Hinduism: deities and gods
AGNI
Agni is the fire, the purifying element, that burning the impurities, elevates man from mortality to immortality. Since the dawn of mankind, the fire was seen as a manifestation of an item exceeds the contingency. Expresses the fire light, the light rising from the fire. Fire is the solar star, the stars are fire, fire are the flashes of the storm. The combination of fire and light are very advanced in the history of man's inner and, to date, in the modern era, the man points to the Divine and his messengers or incarnations, as the sages and philosophers made as light bearers , and we see those beings to reach the proximity with the mystery of the Divine, are called enlightened.
The flame of fire unifies everything, reducing the appearance of multiple forms of a single substance, intangible, immiscible in water, tasteless, etc.., Vibhuti is used in many religions as a distinctive sign to mark the bodies of those who devote themselves to a path towards the Divine. Agni is the most important of the land, second in importance among the gods of ancient mythology, Vedic Indra only. Agni is the fire of the sun, lightning and the land that men come on to the forms of Divine worship.
How divine personification of the ritual fire sacrifice, Agni is the mouth of the gods, which leads them through the offering, the offering. And 'the mediator between the human and the Divine Order. Despite these two faces, a benevolent and a severe, due to its role as mediator is much loved and revered because intercedes for man from all other gods. Is represented with two heads, hair standing to symbolize the flames rising, three or seven languages (from 3 to 7), three to seven arms and legs, accompanied by a ram, while holding the fan to fan the flames, the torch and sacrificial ladle. The stern face is what judges and its omnipresence is the nature, thanks to its triple nature (sky, water and earth), it is seen as a son or a lover of water (depending on the cults original). It 'also called "Son of the two mothers", because it comes from the rubbing of two sticks of wood, which soon eats to his birth.
In some hymns of the Rigveda is sometimes identified with the god Rudra, who became the next Shiva. Currently in India there are cults that do Agni relevant central to their devotion, but despite this still considered an important aspect of the Divine, especially in light of its nature. Agni assumes great importance in all other religions, especially during ceremonies involving the use of fire and the fact that almost all the ceremonies were concluded with an offering of fire, and the same icons are venerated through the offering of the sacrificial fire , we understand its importance. There is also a priestly class of Brahmins, the Agnihotri, who relies in many ceremonies.
In some Shakta cults of India (who worship the energetic aspect of the event, personified as the consort of Shiva in the same or Shiva), Agni is associated with the kundalini, regarded as the energy of Shiva, the consciousness transcends the multiplicity.
In lighting, kundalini is fully awakened and the person, not an individual, is identical to Shiva, in the fullness of all his divine attributes which occur through the ananda (bliss).
Balarama
Elder brother of Krishna, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. Vishnu took two hairs, one white and one black, his hair, and created with the black Krishna (pictured, in fact, with the blue skin) and white with Balarama. The latter escaped the tyrant of Mathura, Kansa, who wanted the death. As a young adult, he killed the demon Dhenuka Krishna and helped to defeat and kill Kansa. Balarama taught the use of mace at Bhima and Duryodhana. who were preparing for war of Kurukshetra described in the Mahabharata. The emblems of Balarama are the ploughshare and pestle Hala Musala indeed, he was considered the god of farmers, while the Gopala Krishna was the pastor of oxen.
BRAHMA
Personification of the supreme Brahman, the creator of the universe and is a member, along with Vishnu and Shiva, the Trimurti Hindu divine triad of post Vedic.
Although the creative activity has been attributed to various deities in the Vedic period oldest epoch of the Brahmanas (a kind of Vedic literature concerned with the dogma and ritual, but also full of references to mythical and philosophical speculations) the father god, Prajapati (the Vedic epithet of Brahma), is the only creator, the Manu Smriti or Laws of Manu it is said that Brahma, already independently existing, creates the world from the cosmic egg and his life goes on for so long by not be comparable to the sizes conceivable by man.
