Unlike other major religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism which believe that there is only one god, Hinduism is a religion with thousands of gods although many are reincarnations of another. Each of the gods and goddesses has different abilities and legends.
The three most important gods are called the Trimurti, comprising of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Their supreme importance is due to their roles in the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe.
However, many other gods are also highly esteemed by Hindus, especially those with beneficial powers. For example, Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity and domesticity, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, art, and music, and Ganesh is the remover of obstacles.
Quick Facts
- The three most important gods, referred to as the Trimurti include Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
- Even though there are numerous gods and goddesses in Hinduism, they believe that these are all ultimately just varying parts of Brahman, the Supreme Being.
- An avatar is the incarnated form of a god or goddess. Its role is to restore dharma, or moral order.
- A god or goddess may have many avatars. Vishnu is a well-known example of a god with many avatars.
- There are various denominations in Hinduism which are distinguished by the main god that they worship.
- Indians also often take names associated with gods, like Hari, another name for Lord Krishna. See more on Indian Names and Castes: 150 Popular Names with Meanings
1. Brahma, Hindu God of Creation
Brahma the Creator is the first god listed as one of the Trimurti, along with Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. He is not to be confused with Brahman the Supreme Being, or Brahmin the highest caste in the Hindu caste system. Brahma is depicted with four heads and arms.
Hindu concept of time is cyclical, meaning, that everything gets created by Brahma, preserved by Vishnu, and then destroyed by Shiva. This happens periodically, so that creation is not just a one-time event.
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Accommodations by Asia highlights have
Accommodations by Asia highlights have been terrific so far. The Khmer Residence in Siem Reap as well as Eastin Grand hotel in Bangkok. Both had excellent pools and breakfasts.Tours in Siem Reap were particularly well given with an amazing mix of culture, history and humor throughout (Mr Poly). Tours in Bangkok by Mr Banks were informative and well organized with samples of Thai fruit and treats throughout. More
Chris Williams, Nov 2023
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Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. More
Diane Elkins, Nov 2023
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Thailand- October 2023!
The team in Thailand was also great. Shout out to our tour guides (Monchai in Bangkok, Indy in Chang Mai and Sonia in Phuket) they were the best!! It was 6 of us and they make us all feel right at home! Kudos! More
Mori P, Nov 2023
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2.Vishnu, Hindu God of Preservation
Vishnu is the blue eagle-riding god with four arms, also known as the Preserver or the Sustainer of life. In accordance with his title, Vishnu's role is to protect the world from danger, in which case he would be incarnated as various avatars who will defend the world. He represents order, righteousness, and truth.
His two consorts are well-respected in their own right. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and domesticity, while Devi is the Earth goddess. He has a total of ten avatars, but his most famous and commonly worshipped are Rama and Krishna.
Learn more about Vishnu and his 10 Avatars here.
3.Shiva, Hindu God of Destruction
Shiva is known as The Destroyer, whose role is to destroy the world that has been created by Brahma and preserved by Vishnu. He can be distinguished by his third eye on his forehead which is usually closed. It is said that he is able to destroy by opening his third eye.
Mahashivrartri is a festival which takes place in February or March, celebrating the wedding of Shiva and Parvati. On this day, Hindus perform rituals such as chanting, fasting, and meditating.
One of the best places to witness the Mahashivrartri celebration is in Varanasi, the home of Kashi Vishwanath temple. This temple is one of the most important Shiva temples in India.
4.Rama, Hindu God of Truth and Virtue (7th Avatar of Vishnu)
Rama is the beloved central character in the legend of Ramayana, one of the epic mythologies of Hinduism. He is portrayed as the ideal human being mentally, spiritually, and physically. The story tells about his struggles as a young prince in exile for 14 years.
Diwali, or Festival of Lights, is a famous Indian festival that celebrates Rama's triumph over a demon king called Ravana, after which Rama was able to return to his people after 14 years of exile.
