Greek Gods

 

God/Goddess         What they rule

Achelois  Moon goddess, known as she who drives away pain.

Achelous                God of rivers. Often assumed the shape of a bull, a horn of which was fashioned into the cornucopia. He is often seen as a bull with the torso of a man and a beard, or as an old, grey man with horns.

Adamanthea           The nymph who nursed the baby Zeus and hid him from his father, Cronus.

Adonis    Greek youth who was loved by Aphrodite and killed by a wild boar. He was killed by a wild boar. One of many variants on the dying god myth.

Adrasteia                Goddess of divine retribution or punishment for wrongs. Roman equivalent: Nemesis.

Aegea      Goddess of, and daughter of, the Sun. When the Titans attacked the gods of Olympus, Gaia placed her in a cave to hide her shining beauty.

Aeolus     Custodian of the winds. When directed by the gods, he loosed the captured winds as breezes, gales, or other forces decreed by the gods.

Aether     God of the pure air which the Gods breathe, as opposed to the Aer breathed by mortals. One of the fundamental deities of the cosmos; also called the soul from which all life emanates.

Aethon    God of famine in early Greece.

Aetna       Goddess of Mt. Etna, a volcano in Sicily.

Aglaea     Youngest of the three Graces. Her name means "the brilliant, splendor, shining one".

Agrotora                 Patron goddess of hunters, considered a face of Artemis.

Alcyone                  Minor goddess, changed into a halcyon (bird) after losing her husband. Because she made her nest on the beach, the waves threatened to destroy her. Aeolus held back the winds for seven days each year so that she could lay her eggs in peace. This time was known as the 'halcyon days'.

Alecto     One of the Furies, the avengers of murder in Greek mythology. Her name means "unceasing anger".

Alectrona                Daughter of the sun.

Alpheus River god of the river Alpheus.

Amphitrite              Queen of the Sea and wife of Poseidon. Portrayed as a queen, often in a chariot pulled by sea creatures with her hair covered by a net. Roman equivalent: Salacia

Ananke   Mother of the Fates and the goddess of absolute necessity or destiny. She was rarely worshipped until the beginning of the Orphic cult. Roman equivalent: Necessitas.

Anteros   The god of mutual love. Said to punish those who did not return the love of others.

Aphrodite               Goddess of love, beauty and sexual pleasure. She is the protector of lovers and those in love. Often accompanied by the Graces. She was married to Hephaestus, the god of Smithing and Fire, but found him dull and boring. She had many sexual encounters with a number of gods and mortals alike. Her festival was the Aphrodisiac, celebrated in many Greek centers, but especially Athens and Corinth. Roman equivalent: Venus.

Apollo     God of light, poetry, truth, the arts and music. He was an exceptional archer and the god of oracles. He drives a chariot bearing the sun across the sky each day. Twin brother of the goddess Artemis.

Ares         God of war and bloodshed. He was handsome, cruel and vain, as well as cowardly. Often accompanied by Eris, the Goddess of Discord. Ares was not a god of honorable battle, but a bloodthirsty lover of violence and strife. Worshipped primarily in Thracia. His animals were the vulture and the dog. Roman equivalent: Mars.

Artemis   Goddess of the wild and hunting, as well as chastity and the moon. Artemis is a huntress and dwells in the wild woods. She is a virgin, and protects her chastity with severe punishment to mortals who may catch a glimpse of her body. She is an exceptionally good archer, and is also the protector of childbirth and wild animals. Her twin brother is Apollo

Asclepius                A god of healing, who perfected the art learned from Chiron. Son of Apollo. His symbol is the snake.

Astraea    Goddess of justice.

Athena    Goddess of wisdom, reason and protective force. A warrior goddess, Athena only fought to protect her charges. She sprang full-grown from the head of Zeus (although some myths credit Metis as her mother). She was the protector and patroness of the city of Athens, which bears her name, as well as agriculture, cities in general and the arts. A virgin goddess.

Atlas        Titan who led the battle against Zeus. For his part, he was sentenced by Zeus to carry the world upon his back.

Boreas     God of the northern wind.

Calliope                  The 'fair voiced', she is the Muse of epic poetry. She is often pictured with a writing tablet or scroll in hand, crowned with gold.

Chaos      The great void or emptiness from which all things emerged.

Chloris    The goddess of flowers and the spring. Roman equivalent: Flora.

Clio          The 'proclaimer' and the Muse of history and chronicles. She is often pictured with a scroll in hand and accompanied by a chest of books.

Coeus      God of intelligence and a Titan. He was the father of the goddess Leto.

Comus     God of banquets.

Cronus    Ruler of the Titans and god of the sky and time. He was removed from power by his son, Zeus. Cronus was the father of the first Olympians. Roman Equivalent: Saturn

Demeter                  Goddess of agriculture, grain and fertility. She taught mortals to plow and sow seeds, thus ending their nomadic existence. Her daughter, Persephone, was abducted by Hades. In her sorrow for the loss of her daughter, Demeter allowed all of the living things of the earth to wither and die. She eventually found Persephone, but because the girl had eaten three seeds of a pomegranate while in the Underworld, Zeus decreed that she should spend three months of the year in the Underworld with Hades. Demeter only allows the living things of the world to grow when her daughter is with her, thus the seasons. She is intimately connected to the Elusian Mysteries.

Dionysus                 God of wine, agriculture and plays, and the youngest of all the Olympians. He was a son of Zeus and the mortal woman Semele. When Semele asked to see Zeus in his full glory she was burned to ashes, however Zeus managed to save their unborn child and stitch him into his thigh until ready to be born. Thus Dionysus is known as the 'twice-born god'. He has a dual nature: fun-loving and carefree on the one hand, yet violent and destructive on the other - much as those affected by alcohol tend to act. His symbol is a bunch of grapes.

Eirene      Goddess of peace.

Enyo        Goddess of war and violence, she is called the daughter, mother and sister of Ares. She is pictured covered in blood and striking poses of violence.

Eos           Goddess of the dawn, she is the sister of Selene and Helios and the mother of the four winds.

