India is the only country in the world that has diverse cultures and religions that forms an inevitable part of the lives of Indians, staying in India or elsewhere in the world. Hindu deities represent the Supreme.Hindu religion states that there is only one Supreme Being who is the God of all religions.

Hindu religious thought is based upon three principal Gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The three support the Supreme Being and are responsible for creating, preserving and destroying the universe.

Brahma is the first member of the Hindu Trinity. He is said to have created the universe and everything in it. He is also known as Prajapati. The word praja means populace and pati means master. Together they mean master of the populace. It is also believed that he created ten Prajapatis who helped in creating the universe. Brahma had five heads. Shiva cut off one. The four heads are symbolic of the four Vedas, of the four yugas (ages or eras) and also of the four castes amongst Hindus.

Vishnu is the second God of the Hindu Trinity. He has a thousand names and several incarnations. Of these, ten hold special significance. The last one, Kalki, is yet to come.

Shiva is the third God of the Hindu Trinity. He represents both death that destroys, and reproduction. He destroys and disintegrates. After, destruction, he helps in reproducing again. He is also known by many names. As a benevolent God, he is known as Shankar, Mahadev and Vishwanath. As one who destroys he is known as Rudra, Mahakal, Virbhadra and Bhairav.

If  the Hindu trinity is revered, the wives are equally revered. As the creator, Brahma created Saraswati. He married her and therefore, she is revered as his wife. She is the goddess of speech, learning and knowledge. Those who pursue learning hold her in high reverence and seek her blessings.

Vishnu’s wife Lakshmi is revered as the goddess of beauty, good fortune and prosperity. She went through several incarnations to be with Vishnu. Almost every Hindu home has her image.

Parvati is an incarnation of Gauri, the daughter of Daksh. She could marry Shiva only after severe penance. All Hindu women aspire to have a married life like that of Parvati.  For a good partner and a happy married life, unmarried youth, particularly women, pray to Shiva and Parvati.