Complete List Of All Hindu Deities: Deva, Devi, Gods, And More

Last Updated on February 1, 2023

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Summary: This article contains the list of all Hindu deities and names of Gods in detail. You’ll find a comprehensive list of names of Hindu Gods, Devas, Devis, Vasus and more.

The Indian subcontinent is home to the greatest Hindu population anywhere in the globe, making Hinduism the third largest religion overall. A large portion of Hindus also refer to their faith as “the eternal law” (Sanatana Dharma), which supports the claim that Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion.

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There are a great number of gods and goddesses in Hinduism because the religion has so many different subgroups. However, there are four primary schools of thought that can be found within this religion. These are Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.

Despite the fact that the Rig Veda only mentions 33 deities, some holy people today believe that there are actually 330 million. A number of other gods and regional deities also enjoy limited but significant followings. I apologise if I missed any deities in my attempt to mention them all here. I have tried to list all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in this article.

Let’s start with the main Hindu Deities.

List Of All Hindu Deities: Major And Popular Hindu Gods

The most well-known and prominent deities in Hinduism are known collectively as the Trimurti. The Hindu Trinity, or Trimurti, is made up of the gods Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer). Their corresponding female deities are Saraswati, who is Brahma’s wife; Lakshmi, who is Vishnu’s wife; and Parvati, also known as Durga, who is Shiva’s wife.

1. Lord Brahman

It is believed that Lord Brahma made everything. A curse prevents his individual worship, so he is not adored. In his Trinity guise, he is worshipped and is typically portrayed seated on a lotus. Vishnu entrusted him with the task of creating the universe and gave him the four Vedas to guide him.

Lord Brahman is also popularly known by many names such as Vedanatha, Vedagarbha, Kaushala and Hiranyagarbha.

2. Lord Vishnu

Vishnu is the preserver god and second member of the Trimurti. Everyone agrees that he is the one who meddles with mortal matters the most. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and abundance, is his shakti (divine energy) and partner. He rests atop the heavenly snake Adishesha in Vaikuntha, his home. As the supreme deity in the eyes of Vaishnavites, he is worshipped as the supreme.

There are various forms of Lord Vishnu that are worshipped as Gods. These avatars or Dashavatars and various forms of Lord Vishnu are here as follows:

2.1. Narayana

Narayana is a name and form of Vishnu, the Hindu god of creation and preservation, who is said to be sleeping in a yogic trance somewhere deep below the surface of the ocean of the gods.

2.2. Perumal

The Hindu god Perumal, also known as Thirumal, is widely regarded as an incarnation of the supreme god Narayana. South Indian Tamil Hindus are the primary devotees of Perumal.

2.3. Jagannatha

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As a member of a triad that also includes his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, the deity Jagannath is venerated in certain regional Hindu traditions practised in India and Bangladesh.

2.4. Vishvarupa

Vishvarupa is a theophany and allegorical representation of a Hindu god, most often Vishnu in modern Hinduism. One of the most well-known Vishvarupa theophanies is Krishna’s presentation of the Bhagavad Gita in the great Indian epic the Mahabharata.

The Dashavatars of Lord Vishnu are:

2.5. Matsya

Matsya is Vishnu’s fish form, or avatar.

2.6. Kurma

Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation, has taken on the form of Kurma in his second incarnation. The Puranas and other works written after the time of the Vedic period are the ones most commonly associated with the word kurma.

2.7. Varaha

This boar-like incarnation of Vishnu is known as Varaha in Hinduism. The Dashavatara order typically ranks Varaha third.

2.8. Narasimha

Narasimha is Vishnu’s fourth incarnation, or avatar. To kill Hiranyakashipu, he is believed to have taken half human and half lion form.

2.9. Vamana

It is believed that Vamana is an incarnation of Vishnu, a Hindu god. In the Treta Yuga, he is the first of Vishnu’s avatars known as Dashavatara.

2.10. Parashurama

In Hinduism, Parashurama is the sixth incarnation, or avatar, of Vishnu, the god of preservation.

2.11. Rama

An important Hindu god is named Rama. A popular avatar of Vishnu, he is the god’s seventh incarnation on Earth.

2.12. Krishna

For Hindus, Krishna is one of the most important deities. Aside from being revered as Vishnu’s eighth incarnation, he is also regarded as the Supreme God.

2.13. Buddha

According to Hindu belief, the historical Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha, is the ninth of Vishnu’s ten major avatars.

