What animal does the Hindu gods/goddesses ride on?
98704
The activities of ancient Indians were woven around the animals. Therefore, they knew the happenings of animal world as much as today's ardent student of zoology. This vast knowledge has been recorded in the scriptures of the time. The Upanishads contain detailed descriptions of horses and cattle. The Garudapurana contains life-histories of fishes and turtles. There are also religious books dedicated to a specific animal. Nagamahdimya, Nandi-purdoa, Mayiratrahimya and Pashu-puriltia are only a few of them. These writings are older than other scriptures of the world; they contain very modern concept such as, origin of life, organic evolution and environmental science.\n\nRam- The goat-vehicle of Agni(fire)\nSwan- Vehicle of Saraswati & Brahma\nBull - Vehicle of Shiva\nLion -Vehicle of Kali & durga\nMouse - Vehicle of Ganesha
283604
In the Hindu religion, any divine being is shown as blue to indicate their divinity.
349116
The sanctity of the cow is perhaps the foremost sentiment of Hindus for whom this sacred animal has far deeper nuances in Indian culture and ethos than is generally understood. For instance, in Sanskrit, the vocabulary used to mention the cow is indeed staggering, revealing the extraordinary importance that was once attached to it.\n\nIndian scriptures tell us that the cow is a gift of the gods to the human race. It is a celestial being born of the churning of the cosmic ocean. \n \n \n  Guias the cow is called in Hindi, is symbolic of Earth itself (similar to Gaia,the Greek goddess of earth). It follows that the cow represents the Divine Mother that sustains all human beings and brings them up as her very own offspring. Much as a mother shows the highest mark of affection for her young, the passion of the cow for her calf is just as legendary and often referred to in Indian literature. The ancient texts describe how the gods run to the succour of a devotee like a cow hastening to feed her calf. In fact, the cow is even more than a mother in the sense that it fulfills all the needs of her children as well. It is in this conception that the cow is understood as Kakadhenu, the wish filling mythical cow, abode of the 330 million Indian gods and goddesses.\n\nBut in Indian mythology and legend, it is with the cult of Krishna that the cow is closely connected. Among other deeds, Krishna is said to have lifted mount Govardhan to protect his group of cows, cowboys and milkmaids. In popular imagination it is Lord Krishna who symbolized the relationship man should have for the cow. Hence to take care of this innocent and self-sacrificing animal is a matter of virtue for Hindus who identify the act ad dharma or moral duty.\n\nConsiderations of conscience aside, it was natural that in a predominantly agricultural and pastoral country like India, cows were and to some extent still are, considered to be the real wealth of the people. After all it is the cow that gives birth to the bulls, bulls that are harnessed to plough the fields and to provide transportation. And then of course, there is the mild--milk that is cultured to become yoghurt--yoghurt which is churned to produce butter--butter which is converted into ghee or clarified butter that in India is used as cooking medium. In addition to this, there is paneer or cottage cheese and buttermilk. Indians cannot forget khoyaand mana--the other milk derivatives used in preparation of sweets. No wonder the cow is considered the backbone of rural society. \n\nPaeans of praise is reserved for cow's milk and ghee which is considered to be an elixir. Dr. D. Bhandari, the former Director of Animal Husbandry in Rajasthan said, "You see it is the wonderful bacterial flora of the cow's stomach that imparts this matchless quality to its milk ideally balanced for humans. Buffalo milk may be richer but it is the cow's milk that sharpens intellect, gives swiftness of body, stability of emotions and a serene nature to the one who drinks it." \n\nAlso taken, but in measured quantities, is cow urine or gau mutra which has a unique place in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine. Commenting on the chemistry of gau mutra,Dr. C.H.S. Sastry, Director of the National Institute of Ayurveda said, "Cow urine is used to produce a whole range of ayurvedic drugs, especially to treat skin diseases like eczema." Besides, gau mutra is a well known disinfectant. Anti-septic property is also the attribute of cow dung or gobar which is mixed with clay to form a plastering medium for mud huts. It is a proven fact that mud huts plastered with gobar keeps insects and reptiles away. This is the reason why people in the countryside still store grain in huge earthen pots plastered with gobar and gau mutra to keep it free from insect manifestations. \n\nGobarand gau mutrais also mixed with mud and straw to make dried cakes that fuel kitchen fires. Traditional wisdom says that in burning
934718
Sri, also known as Lakshmi is the most commonly worshipped Hindu goddess. Since hinduism probably has the largest body of goddess worshippers of any particular religion, it is a safe bet that Sri is number one.\nSome people would define the cult of Mary within Christianity as a form of Goddess worship. However, this probably doesn't count since the worshippers of Mary themselves would probably not agree.
