Hindu Deities

"The Great Monkey closes his eyes, scratches himself again and muses: before the sun has become completely hidden — it is now fleeing amid the tall bamboo trees like an animal pursued by shadows — I shall succeed in reducing this grove of trees to a catalogue. A page of tangled plant calligraphy. A thicket of signs: how to read it, how to clear a path through this denseness? Hanumān smiles with pleasure at the analogy that has just occurred to him: calligraphy and vegetation, a grove of trees and writing, reading and a path. Following a path: reading a stretch of ground, deciphering a fragment of world. Reading considered as a path toward... The path as a reading: an interpretation of the natural world? He closes his eyes once more and sees himself, in another age, writing (on a piece of paper or on a rock, with a pen or with a chisel?) the act in the Mahanātaka describing his visit to the grove of the palace of Rāvana. He compares its rhetoric to a page of indecipherable calligraphy and thinks: the difference between human writing and divine consists in the fact that the number of signs of the former is limited, whereas that of the latter is infinite; hence the universe is a meaningless text, one which even the gods find illegible. The critique of the universe (and that of the gods) is called grammar... Disturbed by this strange thought, Hanumān leaps down from the wall, remains for a moment in a squatting position, then stands erect, scrutinizes the four points of the compass, and resolutely makes his way into the thicket."

"Watercolour painting on paper of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa meeting Hanumān at Rishyamukha, the residence of Sugriva. Rāma and Laksmana are shown wearing dhoti’s with animal skins covering their shoulders. They hold bow and arrows in their hands and have their hair tied in a top knot on their heads. They face towards a male figure wearing a pink dhoti with a green shawl. He has a shaven head and raises his hands in anjali mudra. Behind the three figures is a staircase which leads up to a city on top of a mountain, Rishyamukha. On the edges of the staircase kneel monkeys wearing golden hats. In the centre of the city is a large building with a golden roof and a large red flag flying. The painting is surrounded by a black border."

"Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu holiday that celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the popular deity who appears as a monkey. Actually, he is of the vanara, the race of ape-like humanoids who play a prominent role in the India epic Ramayana. The vanaras were created by the gods to assist the deity Rama.in his battle against the demon Ravana. Hanuman led the vanara in the fight against Ravana."

"After his birth the infant Hanuman is continuously hungry, and one day he attempts to eat the sun. Indra, the king of gods and ruler of heaven, is incensed at Hanuman’s action and strikes the infant with a thunderbolt, breaking his jaw (hanu). Vayu become very angry upon learning of his son’s injury and ceases to perform his usual activities. Since in Indian physiology winds are responsible for all internal functions- including digestion, respiration, and elimination – Yavu’s strike means that no one can live a normal life. After a short time the gods realize their predicament and beg Vayu for forgiveness; he is placated when each of the gods promise to give Hanuman a divine gift. By virtue of these divine gifts, Hanuman gains great powers. He is immensely strong and his image portrays him with bulging muscles. He is also skilled as a healer, both through his skill with herbs and natural medicines, and his magical abilities to protect people from evil supernatural beings. Among his most unusual divine gifts are the power to live as long as he likes and to chose the time of his death."

"Hanuman Monkey-headed Hindu god originally appears in the Ramayana, the earlier of the two great Indian epics, where he is described as a minister of the monkey king Sugriva and a devoted servant of Rama, the god-king who is the epics protagonist."

"Our road lay through the bazaar, close to a little temple of Hanuman, the Monkey god, who is a leading divinity worthy of respect. All gods have good points, just as have all priests. Personally, I attach much importance to Hanuman, and am kind to his people – the great grey apes of the hills. One never knows when one may want a friend."

"Son of the wind the epithet refers to Hauman a Hindu deity, who was an ardent devotee of Rama. Hanuman is mentioned as an avatar of Shiva or Rudra in the Sanskrit texts and was the son of Anjana, an Apsara cursed to be born as a monkey and Kesari, after the couple performed intense prayers to Shiva to get a child. According to a story, when Anjana, was worshipping Shiva, king Dasharatha of Ayodhya was also performing penances for having children. The prasad (portion of the offerings) he received was to be shared by his three wives. A kite snatched a part of the Prasad and dropped it near Anjana. Vayu, the Hindu deity, caught it before it fell to the ground and delivered into the outstretched hands of Anjana, who consumed it leading to the birth of Hanuman. So he is also called the son of vayu, while still being considered as an incarnation of Rudra (Shiva). He is a central character in the epic Ramayana and also finds mention in several other texts, including Mahabharata, the various Puranas and some Jain texts. Hanuman is worshipped by villagers as a boundary guardian, by Shaiva ascetics as a yogi, and by wrestler for his strength."

