The stories, myths, and legends found in our Sanathana Dharma (or Hinduism as most of us know it) have enough characters to spin anyone's head right off their neck. Here's a who's who to keep track of the several characters that we may encounter on our journey through these pages. However keep in mind that these are just bare introductions. Each of these characters have enough stories about their past to keep us occupied for a very long time.
This page is updated after every post, adding any new person/animal/celestial that maybe appropriate. Have fun getting to know them and let me know if I have missed out one or two of our heroes and villains alike!
This page is updated after every post, adding any new person/animal/celestial that maybe appropriate. Have fun getting to know them and let me know if I have missed out one or two of our heroes and villains alike!
Adisesha - The primordial servant. Adisesha is the emperor of snakes, who acts as the bed/seat/umbrella for MahaVishnu. He is also one of the serpents of the netherworld responsible for holding up the earth.
Agastya - A great sage, of a short stature and a jolly countenance, who is is believed to have gifted the Tamizh language to the dravidian people. He is considered to be a direct disciple of Shiva, and the leader of all Siddhapurushas. He has several impressive achievements on his resume.
Ahalya - The wife of Gauthama Rishi, whose story appears in the Baala Kaanda of the Raamayana. She was cursed to be a stone by her own husband. for having been duped and seduced by Indra. Her curse was lifted when the dust from the feet of Sri Raama falls on her, and she is united with Gauthama. She is also the mind-born daughter of Brahma.
Airavatha - The majestic elephant who serves as the vehicle of Indra. It is believed to have a pearly white-sheen and four tusks.
Bhairava - A form of Shiva, who appears whenever Shiva's anger is aroused rightfully. He is associated with annihilation and destruction of evil. There are 64 Bhairavas, grouped into 8 categories. Each of these 8 groups is headed by a Bhairava, and together these eight are known as the AshtaBhairavas.
Brahma - The first of the hindu-trinity. Brahma is responsible for creation, and has 4 heads, one associated with each cardinal direction. He is Saraswathi's husband, and resides in Satyaloka. He is said to have been born from a lotus that arose from the navel of MahaVishnu.
Chandikeshwarar - A devotee of Shiva, who was rewarded with the position of being the care-taker of Shiva's untold riches. He is one of the 63 Nayanmars glorified in south India.
Durvasa - A great saint who was notorious for his shockingly short-temper and the ugly curses that went with it. He was born to the holy couple - Atri and Anasuya - as a manifestation of Shiva's anger.
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Gajamukha - The elephant headed lord (Ganesha).
Gajanana - The elephant headed lord (Ganesha).
Ganapati - The leader of all the Ganas (Ganesha).
Ganesha - The lord of of all the Ganas (Ganesha).
Gauthama - One of the sapta-rishis (Seven Great Sages) of the present age, he is the husband of Ahalya and a seer of several mantras in the Veda.
Guru - Spiritual teacher, mentor and guide.
Devendra (a.k.a Indra) - The leader of all the Devas. It is a position that changes with time. The present Indra is Purandara.
Karthikeya - He who was brought up by the Krittika devis. He is the son of Shiva and Parvathi, and the commander-in-chief of the celestial armies. He is the supreme deity for a branch of sanatana dharma known as Kaumaaram.
Kaveri - The name of a river in South India. She is said to have been born to Kavera Maharishi, and was married to Agastya.
Lambodhara - The large (or long) bellied one (Ganesha).
Mahakali - The fiery aspect of the mother goddess, and the ruler of time and death. She is often depicted to be a fearsome goddess, with several arms carrying as many weapons. Her eyes are blood-shot and her teeth are sharp and dripping with blood. However, in reality, her heart is full of love for her children, and she is known to grant wishes instantly.
MahaLakshmi - The wife of MahaVishnu, she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is said to have risen from the milk ocean during the churning for amrutha. MahaLakshmi resides on the chest of MahaVishnu, seated on a lotus, and is praised as the source of all auspicious objects.
MahaVishnu - The second of the Hindu-Trinity, who is responsible for sustenance. He resides on the Milk Ocean, on the bed of Adisesha, with His wife, MahaLakshmi, by his side. In the Vaishnava branch of sanatana dharma, he is worshiped as the supreme being.
Maheshwara - An epithet given to Shiva, meaning the great Lord
Nandi - The chief vehicle of Shiva. He is shown to have the head of a bull and the body of a man. However, while carrying Shiva and Parvathi, He is shown to be as a complete bull.
