sign in sign up
<<
Home , Airavata, Astra (weapon), Hiranyakashipu, Holika, Indrani, Shiva

Lord Ganesh

• Son of and • of success • Remover of obstacles • Has the head of an and four arms • Vahan : mouse (Mushika) • : Axe • : Ganeshaya Namaha

Makar

• Sankranti - Beginning of the solar month • , a harvest festival • Celebrated by flying kites.

Vasant Panchami

• Spring festival • Yellow is the prominent color used • We worship maa on this day

Holi

• Celebrated in spring • Festival of colors • Celebrated on ’s death and Prahlad’s victory over evil • Young played with and

Brahma

• One of the of the Hindu Trinity • Creator • Has four heads which symbolize the four • Consort : Saraswati • Vahan : Hansa, the • Astra :

Saraswati

• Dressed in white • Seated on a white lotus • Holds the , a rosary and is seen playing a veena • of intelligence, wisdom and knowledge of all arts, science, music and dancing. • Consort : , the creator • Vahan : Swan

Vishnu

• One of the Gods of the Hindu Trinity • Maintainer/protector of creation • Consort : • Vahan : , the • Astra : Sudarshan

Lakshmi

• Goddess of light, beauty, good fortune and wealth • Dressed in pink or red • Seated on a red lotus • Appeared during the churning of the ocean • The third day of is to celebrate her appearance • Consort :

Shiva • One of the Gods of the Hindu Trinity • Destroyer of the universe, God of dance • Holds Mother in His hair • Has a on His forehead • Has the Naga around His neck • Holds Damru, a hand drum • His neck is from holding poison in His throat • Consort : Parvati • Vahan : , the bull • Astra : Trishul

Parvati • Goddess of (power) • Killed in the form of • Consort : Shiva

Ayyappan • Son of Shiva and Vishnu • Appeared to kill Mahishi, Mahishasura’ s sister • : • Astra : bow and arrow

Indra • King of Gods, ruler of heavens • God of thunder and rain • Astra : , the thunderbolt • Vahana : • Consort :

Vayu • Wind God, spiritual father of • Vahana : • Sun God • Vahana : rides a chariot drawn by seven horses

Hanuman • Devotee of Ram • Son of and Mata Anjana • Godfather - , God of wind • Fetched Sanjivani herb from Dronagiri mountain to save Lakshman’s life • Tore His chest open and showed everyone and in His heart.

Moral of story of Astavakra

See God in everyone. Don’t focus on the external and judge the person.

Prahlad

• Devotee of Vishnu • Son of • Hiranyakashipu had a boon that he would not be killed by man or beast, that he would not die during day or night, on this earth nor off it. • Refused to worship his dad and continued to worship Lord Vishnu • Hiranyakashipu tried to harm Prahlad • Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika could not hard Prahlad • Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to show his God. Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of , half and half man, and killed Hiranyakashipu.

Why do we? – Refer to Hindu Essentials, pages 66, 67 and 68