Epimethus              Brother of Prometheus, his name means 'afterthought'. He is a dull and stupid Titan. Accepted the gift of Pandora's Box from Zeus, allowing evil to enter the world.

Erato        The 'lovely' muse of love poetry and mimicry. She is often pictured with a lyre in hand and wearing a crown of roses.

Erebus     The god of the primordial darkness. He was the father of many gods, including Charon, Thanatos, Hypnos and Eros.

Erinyes    See Furies.

Eris          Goddess of discord. She was a frequent companion of Ares in battle, bringing her son Strife along. She was an unpopular goddess and often snubbed by her fellow Olympians.

Eros         God of love and romance and the son of Aphrodite. He is often pictured blindfolded (love is blind) and uses darts or arrows to inspire uncontrollable love in his mortal 'victims'.

Eurus       God of the east wind.

Euterpe   The 'giver of pleasure' and the Muse of music. Often pictured with a flute or other musical instrument.

Fates        The triple goddesses of fate and destiny, they have the task of determining the lifespan and events of mortals (and possibly the gods). The Fates are: Clotho, the spinner of the thread of life, Lachesis, the measurer, who chooses one's lot in life and determines how long that life will be, and Atropos, the cutter who snips the thread of life, leading, of course, to death. There is some evidence that the Fates are older than the gods and control their destinies as well.

Furies      The carriers of divine justice, the Furies punish crime until the guilty is dead, often driving their victims to suicide. They are particularly concerned with parenticide. The Furies are: Tisiphone, Megaera, and Alecto.

Gaea        Earth goddess and mother of the Titans. She mated with Uranus to produce the race of Titans. Possibly an ancient goddess even to the Greeks - a remnant of the 'earth mother' worship of the Indo-European civilization.

Graces     Goddesses of gracefulness and charm, they are beautiful and elegant. They are attendants of Aphrodite. They are: Aglaea (splendor), Euphrosyne (mirth) and Thalia (good cheer).

Hades      God of the dead and the underworld, and brother of Zeus. Hades rules the realm of the dead, and also is considered the god of wealth. He is jealous and uncaring, constantly trying to increase the number of subjects under his rule. His wife is Persephone, whom he abducted.

Hebe        Goddess of youth and a cupbearer to the gods.

Hecate     The goddess of hidden wisdom and the crossroads, sometimes seen as the goddess of witchcraft. She is the protector of the occult, or hidden knowledge and the wisdom that comes with age. She is seen as a woman with three heads, one of a dog, one of a snake and one of a horse. Said to roam during the new moon.

Helios      God of the sun and brother of Selene and Eos. He later came to be identified with Apollo.

Hemera   Goddess of the day.

Hephaestus             God of fire and the forge, he is the patron of smiths and weavers. He is physically ugly as well as lame, but exhibits a gentle and loving nature. Married to Aphrodite.

Hera         Wife of Zeus and the Queen of the Gods. Hera was the protector of marriage and the patron of all married women. She was unhappy in her marriage to Zeus, and attempted to thwart his misadventures whenever possible. She is possibly a remnant of a goddess-worshipping people who were overthrown by pre-Hellenic, patriarchal tribes. Her symbols are the peacock, the cow and the city of Argos.

Hercules  A mortal hero later gifted with immortality, Hercules was the epitome of brute strength and heroism. He performed twelve labors in order to soothe his conscience after killing his own children in a fit of madness.

Hermes   God of commerce, thieves and messengers, he is the swiftest and cleverest of the Gods. Messenger of Zeus, it is also Hermes job to escort the newly dead to the gates of the Underworld. Often pictured as a youth wearing winged sandals, a winged helm, and carrying a rod.

Hesperos                 God of the evening star.

Hestia      Goddess of the hearth and home. She was also a patron of childbirth and a virgin goddess.

Hygieia   Goddess of health, closely identified with the worship of Asclepius.

Hyperion                Titan of light, possibly an early solar deity. Married Theira, and produced Helios (the sun), Selene (the moon) and Eos (the dawn).

Hypnos   God of sleep and twin brother of Thanatos. Seen as a youth with wings at his temples or a bearded man with wings on his back.

Leto         A goddess identified with the moon and the goddess Selene, she is the mother of the divine twins, Artemis and Apollo.

Melpomene            The 'songstress' and the Muse of tragedy. She is represented by the tragic mask of Greek theater. Often pictured with garland, a club and a sword.

Metis       Goddess of wisdom and knowledge and a Titan. She is an advisor to Zeus, and it is said that all of his wisdom comes from Metis. She possibly was the mother of Athena.

Mnemosyne           Goddess of memory and one of the Titans. She was the mother of the Muses.

Moirae    See Fates.

Muses      Goddesses of the arts and sciences, the Muses provided divine inspiration to mortals who engaged in their pursuits. All nine muses had a particular area of expertise, and they served as the inspiration and protector of that particular area. The Muses are: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.

Nemesis                  Goddess of vengeance and divine justice, she pursues mortals who defy the natural order of things with, well, a vengeance. She is seen as a stern woman carrying a whip, scale, or wheel.

Nike         Goddess of victory, seen as a winged woman in flowing robes.

Notus       God of the south wind.

Nyx          Goddess of night and the darkness. She is the mother of many, including Thanatos, Hypnos, the Fates and Charon.

Oceanus  God of the waters, and ruler of the unending stream of water encircling the world. Together with his wife Tethys, he fathered the rivers and the three thousand ocean nymphs.

Pan           God of herds and flocks, he was pictured as a man with the horns, legs and midriff of a goat. He is also the god of carnality, sexuality and desire, as he constantly chases nymphs through the forest. He was often pictured carrying a pine branch or with a crown of pinecones.

Persephone             Goddess of the Underworld and daughter of Demeter. She is one of the central figures on the Elusian Mysteries, and the story of her abduction by Hades and Demeter's fight to win her back is the central theme of the seasons.

Pheme     Goddess of fame and messages. She is pictured as a gentle youth with a trumpet.

Phoebe    Goddess of the Moon and a Titan. She was the mother of the goddess Leto.

Phospheros             God of the morning star.