Narayana - An epithet given to MahaVishnu which means He who is the ultimate shelter for all mankind.
Nataraja - A form of Shiva, where He is shown to be the king of dance and all dance forms. His temple at Chidambaram is extremely famous, and several million replicas of this form of Shiva are found all over the world.
Navagrahas - The nine planets which are responsible for the course of one's life. They are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Angaaraka (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Shukra (Venus), Guru (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn), Raahu (Dragon-Head) and Kethu (Dragon-Tail).
Parameshwara - An epithet given to Shiva, meaning the supreme Lord.
Parvathi - The wife of Shiva, she is venerated as the goddess of fertility, love, and strength. Since she was born to Himavan, the mountain King (or ParvathaRajan), she came to be known as Parvathi. She is seen to be a form of the supreme goddess, who is the recreative energy and the power of Shiva. Together with Shiva, she is hailed as the cause from which all the universe is born.
Shani - One of the NavaGrahas, he represents Saturn. He is the son of Surya, and is one of the most feared Grahas.
ShankaraNarayana - A form of Shiva, where the left-half is seen to be occupied by Narayana. This form is particularly famous at the temple of Sankaran Kovil in southern Tamizh Nadu.
Shiva - The last of the hindu-trinity, he is responsible for destruction. In the Shaiva branch of sanatana dharma, he is venerated as the supreme being. He resides atop Mount Kailasha, together with his family, and a horde of followers, saints, ghouls, and ghosts.
Skanda - Another name for Karthikeya.
Somaskandar - A form of Shiva where He is seen to be seated on a platform with his wife Uma and son Skanda. Saha-Uma-Skandar, which means 'with Uma and Skanda', eventually became Somaskandar.
Surya - The sun-god. He is also one of the NavaGrahas and the leader of them all.
Thirugnaanna Sambandhar - One of the foremost Nayanmars and a wandering Shaiva saint. He was one of the youngest Nayanmar, who attained liberation at the young age of 16. His works collectively form the first three volumes of the Thirumurai (a compendium of songs and verses in Tamizh, sung in the praise of Shiva).
Thirumoolar - A mystic Shaiva saint who was also one of the 18 Siddhapurushas. He is said to have authored the Thirumantiram (some 3000 verses) which deals with spirituality and the greatness of Shiva.
Valli - The second consort of Karthikeya. She was born from a doe and was brought up by Nambi-Rajan, the chief of the kuravar tribe in Tamizh Nadu. Karthikeya woes her - first as a hunter, then as an old man, and eventually asks for her hand in marriage after revealing his true form. In her previous birth, she was the daughter of MahaVishnu.
Agastya - A great sage, of a short stature and a jolly countenance, who is is believed to have gifted the Tamizh language to the dravidian people. He is considered to be a direct disciple of Shiva, and the leader of all Siddhapurushas. He has several impressive achievements on his resume.
Ahalya - The wife of Gauthama Rishi, whose story appears in the Baala Kaanda of the Raamayana. She was cursed to be a stone by her own husband. for having been duped and seduced by Indra. Her curse was lifted when the dust from the feet of Sri Raama falls on her, and she is united with Gauthama. She is also the mind-born daughter of Brahma.
Airavatha - The majestic elephant who serves as the vehicle of Indra. It is believed to have a pearly white-sheen and four tusks.
Bhairava - A form of Shiva, who appears whenever Shiva's anger is aroused rightfully. He is associated with annihilation and destruction of evil. There are 64 Bhairavas, grouped into 8 categories. Each of these 8 groups is headed by a Bhairava, and together these eight are known as the AshtaBhairavas.
Brahma - The first of the hindu-trinity. Brahma is responsible for creation, and has 4 heads, one associated with each cardinal direction. He is Saraswathi's husband, and resides in Satyaloka. He is said to have been born from a lotus that arose from the navel of MahaVishnu.
Chandikeshwarar - A devotee of Shiva, who was rewarded with the position of being the care-taker of Shiva's untold riches. He is one of the 63 Nayanmars glorified in south India.
Durvasa - A great saint who was notorious for his shockingly short-temper and the ugly curses that went with it. He was born to the holy couple - Atri and Anasuya - as a manifestation of Shiva's anger.
.
Gajamukha - The elephant headed lord (Ganesha).
Gajanana - The elephant headed lord (Ganesha).
Ganapati - The leader of all the Ganas (Ganesha).
Ganesha - The lord of of all the Ganas (Ganesha).