"The divine name Rama was not only on the lips of Hanuman; He was enthroned in his heart. Rama gave Hanuman exhaustless strength. In Rama's strength Hanuman lifted the mountain and crossed the ocean. It is faith that steers us through the stormy seas, faith that moves mountains, and faith that jumps across the ocean. That faith is nothing but a living, wide-awake consciousness of God within. He who has achieved that faith wants nothing."

"Grief-stricken Rama meets a tribe of vanaras whose chief Sugriva and eloquent minister Hanuman become Rama's devoted helpers in the task of rescuing the princess [Sita]. After leaping to Lanka Hanuman discovers the captive Sita surrounded by rakshasas in the Ashoka grove, but she insists on being rescued by her husband. Hanuman reports to Rama who assembles an army of Vanaras and crosses to Lanka where the final battle is fought between the heroes and the rakshasas."

"Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion, brings Sita's jewels to Rama and then takes a gold ring back to her as a symbol of Rama's unflagging love, a ring given to him by Sita's father at the time of their marriage. Sita welcomes Hanuman, takes the ring and gives him one more jewel, a pearl mounted on a gold leaf that her father had tied to her hair on the day of the wedding. She refuses Hanuman’s offer to fly back to Rama, insisting he come to free her himself...Rama is able to free Sita only by securing the help of Hanuman. Hanuman, the monkey-god, son of the wind, is the bridge between the two lovers, the vehicle that helps them."

"Hanuman represents the inner life that the confrontation with dukkha opens up. But his job is to help differentiate pure desire from the clinging that tends to obscure it. Hanuman's exploits fill the central part of the Ramayana."

"HANUMAN, HANUMAT, HANÜMAT. A celebrated monkey chief. He was able to fly and is a conspicuous figure in the Ramayana, ...Hanuman leaped from India to Ceylon in one bound; tore trees, carried away the Himalayas, seized the clouds and performed many other wonderful exploits... Among his other accomplishments, Hanuman was a grammarian; and the Ramayana says: “The chief of monkeys is perfect; no one equals him in the sastras, in learning, and in ascertaining the sense of the scriptures (or in moving at will). It is well known that Hanuman was the ninth author of grammar."

"A less-common form of Hanuman is the Panchmukhi—that which has five heads or faces. Each head represents an animal. The five animals are the monkey (Vanar), the horse (Hay-griv), the lion (Narasimh), the boar (Varah) and the eagle. Some of these are incarnations of Vishnu. There is also an eleven headed Hanuman (ekadash-mukhi) Hanuman. These two forms are the result of the popularity of the tantric cults during the medieval era. The five-headed Hanuman may have as many pairs of arms, or just one pair. The eleven-headed Hanuman normally has ten pairs of arms."

"It is said that the sure antidote of Saturn or Shanee's evil effect is the worship of Lord Hanuman. Scriptures say that when Saturn warned Lord Hanuman about his onset of the Seven and Half Years (w:Sade SatiSaade Saati) [period of bad times], the Monkey Lord accepted the challenge and allowed Saturn to have his play. When the planet dwelled on his head, the Monkey Lord ‘headed’ heavy rocks so viciously that the planet was almost crushed. Similar agony he faced when he tried to dwell on the Monkey Lord’ body and legs. Then the planet had to bow before the Lord, saying that whosoever worshipped Lord Hanuman shall be beyond the evil effect of the planet."

"Hanuman attends Rama, one of the incarnations of Vishnu, and personifies the ideal and faithful servant. He is the son of Pavana, the god of winds, and is noted for his speed and agility in which context he is often worshipped by young men and athletes. He leads a mythical forest army of monkeys, and is depicted as a monkey with a long tail. He takes a major role in the Ramayana epic searching for, rescuing the goddess Sita who has been captured by the demon Ravana."