The traditional representations depict the Hindu Brahma was born from a lotus that sprouts from the navel of Vishnu, and was originally equipped with five heads, one of which is cut by Shiva. His wife is Sarasvati, the personification of eloquence, the goddess of learning and the arts that is one of numerous personifications of the Great Goddess. In the Hindu Brahma plays a secondary role: Vishnu, Shiva and Saraswati are worshiped over the same length about this god.
DEVA AND ASURA
In the Vedic tradition, a group of 33 gods and demons who ruled regions of sky, earth and air, and watched humanity with their benign powers. In the cosmic struggle between the forces of order and chaos, were opposed to the Devas the demonic Asuras. This conflict is represented in the myth that says that the most powerful of uprooted Mount Mandara, you wrapped around the serpent Vasuki and hurled into the ocean, the Devas pulling the snake on the one hand, the Asuras on the other, until the ocean became butter. It finally emerged the Sun and the Moon, followed by Dhanvantari, physician of the gods, who wore the elixir of immortality.
In another myth, a battle raged between Devas and Asuras for hundreds of years, the Devas were put to flight by the demon buffalo Mahisha, but survived thanks to the anger of Vishnu and Shiva, so violent that materialize in the form of the goddess Durga, who had the better of the buffalo. In many myths the Asuras got the help of Brahma, which allowed them, for example, to build three large cities from which to dominate the regions of sky, air and earth. At the height of glory, however, the cities of the Asuras were reduced to ashes by Shiva and Asura were themselves thrown into the sea.
In Zoroastrianism the Asura or Ahura, were associated with the forces of good under the guidance of the supreme god Ahura Mazda, while the Deva or Daeva held the opposite role, being associated with the evil spirit Ahriman.
DURGA
Durga (Sanskrit: "the inaccessible"), in Hindu mythology, is one of many forms of Shakti, often identified as the wife of Shiva and 'well-known battle in which he defeated the demon Mahisasura, shaped like a buffalo. According to legend, Durga was created just for this purpose with the flames that issued from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and other minor deities. He was born an adult and already wonderful, even to his enemies presents a terrible form. Is depicted as riding a lion or a tiger times, with eight or ten arms, each of which carries one of the weapons of the other gods who gave them to him for the battle against the buffalo-demon. The Durga Puja is one of the most important religious festivals that take place in Northern India, between September and October. A special image of the deity is worshiped with special ceremonies for nine days, and then immersed after being carried in procession by the priests, followed by the population.
GANESHA - Ganapati
The philosophy on the "seer" and "seen" is the great message of Ganapathi, whose advent we are celebrating today. Ga stands for Intelligence (Buddhi), Na Wisdom (Vijtlana), Pathi means master. Ganapathi, therefore, is the Teacher of Knowledge, Intelligence and Wisdom. There is also another important meaning of the word Ganapathi: it shows that He is the Leader (Pathi) of celestial beings (Gana).
He is also called Vinayaka, which means "the one above which no master." He is the Supreme Master and is beyond the condition of absence of mind. Who has subdued the mind, does not have any master.
We think the physical form of Vinayaka, the elephant head and human body, without understanding this truth. Every time people will undertake some activity, start learning the music or the fine arts, or any branch of knowledge, offers, before you start, its worship of Vinayaka.
Spiritual power (siddhi) and supreme intelligence (buddhi) He also said Lambodara, which means "Guardian of Wealth." In this case, Lakshmi represents all wealth and prosperity, not just the money, for which there is a separate deity called Dhanalakshmi, one of eight Lakshmi. In this case, wealth means happiness and bliss. What good is having all the rest if you do not have joy and happiness? Ganapathi is the One who gives us spiritual power and supreme intelligence, called, respectively, Siddhi and Buddhi. They are described as his two wives. Because he is the Master of the supreme spiritual power and intelligence, is considered, in earthly terms, their husband. Vinayaka has no desires, so that there is no need to have a wife and children.
In this country, is worshiped since ancient times, but there are historical sites that showcase how the worship of Vinayaka was also widespread in other countries such as Thailand, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. The 'worship of Vinayaka as the main deity is mentioned in the Vedas and in both these scriptures the Upanishads, he speaks of the profound significance of Ganapathi. Even the Gayathri you refer to him. He is the One who instills purity in body and mind from the fear fighter.
