List of Hindu Deities

Hindu Deities

List of Hindu Deities

A brief list of Hindu Gods And Goddesses

Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Early Days, Leaving Home

Bharatvarsha - India has been graced since time immemorial by incarnations, rishis and sadhus. Whenever evil elements stifle Dharma - righteousness, God incarnates on earth to re-establish Dharma. Lord Ramchandra in the age of Treta and Lord Krishna, at the end of Dwapar, are the two most notable.

Five thousand years after Lord Krishna passed away, into the age of Kali - darkness, the ogre of evil defiantly arose out of its banishment, once again darkening the minds and hearts of the people, its grip suffocating eighteenth century India. Severing vital nerves and arteries, it deprived the land of life-giving moral and spiritual nourishment; hindering healthy growth of the eternal values of Dharma, Satya - truth, Ahimsa - non-violence and Brahmacharya - celibacy.

Thus He incarnated as Ghanshyam on 2nd April 1781 (Chaitra Sud 9, Samvat 1837), in the rustic village of Chhapaiya, in northern India, to a Sarvaria brahmin pundit named Hariprasad Pande. He was the second of three sons; Rampratap, the elder brother and Ichharam, the younger. His mother, Premvati was lovingly known as Bhaktimata, and father Hariprasad as Dharmadev.

When Ghanshyam was three months old, a sage astrologer named Markandeya, studied His zodiac signs. He then revealed to Dharmadev,

"Since He is born in the Kark Rashi (sign of Cancer in the zodiac), His name will be Hari. His dark complexion will also confer the name Krishna and Ghanshyam. He has the virtues of tapas (austerity), detachment, yoga, Dharma, leadership, truth and vivek (power of discrimination). Therefore people will also call Him Neelkanth.

"He will establish Dharma on earth and remove pain and misery from people. He will be famed all over the land. He will also induce people with samadhi (a state of spiritual trance). He will lead people to the path of God."

About this time, Dharmadev decided to test Ghanshyam's innate instincts. He placed a gold coin, a scripture, and a sword on the floor. On all fours, Ghanshyam toddled towards these objects; trying to lift the scripture, avoiding the other two. Dharmadev jubilantly lifted and hugged Him, deducing that He would surely attain scriptural learning.

Ghanshyam's first encounter of animal slaughter for food occurred during His stay in Chhapaiya.

In a town named Ballampaddhari near Chhapaiya, the state king had recently camped with his army. Two of the soldiers were Dharmadeva's relatives. Therefore Dharmadev decided to visit them with Rampratap and Ghanshyam. When they reached the encampment, they heard goats causing a commotion in one of the tents. Dharmadev peeped inside. Horrified at what he saw, he quickly turned back. But Ghanshyam, observing Dharmadev's ashen face, also walked up to the tent in curiosity. He saw the king supervising the slaughter of the goats for food.

Ghanshyam walked away in pain. He then induced all the elephants and horses of the army to break tether and stampede towards the tent. The king bolted out first, and heard a mysterious and authoritative voice, which commanded him to beg forgivance for the killing, from the Lord who was standing in the form of a little boy nearby. The king saw Ghanshyam with Dharmadev and Rampratap. He bowed at Ghanshyam's feet, begging for reprieve from the maddened elephants. Ghanshyam not only made him promise to renounce animal slaughter but to propagate Ahimsa (non-injury in mind, action and speech for all living creatures) in his kingdom as well. The excited elephants and horses calmed down instantly, returning to their tethers.

On another occasion, Ghanshyam revived a basketful of dead fish in a lake. He then instructed the surprised fisherman not to commit such sin by changing his means of livelihood.

Having lived in Chhapaiya for a few years, the family moved to nearby Ayodhya, when Ghanshyam was five, to escape harassment from evil people.

With a marked inclination for devotion and a remarkable disinterest towards material pursuits, Ghanshyam loved to visit mandirs every morning and evening. After darshan (sight) of the murtis (icons), He would listen to the narration of divine episodes from the Ramayana, for this ancient sacred city is revered as the birthplace of Lord Rama.

Ghanshyam's divine disposition often startled but pleased the family. Engrossed in katha (scriptural exegesis) once, He forgot to return home. Rampratap, His elder brother searched for Him in the city's mandirs. On seeing Ghanshyam in one, he asked Him to return home with him. The katha nearly over, Ghanshyam suggested that Rampratap, in the meantime, have darshan in the neighbouring mandir while He Himself sat through to the end of the katha. Arriving at the nearest mandir, Rampratap, to his astonishment, saw Ghanshyam there as well. He then dashed from one mandir to the next. He saw his younger brother in each one!

