India Gods

India Gods :      

Akhurath, Alampata, Amit, Anantachidrupamayam, Avaneesh, Avighna, Balaganapati, Bhalchandra, Bheema, Bhupati, Bhuvanpati, Buddhinath, Buddhipriya, Buddhividhata, Chaturbhuj, Devadeva, Devantakanashakarin, Devavrata, Devendrashika, Dharmik, Dhoomravarna, Durja, Dvaimatura, Ekaakshara, Ekadanta, Ekadrishta, Eshanputra, Gadadhara, Gajakarna, Gajanana, Gajananeti, Gajavakra, Gajavaktra, Ganadhakshya, Ganadhyakshina, Ganapati, Gaurisuta, Gunina, Haridra, Heramba, Kapila, Kaveesha, Kriti, Kripalu, Krishapingaksha, Kshamkaram, Kshipra, Lambakarna, Lambodara,Mahabala, Mahaganapati, Maheshwaram, Mangalamurti, Manomay, Mrityuanjaya, Mundakarama, Muktidaya, Musikvahana, Nadapratithishta, Namasthetu, Nandana, Nideeshwaram, Omkara, Pitambara, Pramoda, Prathameshwara, Purush, Rakta, Rudrapriya, Sarvadevatman, Sarvasiddhanta, Sarvatman, Hambhavi, Shashivarnam, Shoorpakarna, Shuban, Shubhagunakanan, Shweta, Siddhidhata, Siddhipriya, Skandapurvaja, Sumukha, Sureshwaram, Swaroop, Tarun, Uddanda, Umaputra, Vakratunda, Varaganapati, Varaprada, Varadavinayaka, Veeraganapati, Vidyavaridhi, Vighnahara, Vignaharta, Vighnaraja, Vighnarajendra, Vighnavinashanaya, Vigneshwara, Vikat, Vinayaka, Vishwamukha, Vishwaraja, Yagnakaya, Yashaskaram, Yashvasin, Yogadhipa and Siddhivinayaka.

Ganesha

The word means different things to different people. Is it simply an emotion or feeling? Do we only feel joy when life seems to be going good, when our circumstances are favorable? Or is there something more? I'd like to explore what the Word of God says about this topic.

Psalm 16:11 says "Thou will show me the path of life, in Thy presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Psalm 43:4 says "Then will I go to the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy...."

Nehemiah 8:10 says ...."the joy of the Lord is my strength".

What these scriptures say is that God Himself is the source of our joy. And that joy gives us strength. Have you ever noticed when you're feeling blue, that you tend to feel weak and tired too

In closing one more view of God, Luke 15:4-7 says, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lost one of them, would not leave the 99 in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. I (Jesus) say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over the 99 which need no repentance."

Jesus cares so much He seeks out to find the ones who are lost, and it gives Him great joy when He finds that one. Even all of heaven throws a party! If you don't know this loving, kind and joyful Jesus of Nazareth, I'd encourage you to simply ask Him into your heart. Receive everything He so wants to give you. Eternal life, joy, and the peace of knowing you're right with God. Just a simple prayer to Him anywhere of what

Gods Of India

Gods Of India  Even in dire times of weakness, you can take your concerns to the Lord in prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 says to: “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” This verse, though a short one, speaks in volumes. It really is as simple as confiding your worries and cares in Him through prayer. Psalms 55:22 reiterates: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” Praying, and therefore having one-on-one time with God, is a major first step in getting out of the depressing hold that the devil has on you. Gods Of India  Making time to read your Bible will also help, as there are verses for virtually every issue that you may or could be suffering through. The devil can be counted on to try and pull you into a state of despair while testing your faith at the same time. However, do not give up: Isaiah 40:31 states that “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; and they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I know it sometimes feels hard to overcome the negativity threatening to pull you down. Satan does not want you to be happy, especially in the name of the Lord, and he will try to take everything from you that he can. If you’re alone, it can become impossible to hold fast against this (and in fact, he seems to count on this in his sheer wickedness), but your Bible (and ultimately the Lord) are prepared for these trials, as well. In Deuteronomy 31:6, we are advised to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” God‘s position is that of a Heavenly (rather than earthly) father: He looks after us, and protects us in our day to day lives while also knowing what is to become of us. It is through His word that he seeks to pull us out of deep hopelessness and give us peace. In times of seeming doubt or hopelessness, insight can be pulled from Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." God has a plan for all who are willing, and is a loving Father who wants the best for us so we can join him eternally in Heaven.

