hinduism

• what does vishnu hold

  mace, discus/wheel, lotus, conch
• Vishnu's iconography


  4 arms, dark blue skin
• what is vishnu's vahana

  Eagle - garuda
• what festivals celebrate vishnu


  festivals of his dashavatar (eg- Diwali, Holi, Janmashtmi)
• What does shiva hold

  trishula, damaru, pinaka bow, axe
• what is shiva's iconography

  4 arms, serpent around neck, crescent moon, river ganga flowing through hair, third eye, blue throat
• what is shiva's vahana

  bull - nandi
• what festival celebrates shiva

  maha shivratri
• what does durga hold

  chakra, conch, bow, arrow, sword, javelin, trishula, shield, noose, thunder bolt
• iconography of durga 


  10 arms, depicted as a beautiful women, often fighting demons/riding a lion/tiger
• what is durgas vahana

  lion/tiger
• what festivals celebrate durga


  durga puja/navratri
• what does ganesh hold

  bowl of ladus, rosary, noose, broken tusk
• iconography of ganesh


  4 arms, broken tusk, large stomach, elephant head
• what is ganesh's vahana

  Mouse - Mushaka
• what festival celebrates ganesh

  ganesh chaturthi
• what does karthikeya hold

  vel, sword, javelin, mace, discus, bow
• iconography of karthikeya


  4 arms, warrior
• what is karthikeya's vahana

  peacock - parvani
• what festival celebrates Karthikeya

  kavadi
• what does vamana hold

  waterpot, umbrella, stick
• what does narsimha hold

  discus (chakra), conch
• iconography of narsimha


  half-lion half-human, sharp fingernails, commonly pictured with 4 arms
• what does rama hold

  bow and arrow
• iconography of rama


  human, generally blue
• what does krishna hold

  conch, disc, mace, lotus
• iconography of krishna


  human, wearing a peacock feather, playing flute
• what festival celebrates rama

  diwali
• what festival celebrates krishna

  janmashtmi
• Atman


  Ultimate reality manifesting as the 'I' – immortal and imperishable – Spirit appearing as the individual
• Brahman


  Ultimate reality manifesting as 'everything' – Spirit appearing as the universe and everything in it
• Bhakti


  Attraction for personal God – worship, adoration devotion
• Navadhaa Bhakti


  • Hear
  • Chant
  • Remember
  • Worship
  • Pray
• Para Bhakti


  Higher bhakti best as ask nothing from God but for God himself
• Trimurti


  THREE IMAGES IN ONE: Idea of God as creator Brahma; God as preserver; Vishnu and sometimes shown as destroyer; Shiva
• Vishnu


  God as Preserver
• Shiva


  Means one who gives Grace – One of the main deities of Hindus – God as Natraj – creator, preserver and destroyer
• Shakti


  God as female. As the manifesting power of Brahman
• Durga


  Form of Parvati, Warrior Goddess symbolising victory of good over evil
• Durga Puja


  Celebrating God as female by worshipping Durga – goddess who destroys evil and grants boons