Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion. Its followers, known as Hindus, constitute about 1.15 billion, or 15–16% of the global population. Hinduism is the most widely professed faith in India, Nepal and Mauritius. It is also the predominant religion in Bali, Indonesia.

There are 330 million Gods and Goddesses in Hindu religion. Each of them are worshiped in different ways on different days by different kinds of people. However, here are some of the popular or say most worshiped Gods and Goddesses in Hindu religion.

Shiva 

God Shiva (Source: Mangalyogastudio)

Shiva is the supreme God in Hindu religion. He is the destroyer and the re-generator. He is believed to have three forms. Natraj the God of dancing skill, an anthromorphic form and lingam form. In front of any Shiva temple, one we can usually see a statue of ‘Nandi’, the divine bull that serves as Shiva’s ride. In anthromorphic form Shiva is depicted with his consort Parbati and usually holds a trident and a small drum. Another popular form of God Shiva is terrifying which is his dance called Tandavam or Nadanta, depending on the context of the dance. Moreover, there are 108 different names of God Shiva.

God Ganesh (Source: Amrit Vastu)

Ganesh

Ganesh is the God with a head of an elephant. He is the God of wisdom and success and is the remover and defender of obstacles. God Ganesh has to be worshiped first before worshiping other Gods or doing any religious activity. He has a head of elephant however, it has only one full tusk while the other is broken. It is in the legend that the reason Ganesh having one full tusk is that he break one of his tusk to write Mahabharat (one of the major epics in Sanskrit). He is also the son of the supreme God Shiva and Parbati.

Once Parbati was having a bath and when rubbing of the dust and oil from her body a young boy was created who was Ganesh. When God Shiva was going to visit Parbati then Ganesh stood in his way. It was that moment when Shiva didn’t know that it was his son and in anger he cut off his head for blocking his way. Parbati then while returning saw her son without a head and threatened Shiva to destroy everything. Then, Shiva asked his men to bring a head of the first thing that they see. The men returned with a head of elephant and God Shiva gave the head to Ganesh. This is how Ganesh became the “God with a head of Elephant”.

 Krishna

God Krishna

Krishna is the eight incarnation of Vishnu. He was the hero of Mahabharata. He was a soldier, philosopher, statesman, and admired by the ladies who looked after the cows (milkmaids). Krishna is considered to be one of the most worshiped Gods in Nepal and India. He is known as one of the best philosophers and solider in the Hindu religion and among their Gods.

God Krishna is usually portrayed playing flute with his consort Radha dancing or surrounded with milkmaids. The devotion between Krishna and Radha symbolize the ideal relation of love between the soul and God.

Goddess Saraswati

Saraswati

Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning, Wisdom and Knowedge. As Goddess of music and poetry, she is revered alike by Brahmans and Buddhists. She is generally represented seated holding her Bina with two hands. Saraswati wears neither jewels or paints herself with bright colors. The white sari she adorns reflects her essential purity, her rejection of all that is base and materialistic.

Schools and Libraries are regarded as the temple of Saraswati in Nepal. Every school worship Goddess Saraswoti and has statues and pictures of her at their school.  The four Vedas, books of universal knowledge, were her offspring. Her mount, the swan, personifies pure knowledge and her herald, the peacock, is a symbol of the arts.

Goddess Laxmi

Laxmi

Lakshmi or Laxmi is the consort of the god Vishnu. She is one of the most popular goddesses of Hindu mythology and is known as the goddess of wealth and purity. Goddess Laxmi is usually found sitting than standing. She sits in a lotus on water. She has four hands among which prominent two hands are in varada and Abhaya Mudra. The rest of the two hands are mirror and Vermillion Pot. She is always accompanied by two dwarfs. The new moon light of November is dedicated for her annual ceremony. This is the ceremony which we call Dipawali, Tihar or Dewali.