He says: "May He who has lead us to what Fang" (meditation), referring to his tusk. Some people, through ignorance, comment upon the form of large animal that has and will ask the Supreme Deity as a being, so mammoth in size, can ride on a mouse, which is described as His vehicle. The mouse is symbolic of the darkness of ignorance, while Ganesha signifies the effulgence of Wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance.
The supply of food that is made to Ganesha has great significance because it is made with chickpea flour and jaggery or pepper and enclosed in a pastry case, is then steamed without using oil. It is believed that this is a healthy food as well as delicious as it refers to the canons of culinary Ayurvedic system.
Modern doctors also recognize the importance of food steamed, they recommend to their patients as a postoperative diet, because it makes it easier digestion. As for raw sugar, it has the property of controlling gas formation and relieves eye troubles and prevents gastric disorders.
In the ancient traditional celebration of festivals, was always put great emphasis on good health as a prerequisite for a healthy mind and therefore better oriented towards the path of spiritual quest. To achieve the four goals of human life, that is, righteousness (dharma), prosperity (artha), desire (kama) and liberation (Moksha), you should have basically a healthy body. If you want to earn wealth by honest means and cherish desires which lead to liberation, we must be in good health. Vinayaka is also called Vighneswara, because He removes all obstacles that might impede the action of devotees who pray sincerely. Students, when they go to worship, carry their books, so all that is contained by them may be well treated.
The symbolic significance of the elephant head of Ganesha, must be understood. The 'elephant has profound intelligence. Yesterday, for example, the Sai Gita (the elephant Baba) started racing when he heard the car come to Swami. Although many cars were following the car of Swami, Geetha could infallibly recognize the particular sound, "the" machine. This is why they say "elephant intelligence" of a person with a sharp brain, they say that having the intelligence of an elephant.
The 'elephant has the strength given to him by intelligence.
It also has large ears that can hear even the slightest noise. Listening to the glory of the Lord is the first step to be taken into the path of spiritual practice and to do so, you must keep your ears open. After hearing, you must reflect on what has been learned and then put it into practice. The 'elephant takes the praise and blame equally. When it hears something bad, it moves its body this way and that way and shakes off the unwanted things, while retaining the good ones.
Only Vinayaka teaches lessons that are essential for humanity: not enough to have a statue to worship and offer ceremonies of worship for a few days, we must instead try to become masters of themselves. There are nine systems of devotion: listen to the glory of the Lord, sing His glory, to think and sing to the Lord's name; serve him, putting his lotus feet, bowing reverently to Him, worship Him, put His service as a servant does with his master, but experience feelings of deep friendship with the Lord; complete abandonment of self to Him The elephant stands for the union of the first system of devotion with the last, that the glory of the Lord and listening to the complete surrender to Him, so that all paths in between the other systems are included.
The teaching of Vinayaka is focused on sacrifice. You can not follow what is contained in the Puranas, but you should not miss the fundamental principles that these Scriptures, they convey to mankind.
When Vinayaka was preparing to write the Mahabharata that he would be dictated by the sage Vyasa, the latter laid the condition that, during the writing of the work, Vinayaka should not have been ever stop whatever Vyasa had said. Even Vinayaka, however, said he would write, as long as Vyasa did not interrupt his dictation. While Vinayaka was writing, his pen broke and he did not hesitate to break one of his tusks to use as a pen. This is why He is called Ekadanta, which means "He who has only one tusk." This is a shining example of the spirit of sacrifice that Vinayaka exhibited for the welfare of humanity. Why the Vedas proclaim that only through the sacrifice one can attain immortality.
GARUDA
In Hindu mythology, the god bird, son of the great sage Kasyapa and his wife Vinata. Garuda ("the devourer") was born into one of two eggs laid by Vinata, brood for a thousand years (his brother, Aruna, the dawn shining, was born when the impatient Vinata broke another egg after just five years) .