Other miracles included: walking on water across a lake, and defeating adult wrestlers in contests.

At the age of eight He commenced Sanskrit studies under Dharmadev after being invested with the yagnopavit rite. By the age of ten, the child prodigy had mastered the Vedic scriptures.

Around this period, He accompanied Dharmadev, who was to chair a scholarly debate in Benares - the renowned centre of knowledge (Jnan) in India. When a tie arose, Ghanshyam, with Dharmadev's permission, gave a brilliant exposition, convincing the scholars of the soundness of the Vishishtadvait philosophy (qualified non-dualism).

Leaving Home

Soon after returning from Benares, both parents passed away. Ghanshyam then left Ayodhya, for the Himalayas, to begin His life work of establishing Ekantik Dharma, on 29th June 1792 (Ashadh Sud 10th, Samvat 1849). He was only eleven years old.

His mendicant garb consisted of only a loin cloth. He carried an icon of Bal Mukund (the Lord) and His miniature diary containing the gist of the scriptures, the result of His studies with Dharmadev.

24 Incarnations of Lord Vishnu

24 Incarnations of Lord Vishnu

We all are aware of only 10 popular incarnations of Lord Vishnu but as per scriptures and puranas, Lord Vishnu incarnated 24 times in 24 different avatars which includes the popular 10 incarnations too. Here's have a glance at it:

1. Adi-Purush Avatar: 

This incarnation took place with a desire to commence creation. This incarnation was all powerful and full of sixteen kalaas. In this incarnation, Lord Brahma emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu in the state of deep meditation.

2. Sanat Kumar (Brahma Manas Putra):

This incarnation was in the form of Manas Putra means born by wish. Lord Brahma had four sons and they were known as manasputra who throughout their life maintained celibacy and engaged in tremendous penance. This incarnation was the inspiration source for Brahmins.

3. Lord Varaha Avatar:

Lord Vishnu took this incarnation as a Boar and rescued this earth which had submerged in the ocean and brought it out from the ocean. The whole creation started only after that.

4. Sage Narada Avatar:

Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Sage Narada showed the devotion is best means of getting free from bondages of Karma.

5. Sage Nara-Narayana Avatar:

Lord Vishnu in this incarnation of Sage Nara-Narayana took birth from the womb of a woman named Kala. It was the twin incarnation of Lord Vishnu on the earth working for the preservation of righteousness. The human soul Nara is the eternal companion of the Divine Narayana. Nara-Narayana performed a tremendous penance by going to Badri and Kedar and showed the importance of Penance (Labour) to the world that nothing can be achieved without it.

6. Sage Kapila Avatar:

Main Purpose of Lord Vishnu's incarnation as sage Kapila was to compile all the divine knowledge that had been destroyed and to teach this world Sankhya Shastra (rationalism) which helped the Brahmins, who had forgotten their duties to rectify their mistakes. His mother Devahuti was his first disciple.

7.  Lord Dattatraya Avatar:

 

Lord Vishnu's in his seventh incarnation as Dattatraya born to Mata Ansuya and father Sage Atri. He was the one who had given Spiritual Knowledge to King Alarka and Prahlada. He had twenty four teachers. He believed that in the world, a man can learn from each and every thing, so he accepted twenty-four objects like water, bird, air, an unmarried girl, and even a prostitute etc.

8. Lord Yagya Deva Avatar:

 

Lord Vishnu in eighth incarnation as Yagya was born to Prajapati and Akuti. Yagya' is a ritual of sacrifice and is performed to please the gods. It involves pouring oblations into the divine fire. In this avatar, Lord Vishnu’s main thrust of teaching was based on the values of helpfulness and protecting each other during the time of crisis.

9. Rishabh Avatar:

 

Lord Vishnu in his ninth incarnation as  Rishabh Dev was born to king Nabhi and Marudevi. His mother Marudevi was the daughter of Indra. He attained that state of Paramhansa which is an uphill task. He was given the title of 'Jin' which means 'a knower'. His followers are known as Jains. He was the first of the 24 Tirthankaras.

10. Prithu Avatar:

 

Lord Vishnu as 'Prithu' took this incarnation as per the wishes of the sages. The earth had concealed all the vegetation's within her and as a result the whole land had become barren. To protect the humanity, Lord Vishnu took incarnation as Prithu by milking the cow (earth). This is considered as supreme incarnation, because after that the earth has remained full of vegetations.

11. Lord Matsya Avatar:

 

All the oceans had unified into a single ocean in the 'Manvantara' of 'Chakshusha'. Lord Vishnu in his 11th incarnation as a Matsya (Fish) rescued the earth from 'Maya' the demon. He gave discourses to Satyavrat along with the seven sages, while they were sitting on the boat. He also showed them his illusionary powers.

