Discover Hindu Gods & Goddesses

Lord SatyanarayanSatyanarayana
Lord Satyanarayana is another form of Lord Vishnu who is commonly worshipped by Hindus in their homes along with family and friends. The worship is performed usually on a full moon (purnima) day of the month. People worship by reciting the gracious story of the Lord which was once told by Lord Vishnu himself to the sage Narada for the benefit of humankind. The Lord's grace is described in a Hindu mythological book called Skanda Purana. He has four hands like Lord Vishnu, however, his fourth hand does not hold a lotus rather it is extended upward to bless people.
Lord KrishnaKrishna
Because of his great godly power, Lord Krishna is another of the most commonly worshipped deities in the Hindu faith. He, like Lord Rama, is also known for his bravery in destroying evil powers throughout his life. The Lord is usually depictted as play ing the flute (murali), indicating spread of the melody of love to people. He is also shown with his childhood devotee and girl-companion Radha. The Lord is usually remembered and worshipped as Radha-Krishna. The pair symbolizes the etern al love between people and god. Lord Krishna is also shown with his pet cow, his childhood favorite. Lord Krishna performed many divine sports (leela) as a child.
Lord Ram & SitaRama
Lord Rama is one of the most commonly adored gods of Hindus and is known as an ideal man and hero of the epic Ramayana. He is always holding a bow and arrow indicating his readiness to destroy evils. He is also called "Shri Ra ma". More commonly he is pictured in a family style, (Ram Parivar) with his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanumana who is sitting near Lord Rama's feet.
 
Lord VenkateshwarVenkateshwer
Venkateshwer is another form of Lord Vishnu who is also very popular as a Hindu deity. He is also known as Balaji or Bithala. He has a dark complexion and four hands. In his two upper hands he holds a discus (a symbol of power) and a conch s hell (a symbol of existence). With his lower hands extended downward he asks devotees to have faith and surrender to him for protection
 
 
Lord HanumanHanuman
Hanumana is a monkey god. He is a noble hero and great devotee of Lord Rama of the Ramayana. This deity is a provider of courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion. He is pictured as a robust monkey holding a mace (gada) which is a sign of b ravery and having a picture of Lord Rama tatooed on his chest which is a sign of his devotion to Lord Rama. He is also called Mahaveera.(the great hero ) or Pavan-suta (son of air)
 
 
Lord GaneshaGanesha (Ganapati)
This god of knowlededge and the remover of obstacles is also the older son of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is also called Vinayak (kowledeable) or Vighneshwer (god to remove obstacles). He is worshipped, or at least remembered, in the beginning of any au spicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness. He has four hands, elephant's head and a big belly. His vehicle is a tiny mouse. In his hands he carries a rope (to carry devotees to the truth), an axe (to cut devotees' attachments), and a sweet d essert ball -laddoo- (to reward devotees for spiritual activity). His fourth hand's palm is always extended to bless people. A unique combination of his elephant-like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intellege nce, and presence of mind.
Goddess DurgaParvati or Durga
She is the wife of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction). Both have eight hands and great power and ener gy (Shakti). Durga rides on a lion and Kali rides on a corpse of a demon. Parvati was called Sati in her previous divine incarnation. The family of Lord Shiva, Parvati and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya is an ideal example of family unity a nd love. She has a charming personality. She is adored by married women for a happy married life.
Goddess LaxmiLakshmi
She is the wife of Lord Vishnu and is the goddess of prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity. Her four hands represent four spiritual virtues. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus, a seat of divine truth. Her personal charm is considered par excellence. An aura of divine happiness, mental and spiritual satisfaction, and prosperity always exist around her. Her palm is always extended to bless people. She is adored by Lord Ganesha.
Goddess SaraswatiSaraswati
She is the wife of Lord Brahma and possesses the powesr of speech, wisdom and learning. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has sacred scriptures in one hand and a lot us (a symbol of true knowledge) in the second. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on the violin (veena). She is dressed in white (sign of purity) and rides on a white goose (swan).
Lord ShivaShiva
Lord Shiva appears in a meditating but ever-happy posture. He has matted hair which holds the flowing Ganges river and a crescent moon, a serpent coiled around his neck, a trident (trishul) in his one hand and ashes all over his body. The Lord's attri butes represent his victory over the demonic activity, and calmness of human nature. He is known as the"giver" god. His vehicle is a bull (symbol of happiness and strength) named Nandi. Shiva-Linga, a sign of the Lord, is adored instead of him. Sh iva temples have Shiva-Linga as the main deity.
Lord VishnuVishnu
The preserver god of the Trinity has four hands. The first holds a conch shell (sankha) indicating spread of the divine sound "Om"; one holds a discus (chakra), a reminder of the wheel of time, and to lead a good life; one holds a lotus (Padma) which is an example of glorious existence and the fourth hands holds a mace (gada) indicating the power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life is ignored. His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda which can spread the Vedic knowled ge with great courage. The dark color of the Lord represents the passive and formless ether, a great quality for a pervading god. He rests on the bed of the powerful, coiled serpent, Seshanag who represents the sleeping universe. Lord Vishnu is also known as Hari, the remover.
Lord BrahmaBrahma
The creator god of the Trinity appears seated on a lotus (a symbol of glorious existence), He has four heads and hands. Each hand is holding a sacificial tool (sruva), the Vedas (knowledge), a water pot (kamandalu) and a rosary respectively. His ve hicle is a swan (hans) which is known for its judgment between good and bad.
 
ArjunaArjuna
Warrior hero of the epic Mahabharata,
celebrated for his dialog with Lord Krishna
in the Bhagavad Gita.
 
 
Goddess MenakshiMeenakshi
Sri Meenakshi Devi is the incarnation of Parashakti. The sthala purana has it that the King Malaya Dhwaja, a great devotee of Lord Shiva was childless and hence conducted puthra kameshti yagna. Goddess Parvathi was born and named as Meenakshi (Her eyes being in the shape of fish).
Meenakshi was a great devotee of Lord Sundareswara (Shiva) and the Lord comes in disguise followed by many thrilling episodes known as (sixty four tiruvilayadals), before manying the goddess Meenakshi. Many poets adorned the court of Pandya Kings and Madurai was the seat of Tamil literature. It was also popularly known as the birthplace of Tamil Sangam.

Goddess GauriGauri
Gauri represents purity and austerity. She is the Kanya (young, unmarried) Parvati who had undergone severe penence in order to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Sita, the consort of Lord Rama, had worshipped Gauri to fulfill her desire to marry Lord Rama.
 
Unmarried girls worship Gauri in order to get a virtuous husbands.