"This god is described as having a short thick neck, a round red face, sharp white fangs, a mane like Ashoka flowers, a tail like Indra's banner and ability to expand until he could be as large as a mountain or to contract until he could become as small as a fly."

"Hanuman’s other names are Hanumat and pavana-Sut. He is the son of Vayu, the Lord of winds and Anjana, the female seduced by Vayu. Along with Ram, Hanuman is usually worshipped and he is the most favoured of wrestlers and grapplers. Tuesday is the sacred day on which lacs [hundred thousands] of Hindus worship and pray to him for strength and prosperity."

"Hanuman, the well-known monkey god, can be seen in temples throughout the country. In some temples his image is set up alone standing with a mace in the right hand or sitting in a devotional posture before the images of Rama and Sita. He is considered to be the god of power and strength, who remained a celibate through his whole life. He is worshipped as being the greatest of Ram, who loves Hanuman the most."

"Lord Hanuman escorted me into the inner palace, where I gazed on Lord Rama in human form. Hanuman approached the Lord, on whose left side Lakshmana was present. I saw that Hanuman, while chanting the Lord’s praises, sometimes rotated the royal fly-whisk over him sometimes stood before him and recited spontaneous hymns, sometimes held a white umbrella over him, and sometimes massaged his feet. And sometimes he did all these things at once."

"Do you know about Hanuman, sir? He was the faithful servant of the god Rama, and we worship him in our temples because he is a shining example of how to serve your masters with absolute fidelity, love, and devotion. These are the kinds of gods they have foisted on us Mr. Jiabao. Understand, now, how hard it is for a man to win his freedom in India."

"Ganesha the god-maker regarded the jungle about him. Though he walked through the realm of the phantom cats, he feared no evil. For the Lord of Chaos walked by his side, and the Trident of Destruction comforted him."

"Iconographically, the torso of Ganesha resembles Yaksha images found in the country. Some consider Ganapati as an elephant-headed Yaksha. That establishes a pre-Aryan origin of the deity as the Yaksha cult is more ancient than the Vedas. In Rigveda we find mention of Ganapati who is equated with Brihaspati or Brhamanaspati, a deity of intellect and study."

"Loving Ganesha and living with Ganesha will enlighten the soul and give one the peace and ecstasy that all seek."

"Ganesha Visarjana (a Sanskrit word meaning “departure”) names the Ganesha Chathurthi immersion ceremony. Especially in Maharashtra state, it takes place ten days after Ganesh Chathurthi; though in some areas Visarjana is done on the Chathurthi day itself. It is a ceremony of fond farewell to a beloved God. On Chathurthi day we celebrate Ganesha’s birthday and then honour Him as our beloved guest for ten days. Then on the tenth day called Anant Chaturdashi of the lunar fortnight, we bid Him fond farewell at the ocean shore or banks of a river or babbling brook of love and watch Him float off on the conveyance [we have] prepared for Him until he finally disappears from sight into the waters. We honor his departure with a grand parade, as we carry Him on a palanquin bedecked with flowers and accompanied by puja, music, dance and celebration."

"In Karnataka, India, young people make a ritual of seeing 108 Vinayakas on this occasion, so they go about visiting their friends’ and relatives’ houses on this day...The worship of Ganesha on this day is supposed to confer advancement in learning to the young student and success in any enterprise undertaken."

"Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinaya Chathurthu, is the festival day celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha. One of the great national festivals of India, and the foremost annual festival to Ganesha, it is celebrated on the chathurthi or fourth day after the new Moon in the Tamil month of Avani (August/September). He receives special pujas throughout the day and often a festival parade. Each year we obtain or make a small or large soft clay image of Ganapati and use it for worship at home for two to ten days after Ganesha Chaturthi."

"Dr. Uma Mysorekar lifted the coconut above her head and dashed it against the gray granite floor of the temple, shattering it into pieces. A riotous orchestra of ringing bells, thumping drums and the oboe-like nadaswaram reverberated in the cool predawn air. A piercing call emanated from a silver-tipped conch shell. And a semicircle of onlookers, draped in magenta, saffron, violet and burgundy, clapped as if in chorus. At the Hindu Temple Society of North America, in Flushing, Queens, this week is time to worship Ganesh, the elephant-headed, many-armed deity who is believed to remove obstacles. Here, as at temples in over a dozen countries, Hindus are celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi, which marks the god’s birth (and rebirth). “The coconut shell is like the human ego,” said Mohan Ramaswamy, who teaches at the temple on Bowne Street. “You have to crack it open before you can let in the lord.”"

