Brief Overview of Hindu Gods and Goddesses

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Brief Overview of Hindu Gods and Goddesses
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• All relate to Brahman
• Represent particular attribute or aspect
• Associated with a vehicle bird or animal on
  which it rides

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Brahma

• The Creator
• Made himself into half woman, half man
• Not currently widely worshipped
• First part of the trinity Vishnu, Shiva, and
  Brahma

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Shiva

• The destroyer
• Death, destruction, and the shedding of old
  habits
• Takes many forms, sometimes with five heads
• Self-controlled and celibate while a lover of his
  spouse(s)

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Vishnu

• Sustainer or preserver of life
• Stands for righteousness and truth
• Values under threatVishnu appears!
• Restores peace and order
• 10 avatars

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Krishna

• Dark and extremely handsome
• Means black or mysterious
• Leader, hero, protector, philosopher, teacher and
  friend all rolled into one
• Thought to have lived between 3200 and 3100 BC
• Incarnation of Vishnu

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Ganesha

• Lord of Success
• Mans body, elephant head
• Often riding a mouse
• Destroyer of selfishness, vanity and pride