Polyhymnia            'She of many hymns', the Muse of sacred music and geometry. She is often seen with a pensive look on her face or veiled.

Poseidon                 God of the sea and brother of Zeus. Zeus, Hades and Poseidon drew lots to determine their sphere of influence in the world, and Poseidon drew the lot of water. He married Amphitirite, goddess of the sea. His weapon is the trident and he is often pictured with a flowing beard and hair, and a crown of sea creatures. He was widely worshipped by seafarers and fishermen.

Prometheus            The wisest of the Titans, his name means 'forethought'. He could foretell the future. In the battle between Zeus and Cronus, Prometheus deserted the other Titans and fought on Zeus' side. He is the protector and benefactor of mankind, giving us the gifts of farming and fire. He tricked Zeus into taking the worst parts of animals sacrificed to him, and was punished by being chained to a rock and suffering as a bird pecked out his liver.

Rhea        Goddess of fertility and the mother of the first Olympians. She saved Zeus from being swallowed by Cronus (his father) and helped Zeus to slay Cronus. Roman equivalent: Ops, Bona Dea

Selene     The original goddess of the moon, she later came to be identified with Artemis.

Terpsichore            The 'whirler' and the Muse of dancing. Often pictured in midstep with her lyre.

Tethys     A Titan and wife of Oceanus. Mother of the rivers and 3000 ocean nymphs.

Tethys     Goddess of the sea. She is the personification of the sea and the daughter of Hemera and Aether.

Thalia      The 'flourishing' Muse of Comedy and lighthearted music and poetry. She is often portrayed with the comedy mask of Greek theater, or with a crown of ivy and a crook.

Thanatos                 God of death. He brought about the actual death of mortals, who then went to the Underworld.

Themis    Goddess of justice and order, and a Titan. She is the mother of the Muses and the Seasons.

Tyche      Goddess of fortune, chance and prosperity. She is seen with a cornucopia, rudder of destiny and wheel of fortune.

Urania     The 'heavenly' Muse of astronomy, and is often portrayed with a crown of stars or a staff pointed at a celestial globe. She foretells the future from the position of the stars.

Uranus    The sky god and original ruler of creation. He is both the son and mate of Gaea, and together they produced the Titans. He was removed from power when his son Cronus castrated him.

Zephyrus                God of the west wind.

Zeus         God of the sky and thunder, and the supreme ruler of the Olympians. He fought with the Titans and his father, Cronus, to take control of the world. He is famous for his infidelities to his wife, Hera, but is also known to punish liars and oath breakers.

 

Hindu Gods

 

God/Goddess         What they rule

Adimurti                 An avatar of Vishnu.

Adityas   Twelve sun gods who represent the twelve months of the year. They protect against various diseases and belong to the Devas. They are: Ansa, Aryman, Bhaga, Daksha, Dhatri, Indra, Mitra, Ravi, Savitri, Surya, Varuna, and Yama.

Agastya   Protector and companion of the god Rama.

Agni        Vedic god of the divine fire, both of real fire (in the hearth) and the fire that consumes the soul and the food in the belly. He is the spark of life, and so a part of him is in every living thing. He is red, with two faces, seven firey tongues and golden teeth, seven arms, three legs and seven rays of light that emanate from his body.

Ambika   A form of Parvati, she lured demons to their death. She would announce that she would not sleep with anyone who had not bested her in battle. The eager demons would agree to fight her, at which point she would transform into the fearsom Kali and          .

Ammavaru             Ancient goddess who existed from before the beginning of time. She laid an egg which hatched the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Anala       Attendant god. One of the eight Vasus who serve the god Indra.

Anantesa                 One of the eight Vasus who serve Indra.

Anila       One of the eight Vasus who serve the god Indra

Annapurna             An avatar of the goddess Durgha who ruled over food production.

Ansa        One of the Adityas, minor sun gods who rule over the months.

Anumati                  A moon gddess whose name means "divine favor". She is seen as a giver of wealth, prosperity, fertility and children.

Anuradha                Goddess of fortune.

Apa          One of the eight Vasus who serve the god Indra.

Apam Napat           God of fresh water.

Apsaras   Nature spirits, and the mates of the Gandharvas. They were all female, and all depicted as very beautiful. They were beings of dance, and often performed for the gods in their palaces. Seen as protectorers and inspirers of love.

Aranyani                 Woodland goddess.

Ardhanari               Name for Shiva in his half-male, half-female aspect, signifying the his incarnation as both the male and female principles of the world.

Ardra       Goddess of misfortune.

Arundhati               Astral goddess.

Aryman   One of Adityas, the guardian deities of the months.

Aslesa     Goddess of misfortune.

Astamatara             A Puranic group of mother goddesses.

Asuras     Sometimes called demons, but they were, in fact, another group of powers or deities that often opposed the Devas. They may have been an earlier pantheon of gods which were supplanted by the Aryan peoples.

Asvayujau              Epic and Puranic goddess of fortune.

Asvins     Twin sons of Saranyu and Surya, and known as the "Divine Physicians". Represent the morning and evening stars.

Atri          Bardic god, sage and son of Brahma.

Avatars of Vishnu                 Personifications of the god Vishnu who decended to Earth, usually to help mankind. There have been nine avatars of Vishnu so far, including Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Narasinha

Ayyappan               God of growth, and the son of Shiva and Vishnu.

Bala         Mother goddess.

Balakrsna                The child form of Krishna.

Balarama                God of agriculture and physical strength, and the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He is the brother of Krishna, and is white-skinned where Krishna is dark-skinned.

Bali          Demon and king of the Daityas. He was the god of the sky until Vishnu wrested it from him in the avatar Vamana, the dwarf. Since then he is ruler of the Underworld.

Banka-Mundi         Goddess of hunting.

Bhadra    Goddess and attendant of Shiva.

Bhaga      Vedic god of prosperity, wealth and marriage. He is one of the Adityas, and the month of March is dedicated to him.

Bharani   Goddess of misfortune. Consort of Chandra.

Bharat Mata           Mother goddess.

Bharati    Goddess of sacrifices. Occasionally mentioned as the consort of Ganesha.