Indian God Durga

represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego.
The worship of Goddess Durga is very popular among Hindus. She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Ambika, and Kali In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya, and daughter Jyoti. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India.
In Her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has eighteen arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by evil forces. Following is the symbolism associated with Goddess Durga

• A tiger symbolizes unlimited power. Durga riding a tiger indicates that She possesses unlimited power and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil. The eighteen arms of Durga signify that She possesses combined power of the nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu that have appeared on the earth at different times in the past. The tenth incarnation, the Kalkin (a man on a white horse), is still to come. Thus, Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.
• The sound that emanates from a conch is the sound of the sacred syllable AUM, which is said to be the sound of creation. A conch in one of the Goddess's hands signifies the ultimate victory of virtue over evil and righteousness over unrighteousness.
• Other weapons in the hands of Durga such as a mace, sword, disc, arrow, and trident convey the idea that one weapon cannot destroy all different kinds of enemies. Different weapons must be used to fight enemies depending upon the circumstances. For example, selfishness must be destroyed by detachment, jealousy by desirelessness, prejudice by self-knowledge, and ego by discrimination.

Indian God Kali

Kali comes from the Sanskrit root word Kal which means time. There is nothing that escapes the all-consuming march of time. In Tibetan Buddhism Her counterpart is male with the name Kala. Mother Kali is the most misunderstood of the Hindu goddesses. The Encyclopedia Britannica is grossly mistaken in the following quote, "Major Hindu goddess whose iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her with death, sexuality, violence, and, paradoxically in some of her later historical appearances, motherly love."

It is partly correct to say Kali is a goddess of death but She brings the death of the ego as the illusory self-centered view of reality. Nowhere in the Hindu stories is She seen killing anything but demons nor is She associated specifically with the process of human dying like the Hindu god Yama (who really is the god of death). It is true that both Kali and Shiva are said to inhabit cremation grounds and devotees often go to these places to meditate. This is not to worship death but rather it is to overcome the I-am-the-body idea by reinforcing the awareness that the body is a temporary condition. Shiva and Kali are said to inhabit these places because it is our attachment to the body that gives rise to the ego. Shiva and Kali grant liberation by removing the illusion of the ego. Thus we are the eternal I AM and not the body. This is underscored by the scene of the cremation grounds.

Of all the forms of Devi, She is the most compassionate because She provides moksha or liberation to Her children. She is the counterpart of Shiva the destroyer. They are the destroyers of unreality. The ego sees Mother Kali and trembles with fear because the ego sees in Her its own eventual demise. A person who is attached to his or her ego will not be receptive to Mother Kali and she will appear in a fearsome form. A mature soul who engages in spiritual practice to remove the illusion of the ego sees Mother Kali as very sweet, affectionate, and overflowing with incomprehensible love for Her children.

Ma Kali wears a garland of skulls and a skirt of dismembered arms because the ego arises out of identification with the body. In truth we are beings of spirit and not flesh. So liberation can only proceed when our attachment to the body ends. Thus the garland and skirt are trophies worn by Her to symbolize having liberated Her children from attachment to the limited body. She holds a sword and a freshly severed head dripping blood. As the story goes, this represents a great battle in which she destroyed the demon Raktabija. Her black skin represents the womb of the quantum unmanifest from which all of creation arises and into which all of creation will eventually dissolve. She is depicted as standing on Shiva who lays beneath Her with white skin (in contrast to Her black or sometimes dark blue skin). He has a blissful detached look. Shiva represents pure formless awareness sat-chit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss) while She represents "form" eternally supported by the substratum of pure awareness.

By not understanding the story behind Mother Kali it is easy to misinterpret Her iconography. In the same way one could say that Christianity is a religion of death, destruction and cannibalism in which the practitioners drink the blood of Jesus and eat his flesh. Of course, we know this is not the proper understanding of the communion ritual.

