’s Wives
Lakshmi
Bhu Devi
Pet: Garuda (his eagle)

19. Vishnu’s
10 Avatars
Means “descent”
Ten Avatars
Divine appearances of gods
Intervene to repair Dharma

20. Krishna
Primary Avatar
a. when earth was flooded he dragged
earth out from under the sea
b. Born on earth (like Jesus) spent life
fixing things

21. Krishna & the Cow
Lives in Vrindavan where there are
cows
When born on earth, is born a cow
herder as a child.
Reason why Cows are sacred

23. 3. Shiva
• Means “The Auspicious One”
• Known as the Destroyer
• Depicted as both male & female
• At end of Yuga cycle will perform a
dance to destroy the world.
• Brought Ganges river to earth from the
Milky Way.
Doniger, W. (2021, May 6). Shiva. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shiva

24. 3. Shiva
3rd eye bestows inward vision, but
also destruction when focused on
someone or something
Skulls around neck = death
Serpent around neck
Riding tiger = victory of animal
instincts.
Doniger, W. (2021, May 6). Shiva. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shiva

25. Shiva (History)
• Shiva (the auspicious,
beneficent)
• Earliest found 2600 BC in a royal
seal
• Originated Northern India
• First appears in the Ramayana
(600 -300 BC) and then
Mahabharata (700 BC - 100 AD)
• Described in Shvetashvatara
Upanishad (300 BC) as highest
deity.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Shiva” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 406

26. Shiva (Mythology)
• First Appears with wife Sati
• Sati dies, is reincarnated as
Parvati, his 2nd wife.
• They have a son, Ganesha.
• Then son Karttikeya, the god of
eternal youth.
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Shiva” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 406

27. Shiva (Art)
• The gods recognize his power and
recruit him to fight the demons
• His power is in “dancing”
• Four arms: 4 directions
• At the end of Yuga cycle he will
dance the world out of existence.
• He is also the Lord of Chaos
• He is also God of destruction
Jones, C. James, J. (2007). “Shiva” in Encyclopedia of Hinduism. 406

28. Shiva’s Wives
Paravati & Sati

29. Shiva’s sons
Ganesha (remove obstacles)
Murugan (god of war)

30. Branches of Hinduism

31. Four Branches
1. Vaishnavas
2. Shaivas
3. Smartas
4. Shaktas

32. 1. Vaishnavism
• Devotion to Vishnu
• Vishnu is the manifestation of Brahman
• Incarnations: Rama, Krishna, (others)
• Vishnu defends Dharma (moral law)
• Goal is moksha (liberation) spend eternity
in Vishnu’s presence
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

33. Srivaishnava Sect
• Doctrine of Vishishtadvaita (non dualism)
• The phenomenal world is illusory
• But it is the medium to access Krishna
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

34. Madhva Sect
• Followers of the philosopher Madhva
• Doctrine of Dvaita (dualism)
• God & the Atman are separate entities
• Atman depends on Brahman but is not
equal to it.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

35. Pushtimarg Sect
• Followers of Vallabhacharya
• Phenomenal world is NOT illusory but real
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

36. Gaudiya Sect
• Followers of Chaitanya
• Phenomenal world is NOT illusory but real
• Relationship between Brahman and the
world is inconceivable (we can’t
understand).
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, December 28). Vaishnavism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vaishnavism

37. 2. Shaivism
• Devotion to Shiva
• (1) Pluralism - many realities
• (2) Monism - only one reality
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2015, March 5). Shaivism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaivism

38. Shaiva-Siddhanta
• Shiva philosophical system in South India
• Dated 5th to 9th Century
• Three Universal Realities
1. Pashu - the individual soul (not Atman)
2. Shiva - the Lord, ultimate reality
3. Pasha - soul’s bondage to the body
• Ignorance - we are all ignorant of realities
• Freedom obtained by (a) acts of service, (b)
worship ( c) Yoga - spiritual discipline, and
(d) deep learning.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2016, April 6). Shaiva-siddhanta. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaiva-siddhanta

39. 3. Smartas
• Traditional sect
• Members of the Brahman, Kshatriya, and
Vishya sect
• Follow the Smriti Texts
• Follow Shankara (8th Century teacher)
• Head monastery in Karnataka, India.
• Follow 5 deities: Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti,
Surya, and Ganesha.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2007, March 1). Smarta sect. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Smarta-sect

40. 4. Shaktas
• Worship goddess Shakti (means power)
• Mostly in Bengal and Assam
• Shakti was wife of Shiva
• The Divine mother
• Absolute surrender to her power
• Shakti is a coiled serpent within each
person that is released upon surrender to
the goddess Shakti.
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2015, January 19). Shaktism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shaktism