A group of ten goddesses from the Tantric Hindu pantheon, consisting of Kali, Tara, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshvari, Chhinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. They are revered in Shaktism, Shaivism and Vajrayana Buddhism and denote a turning point in the rise of Bhakti cults within Shaktism in the early eighteenth century. The creation of the Mahavidyas is outlined in the Mahabhagvata Purana, attributed to Vyasa.
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A major deity of the Vaishnavite tradition and the eighth avatar of Vishnu. He is believed to have been born…
A Vedic deity associated with the moral values of rita (justice) and satya (truth), he also represents the natural elements…
Sanskrit for ‘pillar’, historically appearing in various contexts, including Vedic liturgy, Brahmanical mythology, and Brahmanical treatises on architecture, theatre and…
A fierce form or manifestation of the Hindu god, Shiva, he is a guardian deity and one of the central…
One of the nine nidhis (treasures) of Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth, Shankanidhi is associated with shankha (the conch…
The solar dynasty (Suryavansha) founded by King Ikshvaku. It finds mentions in the Puranas and holds significance in Hindu, Buddhist…
The son of the Hindu deity Surya in the epic Ramayana and the younger brother of Vali and successor to…
A proponent of the Shaivite cult, Lakulisha is often considered the founder of the Pashupata sect. According to the Linga…