"All talk of surrender is like stealing sugar from a sugar image of Ganesha and then offering it to the same Ganesha. You say that you offer up your body and soul and all your possessions to God, but were they yours to offer? At best you can say, 'I wrongly imagined till now that all these, which are Yours, were mine. Now I realise that they are Yours and shall no longer act as though they were mine'. And this knowledge that there is nothing but God or Self, that 'I' and 'mine' do not exist and that only the Self exists is jnana. It is enough that one surrenders oneself."

"That poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter," that's an indictment of organized religion. The walrus, with his girth and good nature, obviously represents either Buddha or, with his tusks, the Hindu elephant god Lord Ganesha — that takes care of your eastern religions. Now the carpenter, which is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ, who was raised a carpenter's son, he represents the western religions."

"The gods were my superheroes growing up. Hanuman, the monkey god, lifting an entire mountain to save his friend Lakshman. Ganesh the elephant headed, risking his life to save the honor of his mother Pārvati."

"Ganesha is frequently depicted with Saraswati, the Goddess of learning and music, and Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Since Ganesha is associated with similar attributes as the goddesses, many devotees believe that they are his wives in previous incarnations. This assumption is reinforced by their worship along with Ganesha, especially during Diwali. But no myths support this notion. The deities are worshiped together simply because they represent similar goals."

"After dissolution of the Universe, Brahma, drifting in the primordial waters that preceded creation, came across Ganesha sitting in a lone banyan tree that remained. Ganesha touched Brahma's head and initiated him into the mantra 'Om'. Brahma prayed before Ganesha who bestowed upon him the knowledge to create the universe, in return for which he gave Ganesha his two wives, representative of prudence and prosperity."

"Ganesha is the eldest son of Shankara and Parvati. Karttikeya or Skanda is his younger brother. As regards the origin and birth of Ganesha there are several stories and legends enshrined in Puranas and Upa-puranas"

"Ganesha is a great scribe. It is who has written down the Mahabharata, the biggest epic ever composed in the world. Having composed Mahabharata mentally, Vyasa was in search of a competent scribe, but he could not find one. At last he found one in Ganesha, the lord of the worldly wisdom and learning. It was agreed upon that Vyasa would go on dictating the epic non-stop to Ganesha provided the former thoroughly understood what he dictated. Ganesha started taking dictation of Mahabharata from the sage Vyasa Dwaypana on palm leaves. He was writing with an iron spike. When about three-fourths of the epic was over, suddenly the pen snapped and Ganesha for a moment in a kind of a fix but then at once he broke his right tusk and continued writing Mahabharata with it. This act of Ganesha clearly reflects his great wisdom and resourcefulness, and the idea that no sacrifice is great for a noble cause. Because of this incident Ganesha is also known as Ekadanta or single tusked."

"Vishnu offers Ganesha his worship by calling him Ekadanta, Heramba, Vighnayaka, Lambodara, Shurpakarna, Gajavaktra and Guhagraja. Praising Ganesha, Radha, the most beloved companion of Sri Krishna recited the mantra."

"As Vighneshwara, Ganesha is the god of obstacles. He removes as well as places obstacles. His work is both negative and positive. He prevents the people from the execution of their evil designs by putting various hurdles in their path."

"Figures of Ganesha can be found in a little niche at the top of every Hindu door and gate. Now, the door of a house is a very important place. It separates your house from hostile outer environs. Ganesha stands there to protect you and your dwelling against all possible evil forces. He is a great God at the gate"

"Mythology is but the veiled Reality. Myths and legends form an integral part of the tale of human progress and advancement. The galaxy of Hindu gods and goddesses is so rich, varied and alive as to inspire awe and wonder...Ganesha, the god of wisdom, riches, strength, illumination and prudence is one of these deities. In fact he is more close to our heart than any other God...Ganesha is one of the best examples of reconciliation of opposites and unity in diversity. In harmony all opposites are reconciled and contradictions dissolved, which in its turn inspires confidence, peace and fearlessness. He occupies the first and foremost position in various creeds and their religious ceremonies. The Jains and Buddhists also invoke his blessings at the commencement of all their undertakings and endeavors."