Bhavani One of the terrible aspects of Parvati.

Bhumidevi             A fertility goddess and the second wife of Vishnu.

Bhumiya                 A fertility god, later regarded as a form of Vishnu.

Bhutamata              A demon goddess, form of the goddess Parvati.

Bhuvanesvari         Goddess, one of the ten mahavidyas.

Brahma   Creator god and Cosmic Mind of the Hindu Trinity, the three major gods of Hinduism that make up the whole of the godhead. He appears seated on a lotus, with four heads and four hands that hold a sacrificial tool, the Vedas, a water pot and a rosary. His consort is Saraswati, the goddess of learning.

Brahmani                Hindu mother goddess.

Brihaspati               The lord of prayer, the celestial god who created the Universe and protects the gods with his magic formulae.

Buddha   Founder and father of the Buddhist faith. He is said to be an avatar of Vishnu. He was born an enchanted child and already full of wisdom. He received Enlightment under a Bo tree, and forook Nirvana to remain on Earth and travel, preaching the law.

Budha      Astral god associated with the planet Mercury.

Budhi Pallien         Forest goddess of northern India. She roamed the jungles in the form of a tiger.

Chaitanya               Merchant god. Later believed to be an avatar of Vishnu.

Chama     God of young love.

Chandanayika        A form of the goddess Durgha.

Chandika                Goddess of desire.

Chandra                  The original Indian god of the moon. He was white in color, and drove the moon chariot across the sky with ten white horses. Also a god of fertility, he was prayed to when a couple desired children. Later merged with the god Soma.

Chinnamastaka      A terrifying goddess, portraled holding her head in one hand. Form of the goddess Durgha

Chitra      Goddess of misfortune.

Chitragupta            The recorder of the virtues and vices of men. The judge who sends people to heaven or hell.

Danu        Goddess of the primordial waters.

Devaki    Mother goddess, and the mother of Krishna and Balarama.

Devapurohita         God associated with the planet Jupiter.

Devi         The 'divine mother', she is the mother of everything, including joy, pain, life and death. She is the mother of life, and as such brings fertile rains.

Dhanistha               Goddess of misfortune and malovent intent.

Dhanvantari           The divine physican. Originally a sun god, he is the carrier of Ambrosia from the ocean and the teacher of the healing arts to mankind.

Dhara      One of eight vasus who attended the god Indra.

Dharma   God of the divine inner law (dharma). Originally a creator god, he is now considered an avatar of Vishnu.

Dharti Mata            Mother Goddess. She appears first in the Puranic texts.

Dhatar     Sun god and one of the adityas.

Dhatri      Sun god and one of the adityas.

Dhisana   Goddess of prosperity.

Dhruva    God of the Pole Star. He is an avatar of Vishnu and one of the vasus.

Durgha    A form of Devi, represented as a malovelent, yellow woman riding a tiger.

Dyaus Pita              The original sky father of Vedic myth. He is the counterpart of the Earth goddess Prthivi. The two were originally one deity known as Dyavaprthivi. He is pictured as a great red bull who bellows thunder, or as a black horse covered in pearls. In this form he is the night sky, with the pearls as stars.

Dyavaprthivi          The embodiment of the entire cosmos, the sky and the earth. Eventually split into two deities, Dyaus Pita and Prthivi, by Varuna.

Gandharvas            Male guardians of the air, forests and mountains. They were the mates of the Apsaras.

Ganesha                  God of wisdom and the remover of obstacles. He has the head of an elephant and four arms, with which he holds a rope, an axe and a sweet dessert. His fourt hand is extended to bless those in need. He represents wisdom, intelligence and presence of mind.

Ganga      The goddess of the sacred Ganges river in India. She is literally the river, and her waters will wash away one's sins.

Hanuman                The monkey god, a patron of learning and the epitome of the ideal warrior, humble yet brave.

Harihara                  A deity who represents the combination of the gods Shiva and Vishnu.

Hiranyagarbha       God of creation and the Hindu primordial being. He was the progenitor of Indra.

Ida            Goddess of prayer and devotion.

Imra         The Supreme god of Kafirstan in Hindu Kush.

Indra        In Vedic myths, the supreme god and lord of the thunder and lightning. He was the ruler of the gods, and weilded his weapon, a lightning to protect them and the humans from the forces of evil. In later eras his supremacy was supplanted by Vishnu and Shiva, and he became simply a weather god and the ruler of the lesser deities.

Indrani    Wife of Indra, originally just a feminine form of that god. Came to personify jealousy and wrath.

Kali          A mother goddess and the symbol of dissolution and destruction. She destroys ignorance and maintains the world order, as well as blessing those who strive for knowledge. She is pictured as a black figure with a protruding tongue, four arms, a necklace of severed heads and a belt of severed arms. In her hands she holds a bloody sword and the head of a demon.

Kama       God of love. Seen as a winged youth carrying a bow and arrows.

Kartikeya                War god and bestower of knowledge and power. He has six faces and carries a spear. He is the most masculine and firey of the Hindu gods.

Karttikeya              God of war and the general of the celestial armies. He is pictured with six arms and six legs.

Krishna   The eighth avatar of Vishnu, Krishna is one of the most popular gods of India. He is seen as the defender of people and the symbol of love between gods and men. He is often depicted playing the flute.

Kubera    God of wealth.

Kurma     The cosmic tortise, on which the world sits in Vedic myths. Second avatar of Vishnu.

Lakshmi                  The goddess of prosperity, purity, happiness and generosity. She has four arms, representing the four spiritual virtues. She sits on a fully-blossomed lotus, a symbol of divine truth. Her palm is always outstretched to bless those in need. She has an aura of divine happiness, mental and spiritual satisfaction and prosperity. She is the wife of Vishnu.

Maitreya                 The Buddha who is to come in the future.

Manasa-Devi         Serpent goddess.

Maruts     Minor storm deities, agressive and violent in temperment.

Matarisvan             Messenger of the gods in Vedic times.

Matsya    The first incarnation of Vishnu. A fish who saved Manu from the great flood in the Indian version of the Noah's Ark story.

