Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Contents: Prologue. 1. The supreme being. 2. Sri Ganesh. 3. The Hindu trinity. 4. Brahma - the creator. 5. Vishnu -- the preserver. 6. Shiva -- the destroyer. 7. Saraswati -- the Goddess of learning and knowledge. 8. Lakshmi -- the Goddess of good fortune and prosperity. 9. Parvati. 10. Durga, Shakti and Kali the Goddesses of power. 11. Sri Ram -- the God of virtues... 7 incarnation of Vishnu. 12. Hanuman - the God of devotion. 13. Sri Krishna -- the absolute... 8 incarnation of Vishnu. 14. Gautam Buddha -- the enlightened one... 9 incarnation of Vishnu. 15. The Navgrah. 16. Indra and companion Gods. 17. The eternal Ganga. 18. Divinity in animals. 19. Divinity in plants. 20. Divinity in Holy scriptures. 21. Pleasing the Gods and Goddesses. Epilogue.

"Hindu religion is the oldest religion and so vibrant that it has always enthralled the world. Incarnation of many Gods and Goddesses as well as the various forms of worship in Hinduism has fascinated the humanity at large.

Hinduism is very liberal in its outlook. Among Hindus, some pray to Lord Vishnu, others follow Lord Shiva and some revere Shakti. The omnipresence of myriad Gods and Goddesses, in any form, is a result of faith reposed by millions across the world.

All paths lead to one Supreme being, Brahman. It does not matter what path you adopt. The truth is, Supreme being has created a perfect universe and has placed Gods and Goddesses to ensure our welfare. There is one God or Goddess assigned to look after each element: air, water, fire, sun, earth, space.

Within their sphere, they are benevolent and impart the wisdom and essence of life to all.

Gods and Goddesses are symbolic of abilities and virtues. Just as it would be wrong to say that truth is more effective than honesty, it would not be correct to assess Gods and Goddesses to choose the best among them. Like virtues, all Gods and Goddesses add to one's strength.

This book aims to assist understanding the Hindu ideology better and enable a person to live a better life with greater fulfilment of purpose. It satisfies the curious minds to understand the background of the Gods and Goddesses and also how they influence us in accomplishing our goals." (jacket)