Hindu religion
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:
Name and Title (Ex: Vishnu, God of Preservation)
Image of the deity
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
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
Ex: TV series, movie, book, video game, etc.
Deity in Scripture
Summarize a story from the Hindu scriptures in which that the deity plays a major role.
This can be their origin story or another important story about the deity.
Relationship to other Hindu Deities
How is this specific deity related to at least 2 other Hindu deities?
Ex: Is the selected deity a mother/father to another deity or possibly a husband/wife of another deity?
Imagery & Symbolism
Explain the traditional symbolism associated with the selected deity
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
Refer to the following 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.
Please Note: You are not limited to using these websites as additional websites and/or the Van Voorst text may be beneficial for you to consider consulting.
Sample Solution
Shiva Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. He is the god of destruction, but he is also the god of transformation and regeneration. Shiva is often depicted as a naked ascetic with a third eye in the middle of his forehead. He is also associated with the lingam, a phallic symbol that represents his creative power.Full Answer Section
Shiva's story is one of the most complex and fascinating in Hinduism. He is said to have been born to the god Vishnu and the goddess Lakshmi. He was raised by the sage Kashyapa and his wife, Diti. Shiva is married to the goddess Parvati, and they have two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya. Shiva is a complex and multifaceted god. He is both destroyer and creator, both ascetic and householder. He is a god of both death and rebirth. Shiva's story is a reminder that even in the midst of destruction, there is always the possibility of transformation and regeneration. Kali Kali is another important goddess in Hinduism. She is the goddess of death, destruction, and power. Kali is often depicted as a black or dark-skinned woman with a fearsome appearance. She has four arms, and she is often holding a sword, a trident, a severed head, and a begging bowl. Kali's story is also complex and fascinating. She is said to have been born from the third eye of the god Shiva. She is also said to be the consort of the demon-god Raktabija. Kali is a powerful and terrifying goddess, but she is also a protector of the innocent. She is said to destroy evil and protect the righteous. Kali's story is a reminder that even in the midst of death and destruction, there is always the possibility of rebirth and renewal. She is a goddess of both death and life, both destruction and creation. I am interested in learning more about Shiva and Kali because they are both complex and fascinating gods/goddesses with rich stories. I am also interested in learning more about their role in Hinduism and how they are worshipped by Hindus. I believe that their stories can teach us a lot about the nature of life, death, and rebirth. In addition to Shiva and Kali, there are many other gods and goddesses in Hinduism that I would be interested in learning more about. Some of the other gods/goddesses that I am interested in include:- Vishnu
- Lakshmi
- Ganesha
- Kartikeya
- Saraswati
- Durga
- Lakshmi
- Rama
- Krishna