Mitra       God of the sun and brother of Varuna. He is the good-natured god of friendships and contracts. One of the Adityas. His worship survived in the Near East and ancient Rome as the god Mithras.

Nakshatras             The stars and the divine attendants of Indra.

Naryana                  The original supreme being. Associated with the original man and with Vishnu.

Nirriti      Vedic goddess of evil, deciet and destruction. Sometimes associated with Kali.

Parvati     The consort of Shiva in her aspect as the mountain goddess.

Prajapati                 Lord of creation.

Prisni       Goddess of the earth and darkness.

Prthivi     The earth goddess of the Vedas, counterpart of the Sky Father Dyaus. They were originally one being, Dyavaprthivi.

Puchan    God of meeting.

Purusha   Male half of Brahma, of whice Satrap is the female half.

Pushan    God of fertility, wealth and cattle. He is also the guide of travellers and the dead.

Raktavija                General of the demon army.

Rama       The ideal man and hero of the Ramayana, he is the protector of the family and destroyer of evils. He is pictured holding a bow, usually among his own family.

Rama       Seventh avatar of Vishnu, and the hero of the epic Ramayana. Considered the perfect hero warrior.

Rati          Goddess of sexual desire.

Ratri        Goddess of night.

Ravi         One of the Adityas, the guardians of the months.

Rhibus     Group of deities who watch over crafts, equestrian pursuits and the sun.

Rig Veda                Oldest and most important of the four Vedas, the Rig Veda is a collection of hymns to the gods. It is still considered the holiest of books in the Hindu culture. Handed down orally until it was transcribed around 900 B.C..

Rudra      God of storms, winds and Death. He is the personification of the ucultured force, causing destruction and disarray. Gradually became seen as a gentle protector of hunters and animals, and eventually his name changed to Shiva.

Rukmini                  Wife of Krishna.

Sadhyas Minor gods who guard the rites and prayers to more important deities.

Saranyu   Wife of the sun god Surya and sometimes seen as goddess of the dawn.

Saraswati                The goddess of speech, wisdom and learning. She has four arms, representing the four facets of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She holds sacred scriptures in one hand, a lotus in another, and plays the veena (violin) with the remaining two. She is the wife of Brahma.

Satyanarayana       A form of Vishnu, he is a god of the home and is often worshipped there. He has four hands as does Vishnu, but his fourth hand is extended upwards to bless people.

Savitar     Sun god who urges men and beasts into action. Rides a golden chariot across the sky.

Savitri     One of the Adityas, possibly the same as Surya.

Shasti      Goddess of the protection of children.

Shiva       Trancendent god and lord of the calmness and victory of humanity of the Hindu Trinity of Gods. He is also the destroyer, and is seen as both the destruction and regeneration. He is often pictured in a meditating position, with ashes covering his body and matted, flowing hair which contains the Ganges River and a crescent moon. He has a snake coiled about his neck and a trident in his hand. His consort is Parvati/Kali.

Sita          Wife of Rama and an incarnation of Lakshimi. Seen as the personification of female fertility.

Soma       The 'sap of life', god of inspiritation, poetry and the life force. He is a drink, the Ambrosia of the Vedic gods.

Surya       The personified deity of the sun, much like the Greek god Helios.

Tara         Celestial deity and the goddess of the Pole Star. Seen in some areas as an important aspect of the Mother Goddess.

Trimurti                  The triad of deities who embody all aspects of the Universe: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer.

Tvashtri Artisan and creator god of the Vedas, he created the sun, moon and the three worlds.

Uma         A name of the goddess Parvati, embodying the divine light and wisdom.

Upanishads            A series of Hindu sacred texts, philosophical commentary on the Vedas.

Urvasi     One of the apsaras, the goddess of success in love.

Ushas      Goddess of Dawn and the breath of life.

Vach        Goddess of speech and eloquence. Later identified with Sarasvati.

Vamana   Fifth avatar of Vishnu. A dwarf who claimed the heavens and earth back from Bali.

Vanadevatas           Tree spirits of the Vedic myths.

Varuna    Vedic god of the sky and keeper of the divine order of things, known as rta. With the rise of Indra as supreme deity, he became the lord of the rivers and oceans.

Vasus      Eight attendants of Indra in Vedic times, later became the attendants of Vishnu.

Vayu        Deity of the wind.

Vedas      Earliest texts of Hindu literature, generally accepted as being created between 1500 B.C and 1200 B.C.

Vishnu    The preserver and Cosmic Lord of the Hindu Trinity of gods, Vishnu is seen as the universal principle of order and justice. He is pictured as a man of a dark (or blue) color with four hands, holding a conch shell, a disk or chakra, a lotus and a mace. He is also known as Hari, the remover. His consort is Lakshmi, goddess of beauty, happiness and wealth.

Visvakarma            The god of artistry, crafts, and smiths.

Vivasvat                 The divine architect who built the cities of the gods.

Yaksha    Semi-divine beings who live under the Himalayas, guarding the riches of the earth. Led by Kubera, the god of riches.

Yama       God of the Dead. He is pictured as a green man in read clothing riding a black bull. He holds a loop with which he pulls the soul from the body of the deceased.

Yoni        The origin or primal source of all being. Symbolized as a triangle pointed downward, a stylized image of the female vulva.

 

Inca Gods

 

God/Goddess         What they rule

Apocatequil            Lightning god. Also the chief priest of the Incan Moon God.

Apu Illapu              God of thunder.

Apu Punchau         Another name for the Sun God, means "Head of the Day".

Catequil                  God of thunder and lightning.

Cavillaca                Virgin goddess who became pregnant from eating a fruit made from the sperm of the Moon God, Coniraya.

Chasca    Goddess of the planet Venus, the dawn and the dusk. She is the servant of the sun and protector of virgins and young girls.

Chasca Coyllur      God of flowers and the protector of maidens.

Cocomama             Goddess of health, wealth and happiness. The originator of the cocoa tree.

Coniraya                 Moon god. Considered the poorest and seediest of the gods.

Copacati                 Lake goddess, primarily worshipped near Lake Titicaca.

Ekkeko    Bolivian god of wealth and prosperity.