Garuda appears in many Hindu myths, especially in two roles: that of a snake devouring beast and that of the supreme god and protector of the world, Vishnu. In symbolic terms, Garuda is the ascent from the material to higher spiritual awareness. The snakes that seeks to destroy (which are, in the mythical story, his own cousins) symbolize spiritual awareness in a soil. In popular belief, Garuda protects from snakes and devours every evil thing.
INDRA
In the ancient religion of the Vedic god of the atmosphere and rain, bad weather and warrior lord of heaven. Among the most celebrated Vedic gods (over 250 hymns of the Veda are dedicated to him), Indra is the greatest opponent of many demonic forces that prevent the rain and dew to make the earth fruitful. His wife is Indrani.
After killing his father Dyaus, becomes the supreme god of the universe. Tutelary deity of the Aryans, is the god of strength and the protector of warriors and rulers. And 'Vritrahan also called in Sanskrit "The slayer of Vritra". Vritra was an evil demon in the form of immense serpent, which prevented the waters of rivers, streams and also to those of heaven to flow freely.
Indra killed him and freed the rivers, which brought life on earth. Indra is the cosmic order that defeats the universal disorder configured by Vritra.
This myth also reflects the event of rain monsonich and ending periods of drought. The fight is accompanied by the Maruts, gods of the storm, lightning, and also armed with spears, announcing the arrival of the monsoons and ceaselessly sing the praises of Indra. Dreadful was the fight with the wily demon Namuci that Indra was able to reduce to impotence mixing alcohol with soma. The God had, then, to ask for help Asvhin, the twins, and Sarasvati was freed from intoxication, so as to make possible the victory over the demon. Indra, ancient Vedic phase of Hinduism, occupied the first place, next to Mitra and Varuna, in the pantheon of gods, and later its importance was destined to fall compared to the gods Vishnu and Shiva emerging. It became a simple subject of Vishnu and known the fear and desire, even risked losing immortality. Depicted as a penitent for having killed the brahmin Vritra, is characterized by a certain obtuseness (is slow to understand the doctrine of Brahma), and is often beaten by the heroes and the most recent and popular, and also from certain Brahmans as to value and rigorous asceticism. Its main defects, according to the Puranas, were the indulgence of their sensual appetites, and the abuse of a divine drink hallucinogenic soma. Some ancient legends tell us that Indra ruled Svarga an area of Indian paradise, hence sometimes sent some apsaras, heavenly nymphs, dancing seductively in front of those who believed too ascetic.
Hindu art Indra is depicted in gold or red, accompanied by numerous divine servants, and sometimes by his dog, Sarma. Often mounted on his elephant heaven Airavata or a white horse; frequently depicted with four arms, one hand holding a thunderbolt (his weapon), with another wields a spear, with the third holding a quiver, with the fourth item is a network of illusions and a hook, to deceive and surprise the enemy. The arc of the rainbow is Indra.
KAMA
Kama, the mythology is the God of Love. During the Vedic era, embodies the cosmic desire, and the creative impulse, and this is considered to be the first to arise from primordial chaos, Kama is the one who makes possible all the other creations later. In recent periods is represented as a young man surrounded by the celestial nymphs who strikes with arrows that arouse love. His bow is made of sugar cane, and his bow by a line of bees. Once he was sent by the other deities to stimulate the passion of Shiva Rati, interrupting his meditation in the mountains. Shiva became angry with the third eye burning and reducing it to ashes. So it became Ananga (bodiless), but other legends, Shiva after he spoke with his wife, brought him back to life.
The term kama is also reportedly told one of the purposes of human life (purushartha).
KRISHNA
-krishna-Hindu deities
In the mythology of Hinduism an avatar, or incarnation of the god Vishnu, but for many devotees simply the supreme God and universal savior. Historically, many and various "cults of Krishna" spread over the centuries, shaping a god by many aspects, such as Krishna the butter thief, mischievous but lovable child (linked to the town of Vrindaban, south of Delhi) and the blue-skinned Krishna , pastoral god who plays the flute.