Attaching the idea of sexuality to Mother Kali has no basis in Her at all. There is nothing that associates Her with sexuality in the Hindu stories. In fact it is just the opposite. She is one of the few Goddesses who is celibate practicing austerity and renunciation!

Indian God Lakshmi

Draped in a red saree, bedecked with gold ornaments, seated on a lotus, pot in hand, flanked by white elephants, the image of Lakshmi adorns most Hindu homes and business establishments.

Lakshmi, also called Laxmi, is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, luxury, beauty, fertility, and auspiciousness.  She holds the promise of material fulfillment and contentment.  She is described as restless, whimsical yet maternal, with her arms raised to bless and to grant her blessings.

Shri is the sacred name of Lakshmi.  Shri is written atop most documents and spoken before addressing a god, teacher holy man or any revered individual.  The word evokes grace, affluence abundance, auspiciousness and authority.  When the word is spoken or written an aura of holiness is established.  Whatever follows is imbued with divine blessing.  Just as the word “Om” is associated with the mystical side of life, Shri is associated with the material side of existence.

Lakshmi represents the beautiful and bountiful aspect of nature.  As Bhoodevi, the earth-goddess, she nurtures life; as Shreedevi, the goddess of fortune, she bestows power, pleasure and prosperity on those who deserve her grace.  To realize her, one must respect the laws of life and appreciate the wonders of existence.

In the beginning, there was water everywhere.  There was nothing to eat and nowhere to live.  Prajapati, the divine patriarch, father of the gods and demons saw the plight of his children and invoked Devi.
 

The goddess whispered into his ear, “The earth lies trapped under the water.  Raise it up.”
 

Prajapati took the form of a mighty boar called Emusha, plunged into the sea and found the earth-goddess Bhoodevi on the ocean floor.  Placing her on his snout, he gently raised her to the surface.
 

Prajapati then turned into Akupara, a giant turtle and offered Bhoodevi a seat on his back.

Indian God Brahma

Brahma is considered the creator of the universe. Before the cosmos existed, Brahma was all alone, self contained and self-content. Eventually, he felt inadequate and longed for company. Brahma split himself and created the goddess Shatarupa. Her many forms captivated Brahma, and he desired to posses her.

But that was not to be. Like all material things, Shatarupa would turn into something else every time Brahma got to her. She turned into a cow, a mare, a goose and a doe. Lord Brahma kept pursuing her, taking the form of the corresponding male - a bull, a horse, a gander, a buck. Thus all creatures of the cosmos, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal, came into being.

The Hindu God Brahma sprouted five heads, so that he could watch Shatarupa at all times. To restrain Brahma's lust, Shivawrenched off one of Brahma's five heads. This helped Brahma come to his senses, and he took Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, as his consort. With her help, he regained control of his mind.

For creating the universe, Brahma became known as the lord of progeny. But he is not worshipped because he is responsible for distracting the mind away from the soul and towards the cravings of the flesh. However, you will see shrines dedicated to Brahma on the grounds of buildings. A very famous shrine is on the grounds of the Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, and people to make offerings to Brahma there, such as hiring musicians and dancers to perform for him.

Brahma the Trouble Maker

From time to time in religious texts, Lord Brahma appears to aid the side of chaos. In the Mahabharata, for example, Brahma provides a magic arrow to the enemies of Arjuna. It then seems that the Hindu Gods spend a significant amount of time helping to defeat those who have benefited from Brahma's misdeeds, as opposed to fighting the God Brahma himself. On the other hand, usually when Brahma helps an adversary, the heroes learn an important lesson, or make a realization that they wouldn't have if Lord Brahma had not meddled in the first place.

Brahma Not The Creator of The Universe After All?

One interesting aspect of different creation stories is that sometimes Vishnu or Shiva are given credit for creating the world. It is believed that they dreamed up the creation of the universe, with Brahma doing all the heavy lifting in the dream, as if he were just following the blueprints laid out by the other two gods.

Brahma's Pose and Hand Gestures

Unlike most Hindu Gods Brahma is not depicted with weapons. Instead, he is shown holding prayer beads, a water vase, and a book, symbolizing the Vedas (the original Hindu religious texts). It is said that Brahmas four mouths constantly recite the four Vedas. Brahma's fourth hand is sometimes shown holding a lotus blossom, and sometimes shown holding a staff.