Hindu Gods and Goddesses Facts & Worksheets

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While all Hindus recognize the presence and significance of a myriad of gods and demigods, the majority of individual worshipers are particularly committed to a single god or goddess, among which Shiva, Vishnu, and the Lady are the most popular.

See the fact file below for more information on Hindu Gods and Goddesses, or you can download our 28-page Hindu Gods and Goddesses worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

• One of Hinduism’s most notable features is the almost immense variety of god and goddess figures, many of which have animal companions, that decorate the vibrant temples, roadside shrines, and houses of its worshippers.
• The main element of Hindu sacred literature is deities. Many gods and goddesses (devas and devs) are personified in the Vedic literature as fire, wind, sun, dawn, darkness, earth, and
  other elements.
• The majority of deities were accomplished artistically by giving the picture of several body parts, such as hands and heads, that were equipped with weapons and other artifacts.

HINDUISM

• Several academics believe that Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, with origins and practices stretching back more than 4,000 years. Hinduism is the third most popular religion in the world today, after Islam and Christianity, with around 900 million adherents.
• It is challenging to determine the religion’s beginnings and history because there is no known founder. Hinduism is distinct because it is a collection of numerous traditions and concepts rather than a single religion.
• Many religious concepts are embraced by Hinduism. Because of this, it’s sometimes referred to as a “family of religions” or a “way of life” rather than a single, established religion.
• Hindus hold to the concepts of karma and samsara, or the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (the universal law of cause and effect).
• The belief that people’s actions and thoughts directly impact their present and future lives is one of religion’s main principles.
• Hindus in India are divided into social classes according to their karma and dharma through the caste system. These are the top four castes, listed in order of importance:

1. Brahmin: the leaders of thought and religion
2. Kshatriyas: the guardians and stewards of society
3. Vaisyas: the skillful merchants
4. The unskilled workers, or Shudras

• The caste system is still in place in India today, however, it is not strictly observed. Many of the old traditions are no longer practiced, but some, like only allowing marriages between members of one caste, are still accepted.

HINDU GOD: BRAHMA

• The world and all living things were created by Brahma. The god Brahma is currently the least worshipped in Hinduism. Throughout all of India, he is the subject of just two temples. 
• The goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, is the wife of Brahma.
• There are a number of stories in Hindu mythology that indicate why he is rarely worshipped. 
• According to the first view, Brahma made a woman to help him in the act of creation. Shatarupa was her name. She attracted Brahma’s attention everywhere she went because of how stunning she was. She was incredibly embarrassed by this, and Shatarupa sought to avert his attention.
• Brahma, however, grew a head in every direction she went until he had four heads. Shatarupa finally lost her cool and leaped to attempt to evade his stare. In his devotion, Brahma developed a fifth head on top of everything. Shatarupa is claimed to have continuously changed her forms, according to some accounts. In order to dodge Brahma, she changed into every living thing. Yet he transformed into whatever she was in male form, and as a result, every animal community in the world was born.
• Brahma was admonished by Lord Shiva for acting in an incestuous manner, and his fifth head was severed for acting in an “unholy” manner. Shiva’s curse was that people shouldn’t worship Brahma since Brahma’s distraction from the soul and focus on the desires of the flesh caused Brahma to lose his focus.
• Brahma’s job as the creator is over, which is a second and more sympathetic explanation for why he is not worshipped. It is up to Vishnu to keep the world alive and up to Shiva to carry on the cosmic reincarnation cycle.

HINDU GOD: VISHNU

• The second god in the Hindu trinity (or Trimurti) is Vishnu. The universe is created by Brahma, and Shiva is its destroyer. The universe is preserved and protected by Vishnu.
• In difficult times, it is his duty to return to the earth and put good and evil back in their proper balance. He has taken nine different incarnations so far, but Hindus believe he will have one more near the end of this world.
• The Vaishnava, or followers of Vishnu, regard him as the supreme deity. They consider the other deities to be minor or demi-gods. Only Vishnu is revered by Vaishnavas. 
• Vaishnavism is the name for the monotheistic worship of Vishnu. He has a close affinity to light, especially the Sun.
• The epic tales Ramayana and Mahabharata, respectively, are about two of Vishnu’s incarnations, Rama and Krishna.
• At the time of the Brahmanas, Vishnu is thought to have grown in importance and is regarded as the most significant of all the gods.
• Vishnu is typically depicted as having a human body with four arms and blue skin. Four objects are always in his hands, symbolizing the things for which he is accountable.

The conch produces the sound “Om,” which is symbolic of the first sound of creation.

The chakra, or discus, represents the mind.

The lotus flower serves as a symbol of incredible existence and liberation.

The mace is a symbol of both physical and mental toughness.

HINDU GOD: SHIVA

• Shiva is the third god in the Hindu triumvirate. Hindus believe his abilities of destruction and recreation are used even now to eliminate the illusions and faults of this world, clearing the way for constructive transformation.
• Shiva is renowned for having intense passion, which drives him to act out to extremes. He occasionally deprives himself of all worldly pleasures like an ascetic. He is a hedonist at times. 
• Shiva finds balance in his marriage to Parvati. Thanks to their union, he can be an ascetic and a lover while staying within the confines of marriage.
• Shiva is revered as the combiner of many contradictory elements and is recognized as the origin of both good and evil.
• Shiva always has a blue face and throat when he appears as a man. Although technically he has a white body, artists frequently depict him as having a blue body as well. Shiva is pictured with the
  following characteristics:

Third Eye stands for Shiva’s knowledge and intelligence. It’s also thought to be where he gets his untamed energy from.