12. Lord Kurma Avatar:

In twelfth incarnation as a tortoise, Lord Vishnu held the mountain 'Mandarachala' on his back, during the time when the deities and the demons where churning the ocean. He stopped the mountain from going to the nether world.

13. Lord Dhanvanatari Avatar:

Lord Vishnu took his thirteenth incarnation as Dhanvantari. He manifested from the ocean holding a vessel filled with ambrosia. He was the profounder of medicinal science.

14. Mohini Avatar:

Lord Vishnu in his fourteenth incarnation as Mohini enchanted the demons by his beautiful appearance of a woman, and took away the pot filled up with ambrosia from them and gave it to the deities. The deities were thus protected from the demon.

15. Lord Narsimha Avatar:

Lord Vishnu took his fifteenth incarnation as Narisimha, having upper body in the form of lion and the lower resembling of a man. In this incarnation he protected Prahlada from his father Hiranyakashipu, the demon. He killed Hiranyakashipu by tearing his body apart by his nails. Lord Vishnu had to attain this form because Lord Brahma had blessed Hiranyakashipu, that a Human being could not kill him.

16. Lord Hayagreeva Avatar:

The main purpose of this incarnation of Lord Vishnu was to restore and protect the Vedas, which were stolen by Madhu and Kaitaba. In this incarnation of Hayagreeva, his face resembled that of a horse and the rest of his body resembled that of Sri Narayan with all of his four hands. He killed the demon and protected the Vedas.

17. Lord Vamana Avatar:

Lord Vishnu took his seventeenth incarnation as Vamana (a Dwarf), when Bali the king of demons had captured the entire three worlds. To help the deities regain control over the heaven, Lord Vishnu disguised as a dwarf went to Bali when he was busy performing a 'Yagya' and demanded earth measured by his three steps. When 'Bali' agreed, he transformed his form from a small dwarf to a giant. Consequently he covered all three worlds with his two steps. Ultimately he regained heaven for the deities.

18. Lord Parshurama Avatar:

When the Kshatriya kings became ruthless and started exploiting their subjects. Lord Vishnu took his eighteenth incarnation as Parshurama' and annihilated the Kshatriyas kings for seventeen times and consequently donated the earth to the Brahmins.

19. Sage Vyasa Avatar:

Lord Vishnu took his nineteenth incarnation as Sage Vyasa by taking birth from the womb of 'Satyavati'. His father was sage Parashar. He made the division of Veda, and made extension of its branches. He also wrote eighteen Mahapuranas and the Mahabharata.

20. Lord Rama Avatar:

Lord Rama is considered to be the twentieth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the era of Satyug. In this incarnation he constructed a bridge over the ocean with the help of the Vanars and after crossing over to Lanka killed many demons like Ravana, Kumbhakarna. He taught the value of morality.

21. Lord Balarama Avatar:

Balrama is considered to be the twenty-first incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was also the elder brother of Lord Vishnu’s Krishna Avatar. In this incarnation, he killed Pralambasura, the demon and many more demons.

22. Lord Krishna Avatar:

Lord Krishna born in Mathura was the twenty-second incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He fought against the exploitation right from his childhood and killed many demons like Kalayavan, Kansa, Jarasandh etc. He gave the divine knowledge in the form of Bhagvad Gita to Arjun during the battle of Kurukshetra.

23. Lord Buddha Avatar:

The twenty-third incarnation of Lord Vishnu was as Lord Buddha. In the Kaliyuga, the demons were completely subjugated by the deities. Shukracharya the teacher of the demons instigated the demons to perform Yagya so that they could regain power and authority. Fearing this, deities prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu took incarnation as Buddha and dissuaded the demons from performing Yagya as it involves violence. The demons stopped performing yagyas.

24. Lord Kalki Avatar:

At the end of Kaliyuga, when the sins would be all pervading and the kings would themselves becomes thieves then Lord Vishnu would take his twenty-fourth incarnation as Kalki by taking birth in the village of 'Shambhal' in a Brahmin family of Vishnuyash. By killing and destroying the sinners, he would re-establish the superiority of Virtuosity and religiousness.               

Sage Narada Muni – The Father of Devotional Service

One of the most prominent sages in the Vedic literature, he travels throughout the universe awakening love for the Lord.

