1. Avatars and Consort

2. Quick review Brahman Trimurti Monism- Trimurti= to Brahman
Abstract concept
Neti neti (not this not that)
= to Atman- soul of the universe
Not same as human soul (jiva)
Trimurti
Brahma – the creator god- ancient/old, king
Not same as Brahman
Vishnu – the sustainer god- sits on the coils of the snake god adisesha
Shiva – the destroyer god, Lord of the dance, Lingam
Monism- Trimurti= to Brahman

4. DEVI The three gods of the Trimurti are portrayed as masculine
But Hinduism recognizes the female aspects of divinity.
The Great Mother aka Devi (meaning goddess) is portrayed in many forms and can be both loving and cruel
She is especially harsh to those who show themselves unworthy of her love.

5. Shakti – Consort/Wife goddess
The important role of the Divine Feminine is also seen in the female consorts who accompany many male deities
The Divine Feminine are so much a part of the male god that the god cannot be active without his consort
Each god has a “wife” aka Shakti
Shakti means “energies” – because they allow the male gods to be effective in the human world.
However, a god’s Shakti is symbolic of the god’s creative force.
The shakti of a god is literally his other half.
Hindu gods are not “complete” without their shakti, and vice versa.

6. Brahma & Saraswati Saraswati is the consort of Brahma
She is far more popular than Brahma himself.
She is the patron of music, the arts, and culture
She is often portrayed with a musical instrument in her hand

7. SARAsWATI

8. Vishnu & Lakshmi
The shakti of Vishnu is the goddess Lakshmi
She is commonly dressed as a queen and sits on a lotus
She dispenses good luck and protection

9. LAKSHMI

10. Shiva & Parvati Goddess of love and devotion.
Often pictured along side of Shiva
Parvati is maternal, loving, and voluptuous.
Takes the forms of Durga and Kali.

11. Shiva and Parvati

13. The Avatars of Vishnu
There are ten avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu- one is still to appear.
They are worshipped as individual deities in their own right.
The avatar will arrive in a time when a wrong must be righted.
They vary from creature to person.
Animal form: a fish, a boar, and a tortoise
Siddhartha Gautama aka the Buddha
The avatar yet to come will be a savior figure on horseback who will judge the human race.
Two incarnations (avatars) are wildly popular: Rama and Krishna

14. Narasimha/ Narasingha – Man-lion
Parasurama – “Rama with an Ax”
Rama - King
Krishna – “The all attractive one”
Buddha – historical founder of Buddhism
Kalki – Apocalyptic figure
Matsya - fish
Kurma - turtle
Varaha - boar
Narasimha/ Narasingha – Man-lion
Vamana - dwarf

15. RAMA Rama and Vishnu are the same.
Rama appears in the great epic the Ramayana- stories of Rama
On of the most commonly told stories concerns the abduction of Rama’s wife- Sita
Sita was captured by Ravan (or Ravana) the demon king of Sri Lanka.
Rama is a king
Rama gains the help of Hanuman, leader of the monkeys to fight Ravan
Hanuman helps Rama in killing Ravan and in locating and returning Sita.

17. Rama and Sita

18. Hanuman – Monkey King The perfect devotee
Often pictured on one knee with his chest opened to reveal Vishnu and Lakshmi. (Rama and Sita)

21. KRISHNA Another incarnation (Avatar) of Vishnu
He steals butter and plays the flute
His face and skin are often blue- the color of the sky and of heaven, indicating his true otherworldly nature.
His companion is Radha- whom he is romantically linked in the Hindu mind.

24. Krishna and Radha

25. Avatars of Parvati

26. Durga The Divine Feminine appears as several goddesses
The most populars are Durga and Kali
Durga means “awe- inspiring” or “distant”
The goddess Durga is frequently represented with ten arms, full of implements used to destroy evil
Durga’s face is serene, surrounded by a halo
She wears a crown
She rides a tiger – which helps her conquer all dangerous obstacles.

27. Durga

28. Kali Kali means “dark” Kali is more fearsome still
She is often shown wearing a necklace of human skulls, and her fanged teeth drip with blood
Her many arms are full of weapons- which are thought to be dangerous to enemies but protective of her children

29. Kali – goddess of Divine Wrath
She is the protector of women and girls.
Often pictured riding on the body of a demon or her husband, Shiva.
Wears a necklace of demon heads and a skirt of demon arms.

31. Ganesha – Remover of Obstacles and Good Fortune
Easy to spot because of his elephant head.
One tusk.
Fat belly.
Students pray to this god to help them in their studies

32. Ganesh Ganesh or ganesha
He represents harmony, energy and success in overcoming obstacles
He is the son of Parvati and Shiva

33. Ganesha was created by Paravati to guard her privacy.
Shiva came to see her wife, but the boy would not let him in.
They fought and Shiva cut his head off.
When Paravati found out, she was very upset threatening to destroy the heavens.
Shiva saw how much Parvati loved the boy and ordered his men to find a head for the boy.
The first creature they encountered was an elephant. They cut his head off to take it to Shiva.
Shiva then put on the boy’s body and gave him life.

34. The word Ganesha is formed by two different words:
Gana- meaning follower of Shiva
Isha- meaning lord
Ganesha rides a mouse