The world has always revered Hinduism, not merely as a religion but also as an intersection of philosophy, spirituality and mythology. Whether for self-realization, healing or spirituality, Hinduism has never forced Sanatan Dharma on anyone. Hinduism respects all other religions in the world and believes that all faiths lead to the same God. This ensures Hinduism's commitment to religious liberty. Despite numerous outside influences and invasions, it has survived as a faith for thousands of years.
Today, Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world. Other religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, etc., believe that there is only one eternal God. Hinduism is an uncommon religion with hundreds of gods, deities, demigods, sacred symbols, divine diagrams and religious icons. At the same time, it also believes in the existence of the omnipresent God, who is everywhere-not only in idols but in all creations, including our very souls. In the Hindu pantheon, every god and goddess has different legends associated with them. Some are deemed more significant than others, based on their powers and abilities. Therefore, the concept of gods adhered to in Hinduism is unprecedented.
It would not be wrong to conclude that Hinduism is polytheistic because it worships countless deities, and the supreme gods that manifest in three forms: Lord Brahma-the creator, Lord Vishnu the sustainer and Lord Shiva-the destroyer. At the same time, it supports monotheism, as it embraces the concept of the one Supreme God called Brahman, also referred to as Parmatman. The origins of Hindu gods are connected to the preliminary ancient Vedas, where the underlying concept further supports henotheism, which adheres to the worship of a single God while accepting the possible existence of other deities and demigods.
and his various forms like the lingam, Lord Nataraja, Lord Ardhanarishvara and Pancha-mukhalinga.
Next in the pantheon are Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge; Lord Vishwakarma, the god of engineering, Lord Jagannath, the god of the universe; Lord Kubera and Goddess Lakshmi, the god and goddess of wealth; Shitala Mata, the goddess associated with smallpox; and Oladevi, the goddess revered in relation to cholera. Following them are Lord Hanuman; Lord Shakti; Lord Agni, the god of fire; Lord Surya, the sun god; along with sacred trees like pipal, banyan, tulsi and neem. The list extends to include Manasa Devi, the goddess of snakes; Lord Khatu Shyam; Lord Shaligram Shila; sacred rivers like the Ganga; the nine planets in the universe, including Lord Rahu and Lord Ketu; animals such as the cow and celestial birds like Garuda; and sacred symbols like Aum, Swastika, Shri Yantra and many more.
In this book, I have categorized gods and deities based on their similarities and the frequency of their appearances in Hindu lore. This approach is essential for understanding how the religion connects different gods and practices. It helps explore how these gods relate to each other, how they are worshiped and how they guide one spiritually and in everyday life. Accordingly, the categorization of gods and deities based on their similarities and prevalence in Hinduism is as follows:
Vedas (1184)
Upanishads (497)
Puranas (627)
Ramayana (742)
Mahabharata (357)
Dharmasastras (164)
Goddess (499)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1510)
Gods (1289)
Shiva (372)
Journal (184)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (360)
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