26 Jul 2021 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
You are likely come to know some of the mantras or depiction about popular Hindu gods and goddesses basically 10 Deities You Should Know as a Yoga Teacher if you are a yoga teacher, or a yoga student. So you might be wondering about why it is important to know who or what they are.
Including Myths and Mantras into your practice whether teaching or simply deepening as a student ,can help bring you deeper clarity, heart-opening, support, and insight of your journey .
Yoga is the ancient spiritual science of human beings and an awakening system that draws from a wide range of inspirations including religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and also Western science and psychology.
Divinity of Hindu Gods is vast. There are said to be 33 million Hindu deities each related with a variety of stories, parables, iconographies, and mantras that teach about the values and aims of human life and path to awakening.
In Nepal and India, you can observe worshippers offering different gods with offerings which includes mantra, incense, prayer, flowers, and other precious items.
Deities or gods are the supernatural being considered divine or sacred. Simply, they can considered as archetypes that depicts patterns of thoughts and habits that are individually present in Universal Psyches.
In short, reciting mantras and practicing deity meditation in your yoga practice can not only help you to know about ancient traditions, cultures and values but also help you to realize your inner self and take you to deeper journey towards liberation.
“There can be as many gods as there are devotees to suit the mood, feelings, emotions, and emotional and social background of the devotees.”
~ Shree Rama Krishna
Three supreme Gods in Hinduism: Brahma, Bishnu, Shiva
1) Brahma
Brahma is considered as the creator of the world. He is also referred to as Swoyambhu which means self born and is associated with creation, knowledge, and Vedas. Brahma is the first of the Trimurti –the supreme trinity of gods along with Vishnu and Shiva.
Symbolism-Brahma symbolizes the mind and intelligence as he is the source of knowledge .
Iconography – Artistic renditions of Brahma show him with four heads, which symbolize the four Vedas, or holy books, and the four castes.
Also, the four hands symbolize the aspects of the human personality –mind, intellect, ego, and consciousness.
Divine consort – His divine consort is Saraswati and she represents his creative energy (shakti) as well as knowledge he possesses.
Mantra- We invoke Brahma to greet our great creator and great teacher.
2) Vishnu
The glorious Vishnu is the sole refuge of mortals. He is infinite light, love, and wisdom. He resides in the hearts of all beings. His grace is invincible. He is the highest truth and infinite bliss. He is the protector, preserver, and savior.
~ Swami Sivananda
Vishnu is the protector and preserver and sustainer of the Universe. Some of his avatars are Narayana, Vasudeva, Narasimha, Krishna.
Symbolizes the moral justice values and order to restore the balance of evil. He is powerful, wise, and encourages kindness.
Iconography-Vishnu is portrayed as having blue skin and four arms, and as dressed with extensive jewelry, flower garlands, large crown. In the four hands, Vishnu carries a conch shell, a ‘chakra’ – war disc symbolizing that which restores dharma and cosmic equilibrium with war if necessary. A club-like mace- symbolizes authority and power of knowledge and a lotus flower symbolizes purity and superiority.
Divine consort –Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and happiness.
Mantra – we invoke Vishnu and his avatars for removing negative energy and preservation and sustainability of life. Also, helps with patience, liberation, compassion, and prosperity.
3) Shiva
“The greatest power in existence is Shiva. Shiva means nothingness. Nothingness, the very basis of Everything.” – Sadhguru
Shiva is known as ‘the destroyer’ within the Trimurti. Shiva is the supreme god who creates, protects, and transforms the Universe.
Symbolism –Shiva is known as the protector and destroyer .he is also known as Adiguru. He is the inner self of all beings.
Iconography –The iconographical attributes of Shiva are the serpent around his neck which represent ego which has no place in his body, the adorning crescent moon to represent infinite cycles, holy river Ganges flowing from his mattered hair, the third eye on his forehead, the Trishula or Trident as his weapon, and the damaru drum. He is worshipped in the form of lingam .
Family –Shiva is the divine consort of Shakti, father of Ganesha, and Skanda-God of war.
Mantra – We invoke Shiva to help us destroy ego, greed, lust, anger, illusion, and ignorance. It creates hardship and challenges in the way of peace and enlightenment. Also to align with the heart of Yoga as Shiva is the first yoga guru (Adi Guru ).
Trinity of Supreme Goddesses of Hinduism: Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kali
These trine goddesses are the manifestations of Shakti. The three goddesses are a concept in Hinduism joining a triad of eminent goddesses either as feminine version or as a consorts of masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination.
4) Saraswati
Knowledge destroys the darkness of ignorance . ~Rig Veda
Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning.
Divine consort of Brahman
Iconography – The goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful women dressed in a pure white saree, often seated in a white lotus which symbolizes light, knowledge, and truth .
Saraswati is depicted with four hands, which symbolically mirror her husband Brahma’s four heads, representing mind, intellect, alertness, and ego. The four hands hold items with symbolic meaning – a pustaka (book or script) which symbolizes the Vedas representing the Universal, divine, eternal, and true knowledge as well as a form of learning. A malaa (rosary, garland) represents the power of meditation, inner reflection, and spirituality. A water pot represents the purifying power to separate right from wrong, the clean from the unclean, and a musical instrument called veena, represents all creative arts and sciences, and her holding it symbolizes expressing knowledge that creates harmony.
Mantra –We invoke Saraswati to help us with our studies, communication, expression, and creative flow as well as to move towards the path of enlightenment.