Sage NARADA MUNI is exalted in Vedic texts as one of the twelve mahajanas, or great authorities on eternal truth. Details of his life and teachings are recounted in the Narada Purana, the Padma Purana, and throughout Srimad-Bhagavatam. So advanced is his level of spirituality that in these texts he is even sometimes called "Bhagavan," a term usually reserved for the Supreme Lord, and in the Bhagavad-gita (10.26) Lord Krishna Himself says, "Of the sages among the demigods, I am Sage Narada."

As a preeminent representative of God, Sage Narada Muni is often considered the original spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada states in his commentary to the Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.5.22), "The immediate spiritual master is the representative of Narada Muni; there is no difference between the instructions of Narada Muni and those of the present spiritual master." Prabhupada further refers to Narada as "the father of devotional service." (6.16.26)

  Hindu devotees know Sage Narada Muni as "the eternal spiritual spaceman," because he is described throughout the Vedic literature as a transcendental mystic who received from Lord Krishna the ability to traverse the cosmos, delivering the Narayn Narayn maha-mantra to sincere souls and instigating advancement on the spiritual path.

"Instigating" may seem the wrong word to describe a celestial sage, but Sage Narada is famous for pushing people to the limit, forcing them to make decisions that enable them to advance in Lord Krishna consciousness.

Sage Narada also serves as an instigator in Lord Krsna's pastimes. One example occurs around the time of Krsna's birth. When the demon Kamsa hears a voice from the sky, telling him that Devaki's eighth child (Krsna) will kill him, it is Narada who instills Kamsa with fear that any of Devaki's children might be his enemy. Narada thereby persuades Kamsa to kill all of Devaki's children. Narada does this to accelerate Krsna's appearance and enhance Kamsa's reputation as a demon, causing Krsna to eventually kill him and establish righteousness in society. (This was all done under the Lord's mysterious internal potency. Later, Lord Krsna brought the children back to life.)

Another example of Narada's instigative powers is seen in his exchange with Princess Rukmini, to whom he elaborately describes Krsna's unsurpassed beauty and superlative qualities. Upon hearing Narada's description, Rukmini becomes infatuated with Krsna, giving her heart to Him in total surrender. She is thus unable to marry Sisupala, to whom she was promised. Narada's "meddling" leads to the unfolding of an important episode in Krsna's manifest pastimes: Sisupala is humbled, and Krsna kidnaps and marries Rukmini. In the fulfillment of her heart's desire, Rukmini serves Krsna as His loving wife in the spiritual realm.

In yet another important episode, Narada chides Vyasadeva for not getting at the essence of Vedic knowledge in compiling the Vedic literature. Narada tells Vyasadeva that the remedy is to describe in his writing the name, form, fame, and pastimes of Krsna. Vyasadeva does so, the result being the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the cream of ancient India's scriptural legacy.

The Three Lives of Narada

Just who is Narada Muni, and what did he go through to become one of the most respected saints in the Vedic tradition?

The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes how Narada attained the audience of God and thus became renowned in the Vedic tradition. The story begins with his previous two lifetimes. During the first, his name was Upabarhana, a Gandharva, or singer from a heavenly planet. Upabarhana's beautiful voice and handsome features made him attractive to women, and he became a playboy, losing his spiritual perspective and falling into materialistic life.

Once, Upabarhana attended a festival put on by the prajapatis, residents of higher planets responsible for populating the universe. While performing sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Upabarhana glorified the demigods. The devotees present took this action as a great offense, because sankirtana is meant for glorifying the Supreme Lord only. The devotees then cursed Upabarhana to be born in his next life as a sudra (laborer) devoid of beauty. Fortunately, whether a saint blesses or curses, the result is the same: the recipient of the saint's attention advances in God consciousness.

That's what eventually happened to Upabarhana (Narada). When he was born as the son of a maidservant, he was inclined to devotional service and managed to serve the pure devotees of the Lord.

Narada's pious mother had the good fortune to serve traveling mendicants, so five-year-old Narada had the same opportunity. Moreover, he was able to take the remnants of their meals (prasadam) and hear them speak on transcendental subjects. Primarily these two activities, says the Bhagavatam, enabled Narada to move forward in his spiritual life.

The traveling mendicants could not find any fault in the little boy. He seemed to be uninterested in playing like other boys; he was not naughty in any way, nor did he speak more than necessary. For all of these reasons, the sages showered their blessings upon him. Narada underwent a vital transformation and became intoxicated with God consciousness. He meditated day and night, then left home after his mother's death to become a wandering mendicant himself.

As Narada traveled, he learned to dedicate every moment to the pursuit of spiritual realization. One day, during Narada's meditation the Lord appeared within his heart he was able to see the form of God. Tears of love flowed from his eyes as he gazed upon the Lord's beautiful form.

And then the Lord disappeared from his vision.

