Ganesha

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 Origin: Hinduism

Title: Remover of Obstacles, Patron of Arts and Sciences, Lord of Beginnings, and also known as Vinayaka, Pillaiyar, and Ganapati
Attributes:
  • Appearance: Ganesha is easily recognizable with an elephant head, which symbolizes wisdom and intelligence:
    • He has a large belly, often explained as containing the entire universe, symbolizing his capacity to digest all that exists.
    • Four arms, each holding items:
      • An axe or goad (ankusha) to cut through obstacles and attachments.
      • A noose (pasha) to capture and bind the mind to the divine path.
      • A sweet (modak) representing the rewards of spiritual pursuits.
      • Sometimes, his fourth hand is shown in a blessing gesture (abhaya mudra) or holding a broken tusk, which he used to write the Mahabharata as dictated by Vyasa.
    • He rides on or is depicted with a mouse (or rat), which signifies the taming of desires and ego.
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Parvati

in  

 Origin: Hinduism

Title: Goddess of Love, Marriage, Power, Devotion, and Motherhood

Attributes:
  • Appearance: Parvati is often depicted with a calm and serene face, symbolizing her inner peace. She has two or four arms, holding various items:
    • A trident or a blue flower, symbolizing her connection with Shiva.
    • Sometimes, a mirror for self-realization or a rosary for spiritual practices.
    • She might also be shown with a child, representing her aspect as a mother.
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Saraswati

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 Origin: Hinduism

Title: Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Arts, Wisdom, and Learning
Attributes:
  • Appearance: Saraswati is depicted with fair skin, symbolizing purity. She wears a white saree, signifying the purity of true knowledge. Her four arms represent the four aspects of human personality in learning: mind, intellect, alertness, and ego:
    • She holds a veena (a musical instrument), symbolizing art and science, the harmony of the cosmos.
    • A book of the Vedas, representing true knowledge.
    • A crystal rosary, for the power of meditation and spirituality.
    • Sometimes, she is depicted with a peacock by her side, which represents her ability to control ego.
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Lakshmi

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 Origin: Hinduism

Title: Goddess of Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune, and Beauty
Attributes:
  • Appearance: Lakshmi is usually depicted with golden skin, symbolizing her radiance and wealth. She has four arms, each representing the four ends of human life: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire), and moksha (liberation). She holds:
    • Lotus flowers, which symbolize purity, beauty, and spiritual power.
    • Sometimes, she might hold a pot of gold or coins representing wealth.
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Shiva

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 Origin: Hinduism

Title: The Destroyer, The Auspicious One
Attributes:
  • Appearance: Shiva is often depicted with a third eye on his forehead representing wisdom, blue throat (Neelakantha) from consuming poison during the churning of the ocean, matted hair, a crescent moon on his head, the river Ganga flowing from his hair, a trident (Trishula), and a serpent around his neck.
  • Vehicle: Nandi, the bull, is his mount, symbolizing strength, virility, and righteousness.
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Vishnu

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 Origin: Hinduism

Title: The Preserver, Sustainer of the Universe
Attributes:
  • Appearance: Vishnu is often depicted with dark blue skin symbolizing the infinite space, four arms representing his omnipresence, holding:
    • A conch shell (Shankha) for the divine sound that purifies the world.
    • A discus (Sudarshana Chakra) for the mind, symbolizing the destruction of evil.
    • A mace (Kaumodaki) symbolizing the power of knowledge.
    • A lotus (Padma) for purity and creation.
  • Vehicle: Garuda, the eagle, symbolizes swiftness and the divine vehicle of the deity.
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