Unit: Hinduism

Topic: DeitySub-topic: Consorts of the Trimurti

Recap

– Define cult– Define rituals– Name the main deity in Hinduism– Is Hinduism Monotheistic or Henotheistic– Name the members of the Trimurti– Name the creator god– Name the preserver god– Name the destroyer god

Saraswati consort of Brahma• Role: learning and arts• Beautiful, pale skin, fine

clothes• Four arms representing the

four aspects of the human personality – mind, intellect, ego, conscience

• Often shown carrying a stringed musical instrument, a copy of the Vedas and a mala

• Usually accompanied by a white swan, the vehicle of Brahma and a peacock

Durga

Durga Parvati

Durga• Fierce and powerful form of

Shakti• Manifest the destructive-

reproductive energy of Shiva

• Looks ferocious• Rides on a lion and carries a

variety of objects which are weapons in her eight hands

Parvati• Shiva’s consort• Mother of Ganesh• Gentle, loving, family

oriented• Traditionally Parvati is

worshipped by married Hindu women in the hope of a happy married life

Parvati’s family

Lakshmi – consort of Vishnu

• Hindus believe that she is the representation of his female energy and the Deity of happiness, wealth and good fortune

• Usually sitting or standing on a lotus flower with elephants on both sides

• Gold coins fall from one of her hands – her ability to reward devotees with prosperity

Activity

Get into TWO groups. Each group will be given THREE sheets of paper. Each group will create their own presentation of each consort based on the information given in class. You must write the name of the deity and the function of the deity on each drawing. The first group to complete this activity is the winner!

HW• Show at least ONE picture 2• State the role of the deity 2• State THREE features of the deity 6• Describe the significance of any TWO• of the features 8• Activity 4• Presentation (voice, sequence, source, etc) 3

TOTAL 25 marksDue: Monday September 23, 2013

Ganesha…

• Son of Parvati and Shiva. He is the Diety of wisdom and good fortune and is also known as the “Remover of Obstacles”

• Usually Ganesha is the first Deity prayed to during worship to ensure good luck and success.

• He is shown a short, pot-bellied man with an elephant’s head

• His large stomach represents prosperity• He holds a dish of sweets in one of his four hands.

This symbolizes prosperity.

Ganesha

• One of his hands is raised with his palms facing outward, signifying a blessing for his devotees.

• Ganesha might also hold a lotus flower and an axe representing purity and his ability to remove obstacles

• He is accompanied by a black rat which symbolizes that all creatures great and small are of value and have a purpose in life.

• One of his tusk is broken.

Hanuman

• Hanuman is the monkey God • He is the son of Pavana, the wind and is also

able to fly• He came to help Rama-Chandra defeat the

king od Sri Lanka because he could jump from India to the island. His monkey army formed a bridge for Rama and Sita to return to India

Surya

• Sura represents the Sun god• He is depicted as a red man with three eyes

and four arms riding a chariot drawn by seven mares

• Surya holds water lilies with two of his hands. He encourages his worshippers whom he blesses with his third hand.

• He is believed to be a benevolent Deity who is capable of healing sick people

Kali

• Kali is a fierce and powerful form of Parvati• She looks frightening and represents the

awesome power of mother Nature • She wears a necklace of skull and several arms

hand from her waist • She might also hold a severed head and a sickle

in two of her four arms.• Kali rides on a corpse of a demon whom she

destroyed

Kali

Ganesha

Surya