Literal meaning of the name Krishna: The root "Krs" Existence expresses the All-attractive, and the word "na" expresses the supreme ecstasy. The combination of the two gives the name Krishna, indicating the Parama brhama (the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Supreme God), "another name of Krishna is Syamasundara.
His two most important aspects of the history of Hinduism, however, are those described in the Mahabharata war hero and god cowboy, loved by the shepherds. The warrior of the epic Mahabharata plays Krishna, Arjuna's charioteer of the hero, the key role in the most famous episode from the poem, "Song of the Lord", or the Bhagavad-Gita. Here he teaches various ways of liberation, but, above all, is revealed as God Almighty. God (Krishna) is therefore the only real actor in the universe and the only possible object of devotion, which in turn reciprocates the love of the devotees.
The Bhagavad-Gita is probably the most popular among the Hindu texts, but is particularly significant for the devotees of Vishnu, who indentificano the Krishna of the Gita with their great god. While devotion (bhakti) recommended by the Gita is of relatively ascetic, one linked to the cowherd Krishna is intensely emotional and erotic. This relationship of love between the deity and his devotees expressed in folk tales of encounters with Krishna's milkmaids (gopis) as Radha. These stories gave rise to an abundant literature, and especially the Bhagavata-purana of the ninth century and the Gitagovinda, "Song of the shepherd" of Jayadeva (twelfth century), also becoming a favorite subject for artistic representation and theatrical production.
Two important characters with regard to the subsequent development of devotion to Krishna and Chaitanya Vallabhacaraya Bengali, born in southern India, both active in the sixteenth century. The current of the Hare Krishna movement, brought to the West in 1965 by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami, derives directly from the school of worship founded by Chaitanya.
MITRA
One of Adithya Hindu cosmology. He was the guardian of cosmic order, together with his brother Varuna. It was also the god of friendship and business, and ruled the day. Intermediary between men and gods.
In Roman Mithras was a god prevedica probably very important but with the advent of the Indo Aryans took second place. In the Rig-Veda is always presented with his brother Varuna, who told his twin brother and like him a Adithya. The god had greater importance in Persia, where he was known as Mithra and from there it spread to ancient Rome, where it was called Mithras.
RAMA
(Ramachandra) Rama is the bee sucks the honey from the lotus of the heart's devotion. The 'bee spread apart the petals of the flower on which is laid, but Rama enhances the beauty and fragrance. He is like the Sun, with its rays attracts water accumulating in the clouds, and then return them in the form of rain to quench the thirst of the earth. Rama, the mystical sound and powerful, born from the navel, tongue and salt on it will dance merrily. The declaration of the Vedas, Tat tvam asi, "That Thou Art" and is embedded in the word Rama, which consists of three sounds: ra, â and but. Of these, "ra" is the symbol of tat (That, Brahman, God), "but" is the symbol of tvam (you, the jiva, the individual), and "â" that unites the two is the symbol of their identity. The word Rama also has numerical significance: "ra" counts as 2, "â" is 0, and "but" for 5 counts, for which the sum is equivalent to 7, auspicious number.
We have 7 svara (notes) of the 7 Sages and celestial music; also recite Rama continuously for 7 days is considered particularly beneficial.
Every act and actor in the history [of life of Rama should be considered in an allegorical sense because] attracts the attention of the reader and is imprinted in his memory because the allegory personally affected each of us.
For example Dasaratha. King, representing the human body with the five senses of perception and the five senses of action. He had three wives of the three gunas or predispositions: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, whose names were Kausalya. Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He had 4 sons who embody the four goals of human life: Dharma. (Righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation). Rama is the embodiment of Dharma. The other three objectives can only be acquired by adhering faithfully to the Dharma. and brothers Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrughna. trod in his footsteps.