Gauthama - One of the sapta-rishis (Seven Great Sages) of the present age, he is the husband of Ahalya and a seer of several mantras in the Veda.
Guru - Spiritual teacher, mentor and guide.
Devendra (a.k.a Indra) - The leader of all the Devas. It is a position that changes with time. The present Indra is Purandara.
Karthikeya - He who was brought up by the Krittika devis. He is the son of Shiva and Parvathi, and the commander-in-chief of the celestial armies. He is the supreme deity for a branch of sanatana dharma known as Kaumaaram.
Kaveri - The name of a river in South India. She is said to have been born to Kavera Maharishi, and was married to Agastya.
Lambodhara - The large (or long) bellied one (Ganesha).
Mahakali - The fiery aspect of the mother goddess, and the ruler of time and death. She is often depicted to be a fearsome goddess, with several arms carrying as many weapons. Her eyes are blood-shot and her teeth are sharp and dripping with blood. However, in reality, her heart is full of love for her children, and she is known to grant wishes instantly.
MahaLakshmi - The wife of MahaVishnu, she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity. She is said to have risen from the milk ocean during the churning for amrutha. MahaLakshmi resides on the chest of MahaVishnu, seated on a lotus, and is praised as the source of all auspicious objects.
MahaVishnu - The second of the Hindu-Trinity, who is responsible for sustenance. He resides on the Milk Ocean, on the bed of Adisesha, with His wife, MahaLakshmi, by his side. In the Vaishnava branch of sanatana dharma, he is worshiped as the supreme being.
Maheshwara - An epithet given to Shiva, meaning the great Lord
Nandi - The chief vehicle of Shiva. He is shown to have the head of a bull and the body of a man. However, while carrying Shiva and Parvathi, He is shown to be as a complete bull.
Narayana - An epithet given to MahaVishnu which means He who is the ultimate shelter for all mankind.
Nataraja - A form of Shiva, where He is shown to be the king of dance and all dance forms. His temple at Chidambaram is extremely famous, and several million replicas of this form of Shiva are found all over the world.
Navagrahas - The nine planets which are responsible for the course of one's life. They are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Angaaraka (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Shukra (Venus), Guru (Jupiter), Shani (Saturn), Raahu (Dragon-Head) and Kethu (Dragon-Tail).
Parameshwara - An epithet given to Shiva, meaning the supreme Lord.
Parvathi - The wife of Shiva, she is venerated as the goddess of fertility, love, and strength. Since she was born to Himavan, the mountain King (or ParvathaRajan), she came to be known as Parvathi. She is seen to be a form of the supreme goddess, who is the recreative energy and the power of Shiva. Together with Shiva, she is hailed as the cause from which all the universe is born.
Shani - One of the NavaGrahas, he represents Saturn. He is the son of Surya, and is one of the most feared Grahas.
ShankaraNarayana - A form of Shiva, where the left-half is seen to be occupied by Narayana. This form is particularly famous at the temple of Sankaran Kovil in southern Tamizh Nadu.
Shiva - The last of the hindu-trinity, he is responsible for destruction. In the Shaiva branch of sanatana dharma, he is venerated as the supreme being. He resides atop Mount Kailasha, together with his family, and a horde of followers, saints, ghouls, and ghosts.
Skanda - Another name for Karthikeya.
Somaskandar - A form of Shiva where He is seen to be seated on a platform with his wife Uma and son Skanda. Saha-Uma-Skandar, which means 'with Uma and Skanda', eventually became Somaskandar.
Surya - The sun-god. He is also one of the NavaGrahas and the leader of them all.
Thirugnaanna Sambandhar - One of the foremost Nayanmars and a wandering Shaiva saint. He was one of the youngest Nayanmar, who attained liberation at the young age of 16. His works collectively form the first three volumes of the Thirumurai (a compendium of songs and verses in Tamizh, sung in the praise of Shiva).
Thirumoolar - A mystic Shaiva saint who was also one of the 18 Siddhapurushas. He is said to have authored the Thirumantiram (some 3000 verses) which deals with spirituality and the greatness of Shiva.
Valli - The second consort of Karthikeya. She was born from a doe and was brought up by Nambi-Rajan, the chief of the kuravar tribe in Tamizh Nadu. Karthikeya woes her - first as a hunter, then as an old man, and eventually asks for her hand in marriage after revealing his true form. In her previous birth, she was the daughter of MahaVishnu.
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