Cobra Necklace. This represents Shiva’s control over the most destructive animals on earth. According to some legends, Shiva’s destructive and creative powers are symbolized by the serpent. To make room for fresh, smooth skin, the snake loses its old skin.

The vibhuti are three white ash lines drawn over the forehead. They stand for Shiva’s all-encompassing nature, extraordinary strength, and prosperity. They also conceal his potent third eye. Vibhuti lines are frequently drawn on the foreheads of Shaivites.

The three-pronged trident depicts the three functions of the Hindu triumvirate.

HINDU GODDESSES: TRIDEVI

• In Hinduism, the three principal female deities are referred to as Tridevi, or the three goddesses. They are Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati who are associated with Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
• Saraswati is Brahmas’s wife and also the goddess of knowledge, the arts, and music. She exemplifies the strength of knowledge and clear thinking.
• She is frequently depicted riding a swan, a Hindu emblem of grace and purity, just like Brahma. She is occasionally seen sitting on a stone, suggesting that pursuing knowledge can be difficult, much like the surface of a stone.
• The goddess of fortune and wealth is Lakshmi. She’s portrayed as either seated or standing inside a lotus flower. The lotus is a spiritual, self-awareness, and success symbol for Hindus.
• Lakshmi is depicted with four hands, which stand for the four goals of a Hindu’s life: dharma, or righteous behavior; kama, or craving or desire; artha, or properly making money; and moksha, or release from birth and death.
• Parvati is Shiva’s wife. She is pictured sitting next to Shiva in the Mountains. Parvati stands for the persistence of life. She is the mother of Kartikeya, the leader of the holy army of male devas, or gods, and Ganesha, the god of luck and intelligence.
• Brahman manifests as Parvati also referred to as Shakti. The force that continuously creates the universe goes by the name Shakti. As a result, this power is perceived as feminine.
• Shiva and Shakti are interdependent. Without the other, neither can exist in its entirety. These are the identical traits of one Brahman.

HINDU CULTURE

• The most popular religion in India is Hinduism, which has many different interpretations. It might be challenging to define what Hinduism is because some people contend that it is an umbrella term that includes a variety of religions and traditions. Yet, Hinduism, in all of its manifestations, has had a special impact on Indian society.
• It’s usual to see pictures of gods and goddesses in both public and private places. Ganesh, the elephant-headed god, is particularly well-known because people believe he can remove obstacles. Moreover, certain trees or rivers in the natural world are venerated. Due to the localized and regional incarnations of gods and goddesses, the Hindu pantheon of deities numbers in the thousands.
• Hindus have higher happiness and commitment when performing labor that has a divine or spiritual value. It is believed that helping others is a form of worship.
• Animals play a vital role in Hinduism. According to belief, when Brahma created the animals, he concealed a unique secret in each of them to represent their spiritual significance to people. Shiva is also claimed to have given each of them a particular state of yogic consciousness. Animal knowledge, or pasu vidya, was regarded as a crucial area of study in ancient India. Hindus think that animals could be reincarnated as friends and relatives or could hold the spirits of
  their ancestors.

Hindu Gods and Goddesses Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hindu Gods and Goddesses across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hindu Gods and Goddesses. While all Hindus recognize the presence and significance of a myriad of gods and demigods, the majority of individual worshipers are particularly committed to a single god or goddess, among which Shiva, Vishnu, and the Lady are the most popular.

Download includes the following worksheets

1. Hindu Gods and Goddesses Facts
2. The God Finder
3. Godly Truth
4. Makar Sankra-twist
5. Caste Away
6. I Believe
7. For Real
8. Holy Cow!
9. The God in Me
10. Bhagavad Gita
11. Festival of Gods

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Shiva in Hinduism?

Shiva is one of the most important deities in Hinduism, known as the destroyer or transformer. He is often depicted with a trident and a third eye, and is associated with asceticism, meditation, and yoga. He is also known for his role in the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe. Shiva is worshiped by millions of Hindus worldwide, and his devotees often wear rudraksha beads as a symbol of their devotion.

What is the role of Vishnu in Hinduism?

Vishnu is another important deity in Hinduism, known as the preserver. He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a lotus flower, and a mace, and is associated with compassion, love, and devotion. According to Hindu mythology, Vishnu has incarnated on earth ten times in different forms, known as avatars, to preserve the world from evil and chaos. The most popular of these avatars are Rama and Krishna.

Who is the goddess Kali in Hinduism?

Kali is a powerful and fierce goddess in Hinduism, often associated with destruction and transformation. She is often depicted with multiple arms, wearing a necklace of skulls and holding a sword and a severed head. Kali is worshiped by millions of Hindus around the world, particularly in eastern India, where she is considered a protector of women and the poor. Her devotees often perform animal sacrifices and offer blood and liquor as a form of worship.

Who is Ganesh in Hinduism?

Ganesh, also known as Ganesha or Vinayaka, is a popular Hindu deity known as the remover of obstacles. He is often depicted with an elephant’s head and a potbelly, and is associated with wisdom, intelligence, and success. Ganesh is worshiped by millions of Hindus around the world, particularly during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, where large public idols of the deity are created and then immersed in water.

Who is Durga in Hinduism?

Durga is a powerful and fierce goddess in Hinduism, often associated with feminine power and energy. She is often depicted with multiple arms, riding a lion or tiger, and holding weapons such as a trident, a sword, and a bow and arrow. According to Hindu mythology, Durga was created by the gods to defeat the demon Mahishasura, and her victory is celebrated during the festival of Durga Puja. Durga is worshiped by millions of Hindus worldwide, particularly in eastern India, where she is considered a protector of women and the weak.

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