Huaca      A number of gods of nature, found in the shape of rocks, mountains, trees, lakes, etc.

Illapa       God of weather, especially thunder, lightning and rain. Seen as a man carrying a club and rocks in his hands, or as a man in shining clothes.

Inti           Sun god and the protector and ancestor of the Incas. He is portrayed as a shining, golden disc with a human face.

Ka-Ata-Killa          Moon goddess, probably originated in Pre-Incan civilizations. Primarily worshipped around Lake Titicaca.

Kon          God of the rain and the southern wind. He brings the rain from the north, and takes it with him when he returns.

Mama Allpa           Goddess of the Earth and of the harvest. Seen with many breasts, indicating fertility.

Mama Cocha         Goddess of the sea and provider of the sea's bounty. She is a favorite of sefarers and fishermen.

Mama Oello           Mother goddess of the Incas. She taught them spinning.

Mama Pacha          Goddess of the earth and overseer of planting and harvesting. Seen as a huge dragon which causes earthquakes.

Mama Quilla          Moon goddess and wife of the sun god, Inti. She oversaw marriages, feast days and the calendar.

Manco Capac         God of fire and progenitor of the Incas.

Pachacamac           Earth god and creator of the world.

Pariacaca                Pre-Incan god of rain, water and storms.

Paricia     God who flodded the earth because men were unkind to him.

Punchau                  Sun god and warrior, pictured as armed with darts.

Supay      God of death and the lord of the Underworld.

Vichama                 God of death and son of Inti.

Viracocha               The supreme deity, he is a synthesis between the storm god and the sun god.

Zaramama              Goddess of grain and corn

 

Japanese Gods

 

God/Goddess         What they rule

Aizen-Myoo           God of love, especially worshipped by prostitutes, landlords, singers and musicians. He has a third eye above his other eyes on his forehead and a lion's head in his hair.

Aji-Suki-Taka-Hi-Kone      God of thunder. To quiet him as a child, the gods carried him up and down a ladder, explaining the approaching and receding sound of thunder.

Ama-No-Minaka-Nushi      'Divine Lord of the Middle Heavens' and god of the Pole Star.

Amaterasu              Shinto goddess of the sun and the leader of the Shinto pantheon. She was known as 'shining heaven' and the Japanese Emperors claimed to be descended from her.

Amatsu Mikaboshi               God of evil, his name means "August Star of Heaven".

Amatsu-Kami        Gods of heaven who live 'above' the earthly plain. They are heavenly and eternal.

Ama-Tsu-Mara      Shinto god of smiths. He is pictured as a cyclops.

Ame-No-Mi-Kumari            Shinto water goddess.

Ame-No-Wakahiko              God sent to rule the earth. Killed by the sky god Takami-Musubi.

Amida     God of death, to whom the devout turned at the moment of their death. His realm was beautiful, full of ambrosia trees, gentle breezes and lovely birds.

Am-No-Tanabata-Hime       Goddess of weavers.

Baku        A good spirit, known as the 'eater of dreams'. He brings good fortune by eating the nightmares of those who call on him. Seen as a creature with a lion's head, tiger's feet and a horse's body.

Benten     Goddess of love, the arts, wisdom, poetry, good fortune and water. Originally a sea deity, he became the patroness of the rich and the arts. She is seen as a beautiful woman riding a dragon. In her eight hands she holds a sword, a jewel, a bow, an arrow, a wheel and a key. Her other two arms are folded in prayer. 

Bimbogami            God of poverty. Rituals are performed to get rid of him.

Binzuru-Sonja       God of curing illness and good vision.

Bishamon               God of war, justice and protector of the law. He is one of the Shichi Fukujin and is portrayed in full armor, standing on demons and holding a spear in his hand.

Bosatsu   Manifestation of the Buddha in the past, present or future. See bodhisattva. 

Chien-shin              A kami which is related to particular geographical area, and protects those living in the area.

Chimata-no-kami                  Go of crossroads, highways and footpaths. He was originally a phallic god, and phallic symbols are often associated with him and with crossroads.

Chup-Kamui          Sun goddess of the Ainu. She was originally the moon goddess, but after one night of watching the adulterous behaivors of the people below, she begged the sun god to trade places with her.

Daibosatsu             The Great bodhisattva or the Buddah in his last incarnation.

Daikoku                  God of wealth, the soil and patron of farmers. He is seen as a large, happy man seated on two bags of rice with a bag of jewels over his shoulder.

Dainichi                  Buddhist personification of purity and wisdom.

Dosojin   God of roads.

Dozoku-shin          Ancestral kami of a dozoku, or clan. The worship of the Dozoku-shin is carried out by the main family of the clan.

Ebisu       God of the wealth of the sea, he is the patron god of fishermen and fishing. He is pictured holding a fish and a fishing pole. Anything washed up on the shore could be Ebisu, including a corpse.

Ekibiogami            God of plagues and epidemics.

Emma-o  Japanese Buddhist god of the underworld. He is the judge of the dead, and decides on the punishment of evildoers based on Buddha's Law.

Fudo        God of fire and wisdom, he is the patron protector of the people and the god of Astrology. Seen as an ugly old man surrounded by fire, with a sword in one hand and a rope in the other.

Fujin        Shinto god of the wind. Seen as a terrifying dark demon in a leopard skin, with a bag of winds over his shoulder.

Fukurokuju             Shinto god of wisdom, luck and prosperity.

Funadama               The boat-spirit, she is a goddess who protects and helps mariners and fishermen.

Futsu-Nushi-no-Kami          God of fire and lightning, later became a war god and general of Ameratsu.

Gama       God of longevity. Seen as a cheerful old man riding a stag and holding a scroll full of secret wisdom.

Gekka-o                  God of marriage. He binds the feet of lovers with a red silken cord.

Hachiman               God of war and agriculture, and the divine protector of the Japanese people.

Haniyasu-hiko       God of the earth.

Haniyasu-hime      Goddess of the earth.

Haya-Ji   God of the whirlwind.

Hiruko     God of the morning sun. Guards the health of little children.

Hoso-no-Kami       God of smallpox.