The celebration takes place over five days and each day has its own significance. During this festival, light lights around their homes, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The goddess Lakshmi is also commonly worshiped during this festival.
5.Krishna, Hindu God of Love and Compassion (8th Avatar of Vishnu)
Krishna is known as the blue-skinned god commonly depicted playing his flute with seductive powers. He is one of the most well-known gods with a witty and playful character. As one of Vishnu's avatars, his role is to bring hope to the earth and free it from the evil rulers.
Krishna's story unravels in Bhagavad Gita, which is the story section of Mahabharatha, the longest poem in the world. In the story, Krishna's role is as a moral advisor to Arjuna, the main protagonist.
Janmashtami festival in August celebrates the birth of Krishna. During the two-day festival, Hindus pray, fast, sing, and perform enactments of the life of Krishna. In Mumbai, this festival culminates in an exciting activity called Dahi Handi where people form a human pyramid to reach a clay pot of yogurt that hangs from a tall building.
6.Saraswati, Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Art, and Music
Saraswati who is the wife of Brahma, and the daughter of Shiva and Durga (Devi), is the goddess of knowledge, art, and music. She is portrayed sitting on a white lotus and playing the veena which is a traditional stringed instrument.
Hindu students are encouraged to pray to her especially before examinations or other intellectual pursuits as she is believed to be able to impart wisdom.
7.Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of Prosperity and Domesticity
Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, is the goddess of prosperity, domesticity, beauty, and purity. She is distinguished by her four arms and golden complexion. In Hindu mythology, Lakshmi is incarnated as the avatars of Vishnu's wives, namely as Sita, the wife of Rama, and Rukmini, the wife of Krishna.
It is common for Indian households to have her image in the home. She is celebrated during the 5-day Divali festival along with Rama.
8.Parvati, The Divine Mother
Parvati is the wife of Shiva and is also known as The Divine Mother. She is the reincarnation of Sati, who is Shiva's first wife. Her popular avatars are Durga and Kali, the goddess of time and death.
The wives of the Trimurti gods together include Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, are referred to as the 'Tridevi', which means triple goddess.
9. Durga Puja, Hindu Goddess of War (Avatar of Parvati)
Durga is the goddess of war and one of the avatars of Parvati. Reflected in her title, she is a fierce and frightening goddess with ten arms who fights to restore dharma (moral order).
Durga Puja is the celebration of Durga defeating the buffalo demon Mahishasura. This 5-day festival is celebrated in Kolkata and West Bengal every September or October. In the rest of India celebrates Navaratri in place of Durga Puja. The two festivals are similar and actually occur at the same time. During Navaratri, Hindus focus on the purity of their minds and on cleansing negative feelings.
During Durga Puja, each neighborhood competes to make the largest and best statue of Durga which are then paraded around the city for viewing and submerged into the Hugli River on the last day of celebrations.
10. Ganesha, Hindu Elephant God of Success and Remover of Obstacles
Ganesha, recognizable by his elephant head, is the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is one of the most beloved Hindu gods because of his role as the remover of obstacles and god of success. Pictures or statues of Ganesha can be found in most Hindu households and even hanging in cars or trucks.
The city of Mumbai celebrates his birth through a 10-day festival every year calledGanesh Chaturthi. Similar to Durga Puja, during Ganesh Chaturthi festival, there is a competition between neighborhoods to make the most beautiful statue of Ganesh.
The statue is then given offerings and celebrated with rituals until it is carried to the ocean on the last day and submerged, symbolizing its departure from Earth to the heavens.
Explore India with Asia Highlights
Every god and goddess has its own unique characteristics and is celebrated by Hindus in a different way. Experience some of India's most popular festivals and exotic temples as you learn about Hinduism during your trip to India. Travel with us and learn about how local people worship the Hindu gods through our tailor-made tours and one-on-one service!
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It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.)
moreFrom the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic.
moreThe tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history
moreWe made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreOther highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing,
moreOur day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China.
moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
moreWe traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great.
moreWe visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise.
moreAmazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping!
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