India's Divine Heritage

Mythological & Divine Names

Explore 50+ Hindu gods, goddesses, avatars, sacred rivers and divine personalities — their epithets, meanings, the stories behind each name, and the baby names they inspire.

Gods

Shiva The Auspicious One Divine names Shiva, also known as Shankar, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism — the destroyer …

Vishnu The Preserver of the Universe Divine names Vishnu is the preserver and protector of the universe within the Hindu Trimurti, descendin…

Ganesha Remover of Obstacles Divine names Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is the remover of obstacles and the…

Hanuman The Devoted Divine names Hanuman is the divine vanara, an ardent devotee of Rama and a symbol of strength, devotion…

Kartikeya Commander of the Heavens Divine names Kartikeya (Murugan) is the god of war and victory, commander of the divine armies, and son…

Brahma The Creator of the Universe Divine names Brahma is the creator god of the Trimurti, who brings forth the universe and all living be…

Dattatreya The Three-in-One Sage Divine names Dattatreya is the combined incarnation of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) and the sup…

Ayyappa The Lord of Sabarimala Divine names Ayyappa (Hariharaputra) is the deity born of Vishnu and Shiva, worshipped at Sabarimala as…

Ardhanarishvara Half Shiva, Half Parvati Divine names Ardhanarishvara is the half-male, half-female form of Shiva and Parvati, symbolising the i…

Goddesses

Durga The Invincible Mother Divine names Durga is the fierce, protective mother goddess and the embodiment of Shakti — the slayer o…

Lakshmi Goddess of Fortune Divine names Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity and beauty, and the consort of Vishn…

Saraswati Goddess of Knowledge, Music & Art Divine names Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom and learning, and the consort of…

Parvati Daughter of the Mountains Divine names Parvati is the goddess of love, fertility, devotion and divine power — the gentle consort …

Radha The Beloved of Krishna Divine names Radha is the beloved of Krishna and the embodiment of pure, selfless devotion (prema bhakt…

Sita The Ideal of Virtue Divine names Sita, the daughter of King Janaka and consort of Rama, is the ideal of virtue, devotion an…

Tulsi The Sacred Basil Divine names Tulsi (holy basil) is a sacred plant goddess and the most devoted of Vishnu's devotees, re…

Rukmini Krishna's Queen Divine names Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha and chief queen of Krishna, is regarded as an incarnatio…

Aditi The Boundless Divine names Aditi is the boundless mother of the Adityas (including Surya) and the embodiment of infin…

Bhudevi The Earth Goddess Divine names Bhudevi is the Earth goddess and consort of Vishnu, representing patience, fertility and n…

Avatars of Vishnu

Krishna The Divine Charioteer Divine names Krishna is the eighth avatar of Vishnu and a central figure in the Mahabharata and Bhagava…

Rama The Ideal King Divine names Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana — revered as Maryada Pur…

Narasimha The Lion-Man Divine names Narasimha is the fourth avatar of Vishnu — half-man, half-lion — who appeared to protect h…

Vamana The Dwarf Avatar Divine names Vamana is the fifth avatar of Vishnu, the dwarf Brahmin who reclaimed the three worlds fro…

Parashurama The Warrior-Sage with the Axe Divine names Parashurama is the sixth avatar of Vishnu, the warrior-sage who wields an axe (parashu) an…

Balarama The Strong One Divine names Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, is an incarnation of Shesha and the god of strengt…

Hayagriva The Horse-Necked Lord of Knowledge Divine names Hayagriva is the horse-necked avatar of Vishnu, the deity of knowledge and wisdom who rest…

Dhanvantari The Divine Physician Divine names Dhanvantari is the divine physician and avatar of Vishnu, the source of Ayurveda who emerg…

Celestial & Cosmic Beings

Surya The Sun God Divine names Surya is the Sun God, the visible deity and source of light, life and energy, worshipped a…

Indra King of the Gods Divine names Indra is the king of the devas and lord of heaven (Svarga), wielding the thunderbolt (Vajr…

Agni God of Fire Divine names Agni is the Vedic fire god, the carrier of offerings to the gods and the sacred witness of…

Varuna Lord of the Waters & Cosmic Order Divine names Varuna is the Vedic god of the cosmic waters, oceans and celestial order (Rta).

Yama Lord of Dharma & the Afterlife Divine names Yama is the god of death and justice, the impartial lord of dharma who governs the fate of…

Kamadeva God of Love & Desire Divine names Kamadeva is the god of love, desire and attraction, who wields a bow of sugarcane and arro…

Chandra The Moon God Divine names Chandra is the Moon God, ruler of the mind, emotions and the night, and a Navagraha.

Kubera Lord of Wealth & Treasures Divine names Kubera is the lord of wealth and treasures and the king of the Yakshas, guardian of the no…

Shani Lord of Justice, Karma & Discipline Divine names Shani (Saturn) is the Navagraha of karma and justice, the slow-moving planet who rewards o…

Shesha The Cosmic Serpent Divine names Shesha (Adishesha) is the cosmic serpent on whom Vishnu reclines and who upholds the world…

Garuda The Divine Eagle Divine names Garuda is the divine eagle, the mount (vahana) of Vishnu and the king of birds, enemy of s…

Nandi The Devoted Bull Divine names Nandi is the sacred bull, the devoted mount and gatekeeper of Shiva, symbol of strength an…

Kamadhenu The Wish-Fulfilling Divine Cow Divine names Kamadhenu is the divine wish-fulfilling cow, mother of all cows and source of all nourishm…

Ashwini Kumaras The Twin Healers of the Dawn Divine names The Ashwini Kumaras are the divine twin horsemen, celestial physicians of the gods who bri…

Vishvakarma The Divine Architect & Craftsman Divine names Vishvakarma is the divine architect and craftsman of the gods, builder of celestial cities…

Sacred Rivers

Ganga The Sacred River Descended from Heaven Divine names Ganga is the sacred river goddess whose waters purify sins; she descended from heaven to e…

Yamuna The River of Krishna Divine names Yamuna is the sacred river goddess, daughter of Surya and twin of Yama, beloved companion …

Divine Personalities

Draupadi The Fire-Born Empress of the Mahabharata Divine names Draupadi, born of fire and wife of the five Pandavas, is a central figure of the Mahabhara…

Ahalya The Restored Divine names Ahalya, the wife of sage Gautama, was liberated by the touch of Rama's feet and became a s…

Savitri The Devoted Wife Who Outwitted Death Divine names Savitri is celebrated for her devotion in winning back her husband Satyavan from Yama, a s…

Satyavan The Truthful One Divine names Satyavan is the truthful, righteous husband of Savitri, whose life she reclaimed from Yama…

Shakuntala The Forest Maiden of Kalidasa's Masterpiece Divine names Shakuntala, the forest-raised daughter of Vishwamitra and Menaka and mother of Bharata, is…

Bharata The Selfless Brother Divine names Bharata, the devoted brother of Rama and the legendary emperor after whom Bharat (India) i…

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