Hotei       God of happiness, laughter and the wisdom of being content. Seen as a jolly fat man carrying a linen bag full of precious things, including children. He is the protector of the weak and small children.

Ida-Ten   Buddhist god of the law and of monasteries. Seen as a handsome young man.

Ika-Zuchi-no-Kami               Group of even Shinto demons who reside in the Underworld. Their rumblings can be heard during volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Iki-Ryo   The spirit of anger and envy which harms.

Inari         Both a male and female deity, Inari is the god/goddess of rice and agriculture.

Isora        God of the seashore.

Izanagi    Primordial god of the sky and the creator of everything good and right. With his wife Izanami he created the first of the Japanese islands.

Izanami   Primordial goddess of the earth and darkness. With her husband Izangi she helped create the first of the Japanese islands. Died in childbirth and became goddess of the Underworld and the dead.

Jinushigami            Minor deity who watches over a town or plot of land.

Jizo          Japanese Buddha of great compassion. He is the protector of pregnant women, children, and travelers. Identical to the Indian god Kshitigarbha.

Juichimen               Buddhist god of mercy.

Jurojin     Shinto god of longevity and a happy old age. He is one of the Shichi Fukujin, the seven gods of luck.

Kagutsuchi             Japanese god of fire.

Kamado-gami        Gods of the hearth.

Kami-kaze              God of wind, storms and viscous cold weather.

Kaminari                Goddess of thunder, known as the Thunder Queen and the Heavenly Noise.

Kanayama-hiko     God of metals.

Kanayama-hime    Goddess of metals.

Kawa-no-Kami      God of rivers. Although many rivers had their own god, he was the ruler of all rivers.

Kenro-Ji-Jin           God of earth.

Kishi-Bojin            Goddess of children and childbirth, it is to Kishi-Bojin that women pray for children.

Kishijoten               Goddess of luck and beauty, she is the patron of song and dance and protector of the Geishas.

Kishimo-jin            Buddhist goddess of compassion and protectoress of children.

Kojin       Ancient tree deity and goddess of the kitchen. She lives in an enoki tree.

Ko-no-Hana           The Blossom Princess, she is the goddess of spring and the one who makes the flowers blossom.

Koshin    God of the roads.

Koya-no-Myoin    God of the sacred Mount Koya. Seen as a hunter with a red face and two hounds.

Kukunochi-no-Kami            Shinto god of the trees.

Kuni-Toko-tachi   Earth deity who lives in Mt. Fuji.

Kura-Okami           God of rain and snow.

Marisha-Ten          Queen of heaven, goddess of the light, sun and moon.

Mawaya-no-kami                  Kami, or deity of the toilet. Occasionally invoked to help with gynecological diseases or ailments of theeyes and teeth.

Miro        Japanese name for Maitreya.

Miyazu-Hime        Goddess of royalty.

Monju-Bosatsu      Japanese Buddhist bosatsu of wisdom and knowledge.

Musubi-no-Kami God of love and marriage. Appears as a handsome (and ardent) young lover.

Nai-no-Kami          God of earthquakes.

Naka-Yama-Tsu-Mi             God of mountain slopes.

Nikko-Bosatsu       Buddhist god of sunshine and good health.

Ninigi-no-mikoto                  Rice god and ancestral god of the Japanese imperial family.

Nyorai     Japanese name for all of the Buddha's appearances.

Oanomochi            God of the crater of Mt. Fuji.

Ohonamochi          A god of the earth.

Oho-Yama              The great mountain god.

Okuni-Nushi          God of majic and medicine, he is the ruler of the unseen things and the spirit world.

Owatatsumi            God of the sea.

Oyamatsumi          A god of the mountains.

Raiden     God of thunder and lightning. He is pictured as a red demon with sharp claws and carrying a large drum.

Ryo-Wo  God of the sea. known as the Dragon King.

Sae-no-Kami          A group of kami, or deities, who guard the roads of Japan.

Sambo-kojin          God of the kitchen. He is pictured with three faces and two pairs of hands.

Sarutahiko Ohkami               God of crossroads, paths and overcoming obstacles. He is pictured as a huge man with a large beard and a jeweled spear, with holy light shining from his eyes, mouth and posterior. He is the chief of the kami on earth. 

Shaka      The silent sage, the wisest and first appearance of Buddha on earth. Shaka corresponds with the Hindu Shakyamuni

Shichi Fujukin       The Seven Gods of Luck, they are: Benten, Bishamon, Daikoku, Ebisu, Fukurokuju, Hotei and Jurojin.

Shinda     Ainu fertility god of the island of Hokkaido.

Shine-Tsu-Hiko     God of the wind, he fills the space between heaven and earth. 

Shoki       God of the afterlife and exorcism.

Suijin       Deity of the water.

Suitengu                 Child god of the sea.

Sukuna-Biko          Dwarf god of healing, agriculture and hot springs.

Susanowa               God of the winds, storms, ocean and snakes in Shinto mythology. He is the brother and consort of Ameratsu.

Takami-Musubi     Primordial sky god and creator of living things in Shinto belief.

Takemikadzuchi    A thunder god.

Taki-Tsu-Hiko       God of rain.

Tatsuta-hime          Goddess of autumn.

Tenjin      God of learning, language and calligraphy. He taught humans to write.

Toyo-Uke-Bime    Goddess of earth, food and agriculture.

Toyouke-Omikami               Goddess of grain.

Tsuki-Yumi           God of the moon and brother of the sun goddess Ameratsu.

Uba          Spirit of the pine tree. Means 'old woman' or 'wet nurse'.

Uga-Jin   Serpent god of the waters and fertility of the earth.

Uga-no-Mitama     Goddess of agriculture.

Ukemochi               Goddess of fertility and food.

Uzume    Shinto goddess of joy and happiness.

Wakahiru-me         Goddess of the rising sun.

Wata-tsu-mi           God of the sea.

Yama-no-kami      Goddess of the hunt, forest, agriculture and vegetation.

Yamato   The soul or spirit of Japan.

Yuki-Onna             The Snow Queen or goddess of winter.