85736
Deities/sons of deities believed to be products of virgin births:\nJesus Christ (Christian)\nLord Krishna (Hindu)\nLord Buddha (Buddhist)\nAhura Mazda (Zoroastrianism)\nQuetzalcoatl (Aztec/Mesoamerican)\nHorus-Re (also spelled Horus) (Ancient Egyptian)\n\nHope this is helpful! :-)
409866
Hinduism. it still includes mother goddess, sun, fire worship and shamans. \n\nwe call it Sanatana dharma. it includes most ancient traditions. yet always modifying itself according to changing ideas. still retaining old traditions and beliefs.\n\nstill for religious practices pots made of bronze are supposed auspicious. that was the first metal man used. \n\nHinduism has a continuous evolution tradition. but it never negated or disregarded earlier beliefs. it just modifies them. \n\nyou want to study religious evolution of man study hinduism. it will go back to stone age and latest off shoot of hinduism Sikh Panth is hardly 400 yers old.
740514
Shiva (English IPA: [ʃɪvə], [ʃiːvə] Sanskrit: शिव; Hindi: शिव; Malayalam ശിവന്‍; Tamil: சிவன் (when used to distinguish lordly status), also known as Siva and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as /ɕiʋə/) is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism, one of the major branches of Hinduism practiced in India.\n\nHe is the formless, timeless and spaceless Supreme God. Adi Sankara interprets the name Shiva meaning "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. The name Shiva is the Holiest of Holy names. The Good Lord is beyond and unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter/nature) namely Satva, Rajas, and Tamas.\n\nRudra is one of the Trimurti (not to be compared to the trinity as in Christianity). In the Trimurti, Rudra is the destroyer, and Brahma is the creator and Vishnu is the preserver. Shiva, according to some Hindu traditions, does everything. All other hindu gods and goddess are lesser than Shiva. According to Shaivism, the Good Lord Shiva performs five functions: 1. Creator, 2. Preserver, 3. Destroyer of evil, 4. Reprieving us from the sins, and most importantly, 5. Blessing.\n\nOther views contend that Shiva produces Vishnu who produces Brahma and thus creation began, within which the cycle of the Trimurti exists. Shiva also assumes many other roles, including the Lord of Ascetics (Mahadeva, or the Great God), the Lord of Boons (Rudra, or The Howler - rud-iti rudra), and also the Universal Divinity (Maheshvara, the Great Lord).Shaivaites, the worshippers of Shiva consider as the Ultimate Reality (see Ishta-Deva for fuller discussion).\n\nShiva is usually represented by the Shiva linga (or lingam), usually depicted as a clay mound with three horizontal stripes on it, or visualised as a blazing pillar. In anthropomorphised images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation on Mount Kailash, his traditional abode.
256028
deities are like gods
686037
It's called Hinduism. I'm a hindu and many many many many ...... hidus like me are not vegetarian. I eat fish but vegetarian hindus don't. As for reincarnation/rebirth many Hindus don't believe in that either. There is nothing compulsory in Hinduism.
907982
Hinduism.  Try www.wikipedia.com for more info.