5) Lakshmi
Knowledge increases his thinking capabilites and helps him in getting new and innovative ideas .After implementing those ideas successfully he earns wealth ~Rig Veda
Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth , fertility ,auspiciousness , light , material ,and spiritual fulfillment .
Symbolism – Lakshmi reminds us to be grateful for the material , spiritual and emotional abundance that we have already have within ourselves-rather than what we lack .
Family – She is divine consort to Vishnu.
Iconography –Lakshmi typically wears a red saree embroidered with golden threads, which symbolizes fortune and wealth.
She is either sitting or standing in the lotus and typically carrying lotus in one or two hands. The lotus symbolizes knowledge, self-realization, and liberation in the Vedic context. Also represents reality, consciousness and karma in tantra context.
Also, Lakshmi is very often shown with one or two elephants and occasionally with an owl. Elephant symbolizes work, strength, and activity for abundant prosperity whereas owl signifies the importance of economic activity in the maintenance of life, the ability to move, work, and prevail in confusing darkness.
Mantra –We invoke Lakshmi to help support our success and prosperity and also help us to appreciate gratitude towards the abundance we already have.
6) Kali
When the power comes from within us and we claim it as our own, then we no longer have to affirm ourselves by dominating others. The irony is that we are afraid of our power.
Kali, or Parbati is the Goddess of power, war, beauty, and love.
Symbolizes – Kali symbolizes the death of the ego and reminds worshippers that the human body is a temporary condition only.
Divine Consort – Kali is the divine consort of Shiva.
Iconography –Kali is often depicted as a terrifying force ,with blood dropping from her mouth, a protruding tongue, a garland of humans heads, a skirt made up of bones and a sword that cuts away fear, greed, and ignorance –the delusions that keep us from finding peace and joy within our lives.
Mantra –We invoke kali for protection, and help to cut away that no longer serves us.
7) Durga
“O Queen of all, you who exist in the form of all, and possess every might, save us from error, O Devi, salutation to you Devi Durga“
~Devi Mahatmyan
Durga is known as warrior Goddess also Divine Mother associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars.
Symbolizes –Her legend centers around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten, prosperity and Dharma – the power of good over evils. Durga is believed to unleash her divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed and entails destruction to empower creation.
Iconography –Durga is depicted riding a tiger, and with each of her eight arms holding a myriad of weapons to destroy and create. She is imagined to be terrifying and destructive when she has to be, but benevolent and nurturing when she needs to be.
Family –Divine consort of Shiva .
Mantra –We invoke Durga for protection, wisdom, strength, and blessings to help us rise as a leader.
8) Ganesha
“Man learns through experience, and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences. He will encounter many difficulties and obstacles. They are the very experiences he needs to encourage and complete the cleansing process.”
Ganesha is most worshipped elephant headed God. He is known as the god of good fortune who provides prosperity, fortune, and success.
Symbolism – Ganesha represents wisdom and good fortune being a remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and science. Ganesha has a permanent abode in every being at the Muladhara (first chakra). Ganesha holds, supports, and guides all other chakras, thereby “governing the forces that propel the wheel of life “.
Family – Son of Shiva and Parvati
Iconography –Ganesha is represented as having an elephant’s head. He may be portrayed standing, dancing, heroically taking action against demons, playing with his family as a boy, or engaging in a range of contemporary situations. Also, Ganesha is depicted riding in a mouse or shrewd.
Mantra –We invoke Ganesha at the beginning of anything – a practice, a day, a new journey, a new business, for the new beginning and to remove any obstacle in the life.
9) Hanuman
Whenever I am stuck, when I need to go there,’ I sing the Chalisa and that connects me to Maharaj ji, to human, to that powerful presence that’s deeper than any of that stuff. And, by touching that, I’m able to overcome whatever I’m stuck in at least for 10 minutes.
~ Krishna Das
God of wisdom, strength, courage, Devotion and self discipline. He is the great warrior monkey God, and the original of Bhakti Yoga.
Symbolism – Hanuman symbolizes the human excellences of inner – self control, faith, and service to a cause, hidden behind the first impressions of being who looks like a Ape man as well as the he is the symbol of devotion, strength, and preservation like us. Hanuman often forgets his divinity, and reminds himself by chanting ram`s name over and over again to help him remember and bring him back to the path .
Family – He is the faithful and devoted servant to Ram. An avatar or incarnation of lord Vishnu.
Iconography – Hanuman is often depicted as bowing or kneeling with devotion next to Sita and Ram.
Mantra – We invoke Hanuman to help with physical strength, devotion, power, and stamina.
10) Krishna
The key to Happiness is the reduction of desires ~ Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna is known as the lord of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love and the Lord of Yoga or Yogis.
Symbolism – Krishna is the essence and symbol of the divine love. Krishna is the beloved main hero of the Bhagavad Gita. He is creator of wisdom and ignorance of light and darkness, of time and space, a forgiver, and a punisher, a friend, teacher, and leader.
Family –Avatar of Vishnu, also popularly known as Govinda or Gopal.
Iconography – His iconography typically depicts him with blue skin like Vishnu which symbolizes the immeasurable and all pervading reality such as sky and ocean appear to mortal eye as color blue. He is often depicted wearing a peacock-feather crown, and playing the basuri (flute). He is sometimes accompanied by cow or a calf, which symbolize the divine herdsman Govinda.
Mantra –We invoke Krishna for purification, solace, and bliss. It is said that Krishna is the savior of humanity and remover of all sufferings.