2.14. Kalki

Kalki, also known as Kalkin or Karki, is the Hindu god Vishnu’s tenth and final incarnation.

3. Lord Shiva

Third in the Hindu trinity, Shiva is the god of destruction. His partner and his shakti, or divine spirit, is the goddess Parvati, who presides over feelings and sentiments. It is believed that he resides atop Mount Kailasha. Typically taken the shape of a Lingam, he enjoys widespread adoration. He meditates for the vast majority of his waking hours.

The Ganges is said to flow from his head and he has a blue throat from drinking the kalakuta poison created by the churning of the ocean, all of which are common features in depictions of him.

There are numerous avatars of Lord Shiva which are worshipped as Supreme Gods in various parts of India. The main Shiva avatars are as follows:

3.1. Veerabhadra

Virabhadra is one of Shiva’s many ferocious incarnations in Hinduism.

3.2. Lingam

In Shaivism, the abstract or aniconic image of the Hindu god Shiva is called a lingam, also spelled linga or Shiva linga.

3.3. Jyotirlinga

In Hinduism, Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlinga, also spelled Jyotirlingam.

3.4. Dakshinamurthy

In Hinduism, Dakshinamurthy represents Shiva’s role as all-knowing teacher, or guru.

3.5. Bhairava

Kala or Bhairava Both Hindus and Buddhists honour Bhairava, a deity venerated in the Shaivite and Vajrayana traditions.

3.6. Pashupati

For Hindus, Pashupati represents Lord Shiva in his role as protector of the animal kingdom. Most devotees of Pashupati can be found in Nepal and India.

3.7. Khandoba

Khandoba, also known as Martanda Bhairava, Malhari, or Malhar, is a Hindu deity worshipped as a manifestation of Shiva on the Deccan plateau of India, most notably in the state of Maharashtra.

3.8. Durvasa

Durvasa, or Durvasas as he is sometimes referred as in the Hindu texts, is a mythological sage (sage). Born to parents Anasuya and Atri, he is their son.

3.9. Nataraja

The Hindu god Shiva is depicted as the divine cosmic dancer in the form of Nataraja, also known as Adalvallaan. Tandava is the name of his dance style.

3.10. Bhikshatana

An aspect of the Hindu god Shiva known as “the Supreme Beggar,” Bhikshatana, or Bhikshatana-murti, can also be referred to by one of those names.

3.11. Dattatreya

Dattatreya (also known as Datt or Dattaguru) is a Hindu deity revered as a virtuous Sannyasi (monk).

3.12. Ardhanarishvara

Ardhanarishvara is a hybrid Hindu god that combines Shiva and his wife Parvati.

3.13. Tripurantaka

In Hinduism, the deity Shiva appears as Tripurantaka, also known as Tripurari and Pashupati. Similar to the Pinakapani murti, Shiva appears here with four arms, each holding a bow and arrow.

3.14. Mahakala

Sacred to both Hindus and Tantric Buddhists, Mahkla is revered in both religions. Mahkla is worshipped as the Dharmapala in Buddhism, whereas in Hinduism he is a ferocious incarnation of Shiva.

3.15. Sharabha

According to Hindu mythology, Sharabha (also spelled Sarabha) is a hybrid creature with the strength of both a lion and an elephant thanks to its eight legs and its birdlike features.

Primary Hindu Goddesses And Devis

There are three main goddesses in the Hindu religion. However, because of their several avatars or forms, there are more than 30 goddesses and Devis in Hinduism.

1. Goddess Saraswati (Maa Saraswati)

Saraswati is the patron goddess of the performing arts, literature, and language. Poetry and literature are also revered as manifestations of the goddess. She is the divine spouse of Brahma.

She is revered as a divine oracle. The Rigveda is the oldest religious scripture to mention Saraswati; later religious texts credit her with creating Sanskrit and attribute her gift of writing implements to Ganesha. In addition to being Brahma’s wife, she is a supporter of the creative and intellectual areas.

The two most important forms of Maa Saraswati Are:

1.1 Brahmani

Brahmani, also spelled Brahmi, is one of the Sapta Matrikas, the seven Hindu mother goddesses. The Hindu goddess Saraswati, of which she is a manifestation, is revered by her followers.

1.2. Gayatri

The Gayatri Mantra is a well-known Vedic chant, and Gayatri is its personified form. Gayatri is another name for Saraswati, as described in the Skanda Purana.

2. Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of money and prosperity. She is also revered for her aesthetic qualities. She is Vishnu’s wife, and together they keep the universe in one piece. The Samudra Manthana is a pivotal event in the Puranas, and its narrative centres on the origin of the goddess Samudra. She is frequently depicted atop an elephant, while the lotus is also a common seat for her.

Incarnations of Maa Laxmi that are worshipped as Goddesses are:

Bhumi

Vedavati (previous birth of Goddess Sita)

Sita

Radha

Gopis

Rukmini

Ashtabharya

Varahi

Ashta Lakshmi

Revati

Padmavathi

Niladevi

Tulasi

Rahi

Andal

Narasimhi

3. Parvati

The goddess Parvati represents beauty and fertility. Uma and Gauri are two of her many nicknames. It is said that she is the reborn Sati, Daksha’s daughter who was sacrificed at the Daksha Yajna. According to the Puranas, she undergoes a penance in order to wed Shiva, a brahmachari who is a strict celibate, and Shiva agrees after learning the truth about her. She has taken numerous lives in order to wipe out the Asuras.

Various incarnations of Maa Parvati that are considered to be important Hindu Goddesses are:

Mahakali

Bhadrakali

Adya Kali

Sri Kali

Bhima Kali

Rakta Kali

Shyama Kali

Shamshana Kali

Raksha Kali

Krishna Kali

Some Other Major Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Other than the Trimurti and incarnations of the prominent Hindu Gods, there are many other major Hindu Devi-Devtas that are worshipped such as Durga, Hanuman, Ganesha and others that are listed below.

1. Durga

Durga, or Devi or Shakti, is one of the most important Goddesses in Hinduism. The gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are believed to have created Durga so that she could kill the buffalo monster Mahishasura.

2. Kali

In Hinduism, Kali (also known as Mahakali, Bhadrakali, and Kalika) is revered as the goddess of death and rebirth, time and destruction, and the ultimate source of strength.

3. Ganga

Hindus revere Ganga, the river’s anthropomorphic representation, as the goddess of cleanliness and mercy.

4. Renuka

Renuka, or Yellamma, is a major Hindu deity in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala in southern India. She is also well-known as Parashurama’s mother.

5. Shitala

Variously written as Shitala and Seetla, Sheetala’ is a popular deity in the Hindu religion, especially in the northern part of India.

6. Akilandeshwari

One of Adi Parashakti’s primary incarnations is as the Hindu goddess Akhilandeshwari. The Jambukeswarar Temple in Thiruvanaikovil is where devotees of Akhilandeshwari go to worship.

7. Meenakshi

In Hinduism, Meenakshi, the tutelary deity of Madurai, is revered as an incarnation of Parvati.

8. Sati

As a form of the Hindu mother goddess Shakti, Sati is revered by Hindus as the goddess of marital bliss and long life.

9. Shailaputri

Manifestation and form of the Hindu mother goddess Mahadevi, Shailputri is the daughter of the Mountain King Himavat and is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess.

10. Brahmacharini

The term “Brahmacharini” refers to a female disciple of the Hindu religion who resides in an Ashrama with her Guru and other disciples. On the second day of Navaratri, devotees honour this form of Mahadevi, the second of the nine forms known as the Navadurga.

11. Tara

The Hindu goddess Tara is a manifestation of the divine Shakti, or Adishakti, and is regarded as the second of the Dasa (ten) Mahavidyas.

12. Chhinnamasta

Chhinnamasta is a deity in Hinduism. Among the ten Tantric goddesses known as the Mahavidyas, she is considered one of the most powerful deities in the occult.

13. Indrani

In Hinduism, Indrani, or Shachi, rules over all the divine beings. She is the goddess of Venus and is praised for her stunning beauty, self-assurance, and generosity.

14. Vinayaki

It is common knowledge that the Hindu goddess Vinayaki (Vinyak) has the form of an elephant. Neither her mythology nor her iconography are well-defined.

15. Hanuman

For Hindus, Hanuman is a celestial vanara who travels with Rama. In the Hindu classic Ramayana, Hanuman plays a pivotal role.

16. Ganesha

He is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect and goes by many other names, including Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar.

17. Ayyappan

Popular in Southern India, the Hindu god Ayyappan is revered for being the perfect embodiment of dharma, or the path to proper living.

18. Kamadeva

Kamadeva and Manmatha are other names for Kama, the Hindu god of love and desire who is sometimes depicted with his spouse, Rati.

19. Shesha

Shesha, which literally translates to “the remainder,” is a serpentine demigod (Naga) and Nagaraja in Hinduism. In addition, Shesha is a primordial being of creation. Other names for Shesha include Sheshanaga and Adishesha.

