The following post is one of two that I've set aside to share with @thekittygirl.
I especially went to take photo's of the hindu gods found at our local beach and the shrine where many of the locals come to pray and worship.
No offense meant to any Hindu worshippers as I did this post because I am intrigued by the different gods and what they represent although it is not my religion.
If anyone can help identify the different gods please do so. Google ain't being very helpful.
Ganesh the elephant god
Although he is known by many attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies. Info from: Wikipedia
I've tried to Google now to find some of the names of the gods I photographed but I feel slightly stumped at reading that the Hindu religion has something like 33000000 (thirty three million) gods. To me that is a lot.
Hanuman the monkey god
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman Ji, the monkey God. He is the symbol of strength and energy. Hanuman is worshipped for his unyielding devotion to Rama and is remembered for his selfless dedication to the God. (source www.bbc.co.uk)
Not sure who this god represents
It may be Lakshmi
Lakshmi's name comes from the Sanskrit word laksya, meaning an aim or goal. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Lakshmi is depicted as a four-armed woman of golden complexion, holding a lotus bud as she sits or stands upon a massive lotus blossom. The deity of beauty, purity, and domesticity, the image of Lakshmi is often found in the homes of the faithful.
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/top-hindu-deities-1770309
Could this be Durga?
Durga is the mother goddess and she represents the fiery powers of the gods. She is the protector of the righteous and destroyer of the evil, usually portrayed as riding a lion and carrying weapons in her many arms.
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/top-hindu-deities-1770309
I think this is Shiva although I can't be sure
Shiva has four arms because they represent the four cardinal directions. Each of Shiva's hands either hold an object or are shown making a specific gesture. The upper right hand often holds an hour-glass drum. ... Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and is also known as "Nataraja" or the "Lord of the Dancers."
Source: https://www.reference.com
Bull-god
Bull-gods are as ancient as humans. ... So, basically, the bulls in the Bible represent more or less what they represented to other people and religions: a powerful fertility symbol and the preferred sacrificial victim (the bull sometimes was the surrogate for human sacrifices).
Source: https://www.quora.com
The prayer area at the beach
I am not at all convinced I've got the gods named correctly as the photos on Google definitely differs from my photos that I've taken this morning so feel free to correct me if needed.
Photos are all my own*
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