The Bhagavatam describes Narada's grief-stricken condition and tells us that as much as he tried, he could not regain his vision of God. His realization: God is not at our beck and call. He appears before us by His sweet will, and if He desires to conceal Himself, no amount of meditation or prayer will force Him to show us His beautiful form. As Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada's spiritual master, has said, "Don't ask to see God, but rather act in such a way that God will want to see you."

Narada then heard the Lord's voice, telling him that it is not possible to see God if one is not completely pure. The Lord told Narada another thing: He had shown Narada His form out of kindness and to increase his longing for Him.

The Lord's enticement worked. Narada now meditated on the form of the Lord more intensely than ever before. His hearing and chanting of the glories of Krsna engulfed his soul, and he became oblivious of the world around him. When the moment of death came, he was ready.

"Being freed from all material taints," Narada told his disciple Vyasadeva, "I met with death just as lightning and illumination occur simultaneously."

The transition was seamless, and when the material world was again created (for the material cosmos manifests in cycles), Narada was born from the creator-god Brahma's heart, as his most dear son. In this form, Narada had indeed reached perfection. The Bhagavatam tells us that his birth was not forced, as are most births in the material realm, but was completely voluntary: he was born merely to assist the Lord in His mission. Moreover, says the Bhagavatam, his body was just like the Lord's transcendental and immortal, with no difference between his outer body and the inner animating spark, the soul.

Teacher of Pure Devotion

Thus, Narada is considered a perfect devotee. His teachings, found throughout the Srimad-Bhagavatam as well as in his Narada-bhakti-sutras and Narada Pancaratra, are exemplary for souls on the path of pure devotion. They embody the essence of selfless devotional service.

Lord Krsna, feeling grateful for Narada's dedication and love, once asked him, "What can I do to serve you?"

"I do not care where I may be," Narada replied, "but I pray that I may be allowed to constantly remember Your lotus feet."

This single-minded determination marks Narada as the perfect guru, and many great sages have taken shelter at his feet. He is the spiritual master of Valmiki (the author of the Ramayana), and of Prahlada Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja, the Pracetas, Citraketu, and many other prominent personalities in Vedic history. Most important, he is the spiritual master of Vyasadeva, often considered the model guru. For this reason, Narada Muni is the guru of gurus.

Transcendental Traveling Musician

Narada is a perfect brahmacari, a celibate whose sole purpose is pure devotional service to the Lord. The Linga Purana says that Krsna awarded Narada a vina, a stringed musical instrument, which Narada plays as he traverses the universe. Because the vina was a direct gift from the Lord, it is considered non-different from Him. Narada, then, carries the Lord with him as he travels the material cosmos, delivering the holy name to the devotees and helping those in need with his spiritual blessings.

Because Narada is a musician who travels throughout the universe enlightening people with Krsna consciousness, it was fitting that during Lord Krsna's appearance five hundred years ago as Lord Caitanya, Narada appeared as Srivasa Thakura. It was in his courtyard, Srivasa Angan, that the sankirtana movement, full of song and dance, began on earth. In this way, both as Narada and as Srivasa, he uses music particularly the chanting of the maha-mantra: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare to spread the glories of Krsna.

Narada becomes a Gopi

ACCORDING TO the Narada Purana (2.80.9-32), the Skanda Purana (2.6.2-3), and the Padma Purana (4.75.25-46), when Narada first heard that Lord Krsna had appeared in Vrndavana, he wandered Vrndavana's twelve forests looking for any signs of his beloved Lord. With great intensity he ran through the secret bowers in which Krsna would meet with the gopis, His cowherd girlfriends. But he could not find any evidence of Krsna's appearance.

Vrnda Devi, a prominent gopi who helps arrange Krsna's rendezvous with His girlfriends, appeared before Narada and told him that to see such esoteric pastimes he would have to adopt the mood and form of a loving gopi himself. This was possible, she said, only for the most advanced practitioners of spiritual life. Vrnda Devi told Narada that he was one such soul and could affect such a change by bathing in a nearby pond known as Kusum Sarovara.

Narada did as Vrnda Devi had instructed and emerged from the waters as a gopi named Naradi. He was thus able to see Vrndavana with new eyes and enter into Krsna's pastimes with the cowherd girls.

Later, Vrnda Devi instructed him to bathe in another pond, which came to be known as Narada-kunda, and he resumed his male form.

The Narada Purana says that the lesson to be learned from this episode is that even a sage as great as Narada must meditate on Vrndavana in the intense mood of a gopi to attain the highest level of prema, love for Krsna. Such meditation is possible for only the most accomplished devotees.