20. Balarama

Balarama, the older sibling of Krishna, is a Hindu deity. As one of the trinity, he holds a special place in the Jagannath tradition.

21. Kartikeya

Kartikeya is the Hindu god of war; other names . As the brother of Ganesha and the offspring of Parvati and Shiva, he is a Hindu god whose myths and legends take on many different forms.

22. Rati

The Hindu goddess Rati represents all things sexually satisfying: love, lust, passion, and sensuality.

23. Nandi

Among the many names given to Shiva’s bull vahana, Nandi goes by Nandikeshwara and Nandideva. Additionally, he watches over Shiva’s mountain home of Kailash.

24. Garuda

The Hindu pantheon includes the demigod and divine bird Garuda, as well as the Buddhist and Jain faiths.

25. Barbarika

Even though he was a southern warrior, the Skanda Purana claims that Barbarika was the offspring of Ghatotkacha (Son of Bhima) and Maurvi. Unlike other characters in the Mahabharata, he was not originally a part of the story.

26. Bhaga

Bhaga can mean “lord, patron,” “wealth,” or “prosperity” in the Vedic tradition. He belongs to the ditya, a class of society deities considered to be Aditi’s offspring.

27. Bhairavnath

Bhairav, also known as Bhairavnath (or Bhairon, Bhaironnath), was a follower of Gorakhnath, whose teacher was Matsyendranath.

28. Brihaspati

Brihaspati is the wise advisor to Indra during his conflict with the titans (asuras), the master of holy lore, charms, hymns, and ceremonies, and the mentor of the gods.

29. Gandharvas

In Dharmic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, there is a class of celestial beings known as gandharvas. The male gandharvas are divine performers like musicians and singers, and the female gandharvas are divine dancers. Gandharvas are referred to as gandharvas.

30. Bhavani

Bhavani is an apex form of Adi Shakti (Durga). Bhavani means “giver of life,” which can refer to either the power of nature or the wellspring of inventiveness.

31. Lakshman

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Lakshmana, was Prince Rama’s younger brother and a devoted follower of Rama.

32. Yajna

In Hindu scripture, Vishnu takes the form of Yajna or Yajevara. Vishnu, in his incarnation as Yajna, personifies the Hindu ritual of sacrifice.

33. Prajapati

Among the Hindu pantheon, Prajapati is a god with a place in the Vedas. Prajapati is often associated with Brahma in later works, but it can refer to a wide variety of deities.

34. Varuna

For the ancient Vedic people, Varuna was the god of the sky and the oceans. In the earliest Vedic texts of Hinduism, he plays a significant role.

35. Vishvakarman

According to modern Hindu belief, Vishvakarma (sometimes spelled Vishvakarman) is the divine architect of the gods. Tvastar was the name of the craftsman deity in the earliest scriptures, and Vishvakarma was just a honorific for any all-powerful deity.

36. Manu

In Indian mythology, Manu is the first man and the author of an important Sanskrit legal system, the Manu-smriti (Laws of Manu). In the Hindu Vedas, Manu performs the first sacrifice.

37. Bhima

Bhima is the second of the five Pandavas in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Mahabharata describes various Bhima-related events. Wind deity Vayu gave Kunti and Pandu Bhima.

38. Hidimbi

Hiimb is Bhima’s rakshasi wife and Ghatotkacha’s mother in the Mahabharata. She encounters Bhima in Adi Parva’s 9th sub-parva (Hidimva-vadha).

39. Bolhai Mata

40. Chamunda Devi

Chamunda is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother Shakti, and one of the seven Matrikas.

41. Mandhradevi

One local Hindu deity, Kalubai, is a guise of Parvati known by the names Mandhardevi and Kaleshwari. In the most remote parts of Maharashtra, she has widespread acclaim.

Saints That Are Considered To Be Incarnations Of God in India

There are many saints and Gurus in India that are considered to be the avatars or God. Some of the most prominennt ones are:

Sai Baba

Saint Vyas

Nar-Narayana

Saint Gyaneshwar

Surdas

Kalidas

Tulsidas

Andal

Kabir Das

Valmiki

Vedic Deities: Gods That Are Mentioned In The Puranas

A pantheon of 33 deities, the Trayastrinshata (‘three plus thirty’), is mentioned in the Rigveda. There are a total of 22 deities: 12 Adityas, 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, and 2 Ashvins.