For your continuous compliance with the Dharma, Rama could count on an extraordinary spiritual strength enough to be able to manipulate and stretch the mighty bow of Siva, the Sivadhanus, thus giving proof that he won the illusion. Janaka, king of Videha. He held that arch into custody, and tried the hero able to handle it. The Videhi (the king of Videha), the "no body" or "no body consciousness" give his daughter (the knowledge of Brahman) to Rama, Sita and became his bride. So Rama, Sita marrying, "gained the highest wisdom. Where output was Sita? The story says" a groove of the earth "by Prakrithi Nature. This sentence demonstrates that the knowledge of Brahman or imply Brahmajnana significantly, also Nature or Prakrithi.
The next step describes Rama in the thick jungle of life, haunted attractions and aversions. The Supreme Wisdom can not coexist with the duality, but demands the surrender of the two opposite aspects. Rama followed the golden deer that Sita wanted and, in consequence of that mistake His wisdom vanished.
Rama (typical example of the individual or jiva) and then had to undergo many austerities to regain the supreme enlightenment, so according to the story reached the summit of Rsyamuka. abode of the total detachment. There he secured two allies Sugriva (discrimination) and Hanuman (the courage). The alliance was signed by a service of Rama who proved his loyalty to Dharma under all conditions, killing Vali, a victim of the vicious weakness, who dethroned his father forced him to take refuge in the jungle. He was then associated with Ravana, the evil one, and had abused and mistreated his brother Sugriva no apparent reason. Vali had fallen so low because of the companies that loved to frequent. His story is a warning to all. Einstein used to say: "Tell me who frequent'll tell you who you are."
Rama settled Viveka, discrimination, on the throne of Vali. Then with his allies, he went in search of Sita, the lost wisdom. And in your way. found itself faced with a vast ocean of delusion (Moha). His ally Hanuman who had a vision of serene, undimmed by desires or by ignorance, just wanted to repeat the name of Rama and see His form, in this way succeeded to cross the ocean safely and happily.
Rama reached the other shore, killed Ravana (an incarnation of the qualities Rajasic, passionate, impulsive) and his brother Kumhhakarna (incarnation the appearance tamasic negative and destructive). Sita was then able to recover (the supreme knowledge) and returned with her to Ayodhya the city impregnable. source and fountain of wisdom). The soul's journey ends with the apotheosis. This I have described is the Ramayana (the story of Rama) that every aspirant should keep in mind. Ayodhya is the heart, Dasaratha is the body, the Gunas are the wives, the children are Purusharta, Sita is wisdom. To have wisdom is essential to purify these three instruments: the body speech and mind. Hanuman is the shining example of soul realized. When he came to offer his services to Rama, Rama turned to Lakshmana, saying: "Listen brother, see how Hanuman knows the Vedas. His word is full of humility and dedication personified by the Rg Veda, of about and respect expressed by the Yajur Veda and Sama Veda intuitive vision that instils. Hanuman knows all the sacred texts and is a true devotee. Sugriva is fortunate to have as minister Hanuman, whose thoughts, words and actions were offerings made to God ".
When these three are in perfect harmony, you get the grace of God as it was given to Hanuman. Rama is the Dharma. Sugriva stumbled into the sport and did not keep his word: not organized his troops, although the rainy season was over.
So Lakshmana vented his anger at the unfairness and ingratitude shown to him. "You can never be purified from the sin of ingratitude and breach of covenants; your conduct is so reprehensible that even the vultures would refuse to eat your corpse."
When the offender fell to the feet of Rama seeking forgiveness, Rama said, "Lakshmana! Sugriva. Blinded by pride, power and ignorance was happy and secure on his throne. Only misery can open people's eyes to the values that were neglected. He had clung to the temporary and futile things that intoxicate man. How can such a person to follow the path of Dharma? "
While Hanuman went to Sugriva and advised him to repent and redeem himself with righteousness and gratitude. You must admit your mistakes and remedy the inevitable consequences of a sincere self-criticism and repentance. It is often said that Rama has always followed the Dharma but not correct. He was not a follower of the Dharma: He was the Dharma! What he thought, said and did was Dharma, the eternal Dharma! The recitation of the Ramayana and listening can make a person a true exponent of the Dharma: all his acts - thoughts, words, actions will be aligned to that ideal.