 

Mayan Gods

 

God/Goddess         What they rule

Ac Yanto                God of White Men.

Acan        God of Wine.

Acat         God of tattooers.

Ah Bolom Tzacab                 God of agriculture and the lord of the rain and thunder. Portrayed with a leaf in his nose. Also known as 'God K'.

Ah Cancum            God of hunting.

Ah Chun Caan       Teaching god of the city of Merida.

Ah Chuy Kak         War god.

Ah Ciliz                  God of solar eclipses.

Ah Cun Can           A war god known as the Serpent Charmer.

Ah Cuxtal               God of birth.

Ah Hulneb              War god.

Ah Kin    Sun god and the controller of drought and disease.

Ah Kumix Uinicob               Attendant water gods.

Ah Mun                  God of maize or corn.

Ah Muzencab        Gods of bees.

Ah Peku                  God of thunder.

Ah Puch                  God of death and ruler of Mitnal, the lowest and most terrible of the nine hells. Portrayed as a man with an owl's head or as a skeleton or bloated corpse. Also known as 'God A'.

Ah Tabai                 A god of hunting.

Ah Uincir Dz'acab                God of healing.

Ah Uuc Ticab        Deity of the underworld.

Ahau-Kin               Called the 'lord of the sun face'. The god of the sun, he possessed two forms - one for the day and one at night. During the day he was a man with some jaguar features, but between sunset and sunrise he became the Jaguar God, a lord of the underworld who travelled from west to east through the lower regions.

Ahmakiq                 God of agriculture who takes control of the wind when it threatens to destroy the crops.

Ahulane                  A war god, known as the Archer.

Ajbit        One of thirteen deities who created human beings.

Akhushtal               Goddess of childbirth.

Alaghom Naom     Mother goddess of the Mayans. She is associated with the creation of the mind and of thought.

Alom       God of the sky and one of seven deities responsible for the creation of the world.

Bacabs    Giants who hold up the sky at the four cardinal points, they are: Cauac, Ix Kan and Mulac.

Backlum Chaam   God of male sexuality.

Balam      Mayan for 'jaguar', these deities are the protectors of individuals in their daily lives, and of the community from external menaces.

Bitol        One of the seven Mayan creator deities.

Bolontiku               A group of deities of the underworld.

Buluc Chabtan       God of war. He was the deity to whom humans were sacrificed. Also known as 'God F'.

Cabaguil                 One of the deities who created the world. Known as the 'Heart of the Sky'.

Cakulha Deiety of the lesser lightning bolts.

Camaxtli                 God of Fate.

Camazotz               Bat-god, he was ultimately defeated by humans.

Caprakan                God of mountains and earthquakes.

Cauac      One of the four Bacabs, he is associated with the South and the color Red.

Chac        God of agriculture and rain. Later worshipped as one of the Bacabs, associated with the East. He is pictured with curling fangs, a long turned-up nose and tears streaming from his eyes.

Chac Uayab Xoc   God of fish. He had a dual nature - he provided a good catch for fishermen, but also devoured their drowned comrades.

Chamer   God of death, he was principally worshipped in Guatemala.

Chaob      Gods of the wind, associated with the cardinal directions.

Chibirias                 Earth goddess.

Chiccan   Rain gods associated with the four cardinal directions. They create rain from the lakes in which they live.

Cit Bolon Tum      God of Medicine.

Cizin        God of death. He burns the dead in the Mayan underworld.

Colel Cab               Earth Goddess.

Colop U Uichkin   Sky God.

Coyopa    God of thunder.

Cum Hau                Death god.

Ekchuah                  God of war, he was seen as firece and violent. He is also the god of merchants, and was often pictured carrying a bag of merchandise. Also known as 'God M'.

Ghanan   God of agriculture.

Gucumatz               Serpent god who brought civilization and agriculture to man.

Hacha'kyum           The Lacandon Maya god of real people. People who were not Lacandon Maya were not considered to be real.

Hun Came              Co-ruler of the Mayan Underworld.

Hun Hunahpu        A fertility god, he was so fertile that after being beheaded, his severed head was placed on a barren gourd which immediately began to bear fruit.

Hunab Ku               Supreme god and creator of the world. He was the chief deity of the Mayans.

Hurakan                  Ancient god of wind and storm. He brings the displeasure of the gods to humans in the form of winds, storms and floods.

Itzamna   Founder of the Mayan culture and the state-god of the empire. He taught the people writing, heling and the use of the calendar. Also known as 'God D'.

Itzananohk`u          God of Lacandon.

Ix              One of the four Bacabs. He is associated with the West and the color black. 

Ixchel      Earth and moon goddess, she is the patron of weaving and pregnant women. Pictured with a smanke as a headband and a skirt embroidered with crossbones.

Ixtab        Goddess of the noose and the gallows, she is the patron of those who died by suicide. She is pictured as a woman hanging from a tree by a noose, here eyes closed and her body partly decomposed.

Ixzaluoh                  Water goddess who invented weaving.

Kan          One of the Bacabs, he is associated with the East and the color yellow.

Kan-u-Uayeyab     Guardian of the cities.

Kan-xib-yui           God who recreated the earth afte the Bacabs destroyed it.

Kianto     The Lacandon god of foreigners and diseases.

K'in          Sun god.

Kinich Ahau          Sun god portrayed as a firebird or phoenix. Similar to the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.

Kukulcan                Supreme god, the master of the four elements and the god of resurrection and reincarnation. He is pictured as a feathered serpent, very similar to the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl.

Mulac      One of the Bacabs, he is associated with the North and the color white.

Naum      God of the mind and thought.

Nohochacyum       God of creation.

Tlacolotl                 God of evil.

Tohil        Fire god.

Tzakol     Sky god.

Votan      God of the drum.

Xaman Ek              God of the north star, he is the protector of merchants and travellers. Offerings were made to him on altars erected beside roads.

Yaluk      The most powerful of the lightning gods.

Yum Caax              God of maize and agriculture. He is the personification of male beauty. Also known as 'God E'.

Zotz         Bat-god of caves, he is the patron of the Zotzil Indians of Mexico