Deities

By Sean
Nussdorfer and
Mario Aparicio

Hindu triumvirate
There are three gods that make up the Hindu triumvirate, these gods all have a role
in the destruction and rebirth of the world after each age. Brahma is the creator of
the universe and its creatures, Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, and Shiva
destroys the universe to be able to create it again. This is a cycle that lasts forever,
always with the same result which is birth, death, and rebirth.

Brahma
Brahma is the first and one of the three gods of Triumvirate who
are responsible for the destruction, creation, and upkeep of the
world.
Brahmas job was to create the whole world and its many creatures.
He has four arms and heads, and is usually with a beard.
In later Puranas (Hindu epics), Brahma is no longer worshipped
and other gods are assigned his myths, even if he always
maintains his status as the Creator god.
He created women, the source of evil amongst men.
In the myths told in the Mahabharata, the gods feared that men
could become so powerful that they might challenge their
reign, therefore, they asked Brahma how best to prevent this.
His response was to create wanton women who 'lusting for
sensual pleasures, began to stir men up.

Shiva
Shiva is a blue man with a third eye to represent wisdom,
insight, and his power.
He also has a cobra necklace, the vibhuti, and the trident.
He is often depicted sitting on tiger skin or wearing it
representing the mind.
He is known as the destroyer as his job is to destroy the
world for its recreation.
Shiva is also known as the Lord of Dance. His most
important dance is the Tandava he uses to destroy the
world at the end of an age.

Video of Tandava

Vishnu
Vishnu is depicted with and a blue body and 4 arms holding
several unique objects.
All four arms hold a conch, a lotus flower, the chakra, and
the mace. Each object represent something different.
Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe.
His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and
restore the balance of good and evil. So far, he has been
incarnated nine times, but Hindus believe that he will be
reincarnated one last time close to the end of this world.
He is particularly associated with light and especially with
the Sun.
He has many incarnations such as pig, fish, turtle, half
lion/half man, etc...

Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the consort of the god Vishnu and rewards hard work and
sincerely seeking help with fortune.
Lakshmi is portrayed as a beautiful women with four arms standing on a
lotus flower with one or two elephants behind her or in front of her.
She is also sometimes depicted below Vishnu, massaging his feet.
She is the Goddess of wealth and purity and is the most popular of the
Hindu Goddess.
Hindus believe that anybody who worships Lakshmi sincerely, and not in
greed, will be blessed with fortune and success. It is said that Lakshmi
resides in places of hard work, virtue and bravery, but leaves
whenever these qualities are not apparent any more.
Lakshmi is particularly worshipped during the festival of Diwali. This
festival commemorates the epic story, Ramayana. Ramayana is the
legend of Lord Rama's battle with the demon Ravana, in which