Deities & Avatars
Elephant-headed deity, remover of obstacles.
Ganesha
The oldest Hindu scriptures written in Sanskrit
Vedas
Daily worship ritual performed at home or in temples.
Puja
This city, considered the birthplace of Rama, is a major pilgrimage site in Hinduism.
Ayodhya
This city on the Ganges River is considered the spiritual capital of Hinduism and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Varanasi/Kashi
The name of Vishnu’s avatar who delivered the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Krishna
A set of texts that explores the philosophical concept of Brahman and Atman
Upanishads
A daily spiritual practice or a methodical discipline aimed at achieving a specific spiritual or personal goal
Sadhana
The spring festival known for throwing colored powders.
Holi
The celebration of Light over Dark
Diwalli
This goddess, often shown seated on a lotus and holding a veena, is the Hindu deity of knowledge, arts, and wisdom.
Saraswati
The text that contains the story of the Kurukshetra War and is one of the longest poems in the world.
Mahabarata
Fasting, known as this in Sanskrit, is observed on certain holy days.
Vrata
This festival marks the victory of goddess Durga over Mahishasura.
Navratri
The Bhakti saint from Tamil Nadu who composed hymns to Vishnu and helped spread devotional Hinduism in South India.
Andal
The son of Shiva and Vishnu
Ayyappa
This six-part Hindu philosophical system is credited to sage Kapila and teaches that reality is composed of Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter).
Samkhya
The ritual of fire offerings made with mantras.
Yajna/Havan
During his exile, Rama formed an alliance with this monkey king, whose army helped rescue Sita.
Sugriva
The temple of Konark in Odisha, shaped like a giant chariot, is dedicated to this Hindu deity.
Surya
Both consorts of Lord Murugan
Valli and Devayani
The bridge to Lanka built by Rama’s army of vanaras is called this, which also symbolizes devotion overcoming obstacles.
Rama Setu
The concept of four stages of life: student, householder, hermit, renunciate
Ashrama Dharma
This festival celebrates the return of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, with people lighting lamps to welcome them home.
The Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century) in South India is remembered for this magnificent temple complex, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hampi