Deities
The gods and goddesses of Hinduism, their stories, symbols and worship.
- Ganesha: the Remover of ObstaclesThe story of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, the meaning of his form, why he is worshipped first, and the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Vishnu: the PreserverWho Vishnu is, his symbols and consort Lakshmi, the ten avatars including Rama and Krishna, and his worship in Vaishnavism.
- Shiva: the Destroyer and TransformerWho Shiva is, the meaning of his symbols, the Nataraja and the lingam, his family, and his worship in Shaivism.
- Brahma: the CreatorWho Brahma is, how he creates the universe, the meaning of his four heads, his consort Saraswati, and why so few temples are dedicated to him.
- KrishnaThe life and stories of Krishna, from mischievous child in Vrindavan to teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, and why he is among Hinduism's most loved deities.
- RamaWho Rama is, the story of his exile and his battle with Ravana, why he is seen as the ideal man and king, and how he is worshipped.
- HanumanThe monkey god Hanuman: his birth, his heroic role in the Ramayana, his devotion to Rama, and the Hanuman Chalisa.
- Lakshmi: Goddess of Wealth and Good FortuneWho the goddess Lakshmi is, her birth from the cosmic ocean, her symbols and eight forms, and how she is worshipped at Diwali and beyond.
- Saraswati: Goddess of Knowledge and the ArtsWho the goddess Saraswati is, her origins as a Vedic river goddess, the meaning of her veena, swan and white lotus, and her festival of Vasant Panchami.
- Durga: the Invincible GoddessWho the warrior goddess Durga is, her victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, the meaning of her weapons and lion, and her worship at Navaratri and Durga Puja.
- Parvati: the Mountain GoddessWho Parvati is, her story as Sati reborn, her devotion to Shiva, her family, her many forms from Durga to Annapurna, and festivals in her honour.
- Kali: the Dark MotherWho the goddess Kali is, the meaning of her fierce appearance, her birth in battle, why she stands on Shiva, and her worship as a loving mother, especially in Bengal.
- Devi: the Great GoddessThe worship of the Goddess in Hinduism: Devi as Shakti, the divine power behind the universe, her many forms, key texts and sacred places.
- Murugan (Kartikeya)Who Murugan is, the son of Shiva known as Kartikeya and Skanda, his six faces, peacock and spear, his importance to Tamil Hindus and the festivals of Thaipusam and Skanda Shashti.
- Surya: the Sun GodSurya, the Hindu sun god: his Vedic roots, his chariot of seven horses, the Gayatri Mantra and Surya Namaskar, his great temples, and festivals such as Makar Sankranti and Chhath.
- Agni, Indra and the Vedic GodsThe gods of the Rig Veda, including Indra, Agni, Soma, Varuna and Ushas: who they were, how they were worshipped, and what became of them in later Hinduism.