Essential Literature
Concepts
Adi Parashakti
The supreme goddess who underlies all other goddesses.
Nasadiya Sukta
Hymn of non-eternity, the origin of the universe.
Hiranyagarbha
About the golden womb of the universe.
Dyavaprthivi
The duality of heaven and earth, archetypal parents in Rigveda.
Namarupa Vyakarna
The unfolding of the primal state into the manifest world.
Maya
Where things appear to be present but are not what they seem.
Moksha
Freedom from ignorance: self-realization, self-actualization.
Kama
Sensory enjoyment, emotional attraction and aesthetic pleasure.
Panchikarana
Vedanic theory of how matter came into existence.
Dharma
The principles about cosmic law and order.
Atman
the true or eternal Self or the essence within each individual.
Karma
Action, work, or deed and its effect or consequences.
Samsara
Cyclic change or, less formally, running around in circles.
Antahkarana
Totality of the mind, including the thinking faculty.
Prajna
The highest and purest form of wisdom and intelligence.
Deities
Surya
Surya is the Sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism.
Chandra
The Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night.
Mangala
He is the deity of anger, aggression, as well as war.
Budha
He rules over the nakshatras of Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, and Revati.
Brihaspati
Associated with fire and a god who counsels the devas and devis.
Shukra
Shukra is one of the sons of Bhrigu, one of the Saptarshis.
Shani
He is the god of karma, justice, and retribution.
Rahu
Referred as the north lunar node, along with Ketu.
Ketu
Ketu is considered to be one of the two halves.
Indra
He is celebrated for his powers based on his status as a god of order.
Varuna
Associated with the sky, oceans, and water.
Vayu
He is born from the breath of the Supreme Being.
Agni
Agni is the Hindu god of fire.
Soma
Soma is a ritual drink and is associated with god.
Ashvins
Associated with medicine, health, dawn, and the sciences.
Shiva
Shiva is known as The Destroyer within the Trimurti.
Vishnu
The Preserver within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity.
Brahma
He is associated with creation, knowledge, and the Vedas.
Parvati
The goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, and love.
Lakshmi
The goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, and fertility.
Saraswati
The goddess of knowledge, music, wealth, art, speech, and wisdom.
Rama
He is the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu.
Krishna
He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love.
Sita
Also known as Siya, Janaki, Maithili, Vaidehi, and Bhumija, is a Hindu goddess.
Radha
She is the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion and devotion.
Kali
The first of the ten Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition.
Tara
Represents the virtues of success in work and achievements.
Lalita
She embodies the essence of the supreme goddess Mahadevi.
Bhuvaneshvari
She is the fourth amongst the ten Mahavidya goddesses in Shaktism.
Bhairavi
Bhairavi is a Hindu goddess and is the consort of Dakṣiṇāmūrti.
Chhinnamasta
The self-decapitated nude goddess.
Dhumavati
Dhumavati represents the fearsome aspect of Mahadevi.
Bagalamukhi
The female form of a personification of the mahavidyas.
Kamalatmika
The Tantric characterisation of the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi.
Gayatri
She is also known as Savitri and holds the title of Vedamata.
Pushan
Responsible for marriages, journeys, roads, and cattle feeding.
Bagha
Bhaga is the Vedic god of wealth and prosperity.
Bagha
Bhaga is the Vedic god of wealth and prosperity.
Aryaman
Bhaga is the Vedic god of wealth and prosperity.
Garuda
This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths.
Rati
Goddess of love, carnal desire, lust, passion, and sexual pleasure.
Kamadeva
The Hindu god of erotic love, desire, pleasure and beauty.
Hanuman
Celebrated for his unwavering devotion to Rama.
Ayyapan
He is the son of Vishnu in the form of Mohini and Shiva.
Mohini
She is portrayed as a femme fatale, an enchantress.
Ganesha
The Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect.
Mariamman
Her worship mainly focuses on bringing rain and curing diseases.
Svaha
The consort of Agni and the daughter of either Daksha or Brihaspati.
Devasena
The goddess of aspiration and the consort of the war god Kartikeya.
Kartikeya
The son of Shiva and Parvati and the brother of Ganesha.