1004858
Probably not, as there is some link between the Olympian sky gods and those that evolved into the Hindu pantheon.  The remainder were indigenous native spirits and animal totems plus a very strong goddess cult represented by such goddesses as Rhea, Hera, Athena, Demeter and Kore (Persephone), plus many others, often arranged into triads.\n\n["Nephilim" comes from the Bible, and means "fallen ones," though it has also been translated as "giants."]
813162
In the middle:  the Buddha (an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism), reincarnation, aim of life is to be free from the cycle of rebirth\n\nIn the only Hindu part:  asceticism, the Hindu gods (Shiva, Vishnu, Kali, Durga, etc.), the Hindu saints (Alvars and Nayanmars), the Hindu scriptures and epics (Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharata), the varnas (caste), the Laws of Manu, the 4 stages of man (student, householder, forest-dweller, wandering ascetic), gurus, Hindu temples\n\nIn the only Buddhist part:  the Middle Way, bodhisattvas, Buddhist temples and monuments, and maybe especially expansion to Tibet and China where Vajrayana and Mahayana practices, respectively, were elaborated.
1008629
Japanese legend has a unicorn-like beast called a Ki-rin; Chinese legend has a Kilin (similarly spelled but a lot different than a Ki-rin); and Arabian folklore holds glimpses of a karkadaan.\n\nAs for real Unicorns, India has a rhinocerous, Arabia has an antelpe called an oryx, and the narwhal I think might be called a sea unicorn sometimes.\n\nHope this helps...
1057595
Hanuman is the Monkey God, the God of Wisdom.
946192
Bahamut (Arabic: بهموت‎ Bahamūt) is a giant omnipotent being in Arabic mythology. Bahamut rides on a giant whale creature called Liwash that resides in a vast sea, the Adwad. He supports a huge bull named Kujuta who has four thousand eyes, and the same number of ears, noses, mouths, tongues and feet. The distance between each is a five hundred years' journey. Kujuta supports on him a rock of ruby, atop which stands an angel who supports the seven heavens.
506753
Vishnu is regarded as a major god in Hinduism and Indian mythology. He is thought as the preserver of the universe while two other major Hindu gods Brahma and Shiva, are regarded respectively, as the creator and destroyer of the universe. \n\nThe original worship of Vishnu, by the Aryan conquerors of India or the original Dravidian inhabitants is not definitely known. In the ancient Vedas, the body of literature known as the Veda, and sacred literature of the Aryan conquerors, Vishnu is ranked among the lesser gods and is usually associated with the major Vedic god Indra who in the epics and Puranas fights against dragons and demonic forces. These latter writings emerge during the later development of Hinduism. \n\nIt is throughout this literature and especially through incarnations that Vishnu is raised to higher rankings within the Hindu pantheon. He becomes the prominent second god of the Trimurti, the Hindu Triad, while Brahma is first and Shiva is third. \n\nIn some Puranic literature Vishnu is said to be eternal, an all-pervading spirit, and associated with the primeval waters that are believed to have been omnipresent before the creation of the universe. \n\nThe concept of Vishnu being the preserver of the world came relatively late in Hinduism. Presumedly it sprang from two other beliefs: that men attain salvation by faithfully following predetermined paths of duty, and that powers of good and evil (gods and demons) are in contention for domination over the world. When these powers are upset Vishnu, it is further believed, descends to earth, or his avatar, to equalized the powers. Further it is thought that ten such incarnations or reincarnations of Vishnu will occur. Nine descents are said to have already occurred, the tenth is yet to come. Rama and Krishna were the seventh and eighth. \n\nAnother interesting speculation concerning Vishnu's role as preserver among many modern scholars is that it is characteristic of the practitioners of Hinduism to raise local legendary heroes to gods in the Hindu pantheon. \n\nVishnu is portrayed as blue or black shinned and has four arms. He has a thousand names and their repetition is an act of devotion
581558
God is only one, but there are 3 crores of deities in Hindu religion. Deities used to live in this world when this world was heaven. They are special and the most clever beings on this earth. Most of the Hindus worship these deities same as Christians worship Jesus or Muslims who admire muhammed or Ibrahim. The 5 million which u was taking about are not God.