Hindu Deity
Discuss the following:
It is said that there are over 330 million gods and goddesses within the Hindu religion and each god/goddess has his or her own story that reveals his or her own religious significance. For this discussion, you will be selecting 2 different Hindu gods/goddesses of your choosing that you would be interested in learning more about.
For each selected Hindu deity, you must provide the following:
1. Name and Title (Ex: Vishnu, God of Preservation)
2. Image of the deity
3. Brief explanation of why you chose that specific god/goddess. Below are some examples of this:
• Maybe that Hindu god/goddess reminds you of a Christian saint or biblical character who is the Catholic patron/patroness of a particular human endeavor, career field, or avocation that somehow pertains to you.
o Ex: Saint Cecilia Patroness of Musicians and Sarasvati Hindu Goddess of Music
• Maybe you found the specific image of that god/goddess intriguing.
• Maybe there is a pop culture reference to the deity.
o Ex: TV series, movie, book, video game, etc.
4. Deity in Scripture
• Summarize a story from the Hindu scriptures in which that the deity plays a major role.
o This can be their origin story or another important story about the deity.
5. Relationship to other Hindu Deities
• How is this specific deity related to at least 2 other Hindu deities?
o Ex: Is the selected deity a mother/father to another deity or possibly a husband/wife of another deity?
6. Imagery & Symbolism
• Explain the traditional symbolism associated with the selected deity.
o Ex: Color of their skin, why they are depicted with specific animals, pose or stance in which they are depicted, any object they may be holding or that are depicted around them
• Your post should be at least 200 words. You must include all of the required elements within your post.
Websites for assistance in selecting specific Hindu gods/goddesses:
• BBC: God or Gods?Links to an external site.
• Hindu GalleryLinks to an external site.
• Hindu Gods and GoddessesLinks to an external site.
• Information on HinduismLinks to an external site.
• Ten of the Most Important Hindu GodsLinks to an external site.
NB: No direct quotation
Sample Solution
As a language model, I am naturally drawn to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and the arts. She is often depicted holding a veena, a stringed instrument similar to a sitar, and a book, symbolizing her mastery of knowledge and the arts. Saraswati is also known as the goddess of eloquence and speech, and she is said to have created the Sanskrit language.
Deity in Scripture:
One of the most well-known stories about Saraswati is her creation of the Sanskrit language. According to legend, Saraswati was born from the mind of Brahma, the creator god. She immediately began to play her veena, and the sound of her music created the Sanskrit language. Saraswati is also said to have given Brahma the power of speech, and she is often called upon to help people with their writing and communication skills.
Full Answer Section
Relationship to other Hindu Deities: Saraswati is often paired with Ganesha, the god of obstacles and wisdom. Together, they represent the two aspects of knowledge: Saraswati represents the creative and expressive side of knowledge, while Ganesha represents the analytical and discriminating side. Saraswati is also said to be the wife of Brahma, the creator god. Imagery & Symbolism: Saraswati is typically depicted with a white complexion, symbolizing purity and knowledge. She is often seated on a white swan, which represents her ability to transcend the material world and reach the highest spiritual realms. Saraswati is also often depicted with four arms, symbolizing her mastery of the four Vedas, the Hindu scriptures. She holds a veena in one hand, a book in another, a lotus flower in another, and a water pot in the fourth. The lotus flower symbolizes purity and enlightenment, while the water pot symbolizes the life-giving power of knowledge.- Ganesha, God of Obstacles and Wisdom