Śaiva traditions
Śiva
The auspicious Lord is approached as yogin, householder, teacher, dancer, liṅga and reality beyond form.
- Texts to explore
- Śaiva Āgamas · Śiva and Liṅga Purāṇas · Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad
DEITIES · TEXTS · LIVING TRADITIONS
Deity learning centres
An inclusive orientation that respects differences between sampradāyas, regions and living communities.
Vaiṣṇava traditions
Viṣṇu
Viṣṇu is revered as sustaining Lord and source of avatāras across several distinct sampradāyas.
- Texts to explore
- Bhagavad Gītā · Viṣṇu and Bhāgavata Purāṇas · Pāñcarātra · Vaikhānasa
Śākta traditions
Devī
Devī is worshipped as supreme reality and through forms including Durgā, Kālī, Lalitā and local goddesses.
- Texts to explore
- Devī Māhātmya · Devī Bhāgavata · Śākta Upaniṣads and Tantras
Gāṇapatya and shared worship
Gaṇeśa
Gaṇeśa is honoured at beginnings as remover of obstacles, guardian of thresholds and patron of learning.
- Texts to explore
- Gaṇapati Atharvaśīrṣa · Purāṇic narratives · Gāṇapatya texts
Rāma-bhakti traditions
Rāma
Rāma is revered as an avatāra and exemplar within complex discussions of dharma and responsibility.
- Texts to explore
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa · Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇa · Rāmcaritmānas · regional Rāmāyaṇas
Kṛṣṇa-bhakti traditions
Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa appears as teacher, king, child, beloved and supreme Lord in distinct devotional frameworks.
- Texts to explore
- Mahābhārata · Bhagavad Gītā · Harivaṃśa · Bhāgavata Purāṇa
Rāma devotion
Hanumān
Hanumān embodies strength governed by humility, learning, courage and unwavering service.
- Texts to explore
- Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa · later Rāmāyaṇa traditions · devotional stotras
Kaumāra and regional traditions
Subrahmaṇya
Also known as Skanda, Kārttikeya and Murugan, he has especially rich Tamil traditions.
- Texts to explore
- Skanda Purāṇa · Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai · Tiruppukaḻ
Saura and shared worship
Sūrya
Sūrya is the visible solar deity praised in Vedic, Purāṇic, yogic and temple traditions.
- Texts to explore
- Solar hymns · Āditya Hṛdayam · Purāṇic and temple traditions
Living local traditions
Regional and village deities
Local goddesses, guardians, ancestors and sacred-place traditions cannot be reduced to one pan-Indian template.
- Texts to explore
- Oral histories · temple records · inscriptions · regional sacred literature