"He is the guardian of gates and mysteries. In Egypt, Osiris appears as the guardian of his mother’s door. As guardian of gates, Ganesha guards the entrance to the labyrinth, the mysterious paths inside the human body which start from the energy coiled at the base of the spine. In Yoga practice, Ganesha’s centre is situated in the region of the rectum."

"When the two boys [Ganesha and Skanda] were of marriageable age, Shiva and Parvati did not know which of the children to marry off first. So they proposed a competition: We shall celebrate the marriage of the one who first returns after having gone round the world. The clever Ganesha walked around his parents and said to them “You are the Universe”. He was considered the winner and his wedding was celebrated with Siddhi (Success) and Buddhi (Intelligence), the two daughters of the Lord of the World - w:Vishvarupa."

"Symbolically, Ganesha represents the basic unity of the macrocosm and microcosm, the immense being (the elephant) and the individual being (man). This highly implausible identity is however a fundamental reality and the key to all mystic or ritual experience as well as to Yogic possibilities. Without being aware of Ganesha, and without worshiping him, no accomplishment is possible."

"At the time of Ganesha's 'birth', Shiva was away from the family home. On returning, and finding an unknown young man standing guard outside the bathroom of his wife, he naturally challenged him. Ganesha was equally unknowing of his father, and the two came to blows. The result was never in doubt, for Shiva is the greatest of the Gods, and the father killed his own son, by cutting off his (human) head. When Parvati found out what had happened and explained the circumstances to Shiva, the god undertook to restore Ganesha to life. This he did by ordering by one of his retinue to bring the head of the first animal he met. This was an elephant, and thus Ganesha was returned to life with an elephant’s head. Further, as compensation for the loss of his human head, Ganesha was entrusted by Shiva with the leadership of the members of his rowdy and dwarfish retinue (the ganas). Ganesha’s name means no more than ‘Lord of the Gana’. In recognition of his courage in the defense of his mother’s chamber, Ganesha is given custody over all doorways."

"Those who bathe at Ganga at least once in its pure water are protected from thousands of dangers forever and get rid of sins of generations and are purified immediately."

"When Ganga was brought to Haridwar, then all the Gods asked: ’We wash all sins, but who will wash us?’ Ganga said this to Lord Vishnu:’Lord Vishnu Bhagwan, tell us, what should we do?’ Then the Lord said: ‘As many sadhus and saints are living in this world, every time they will bathe in Ganga, all your sins will be washed away [automatically]."

"Just as Banaras is a prototype for sacred India, her sacred features are prototypes for the divine roles of the city as a whole. Foremost among these features are the Ganga and the two famous cremation grounds (Shmashans) along her banks. Pilgrims commonly say that Banaras is like the Mother Ganga, who accepts and purifies anyone and anything that come to her and transforms them into herself… each of these features, - the Ganga, the Shmashans and the city as a whole – functions as a kind of cosmic sink, a sacred dumping ground…"

"There is a common saying that even a single droplet of Ganges water carried one’s way by the breeze will erase the sins of many life times in an instant."

"The mother keeps the baby in the stomach for nine months and then gives birth. She cleans her excreta and urine, and the child is [always] in this when he is small. Then that is [how] the mother takes care of the baby, doesn’t she? So she is Ganga Ma. All this trash, good things, bad things, everything, is in her. So she will never be impure. The mother is never impure."

"In discussing the unlimited grace of the Ganga, Eck cites a common Indian saying that “no child is too dirty to be embraced by its mother”. Indeed mother Ganga embraces everyone and everything that is put into her (or that she enters)."

"Eck describes the creative power of the Ganga as “liquid Shakti”, evidenced by the fertility of fields along her banks and her position as a second consort and active principle of Shiva."

"One should not be amazed … that this Ganges is really Power, for is she not the Supreme Shakti of the Eternal Shiva, taken in the form of water? This Ganges, filled with the sweet wine of compassion, was sent out for the salvation of the world by Shiva, the Lord of the Lords. Good people should not think this Triple-Pathed River to be like the thousand other earthly rivers, filled with water."