Hinduism
Hindu scripture speaks of one ultimate reality, Brahman, known as the inner Self (Paramatman) and as the personal Lord (Ishvara, Bhagavan), and worshipped under many names and forms. Vaishnavas worship it chiefly as Vishnu and his descents such as Krishna and Rama, Shaivas as Shiva, and Shaktas as the Goddess (Devi); each name below notes the deity and tradition it belongs to.
- Om (Aum)ॐ
The sacred syllable that sounds the Absolute itself; recited at the start of prayers and scripture.
Katha Upanishad says the word all the Vedas proclaim is Om, and that this syllable is Brahman. Shared by all Hindu traditions.
Katha Upanishad 1.2.15–16; Bhagavad Gita 8.13 ↗ - Brahmanब्रह्मन्
The ultimate reality: the infinite, unchanging ground from which everything arises and into which it returns.
Not to be confused with Brahma, the creator god. Shared by all Hindu traditions.
Bhagavad Gita 13.12 ↗ - Paramatmanपरमात्मन्
The Supreme Self: the one Self dwelling in all beings, beyond the perishable and the imperishable.
Bhagavad Gita 15.17 ↗ - Ishvaraईश्वर
The Lord: the Divine as personal ruler of the world, seated in the heart of every being.
Bhagavad Gita 18.61 ↗ - Bhagavanभगवान्
The Blessed Lord: one possessed of all glory, majesty and grace; the Divine approached in devotion.
The Gita's speaker is introduced as 'Shri Bhagavan'. Svetashvatara Upanishad calls the all-pervading Bhagavat 'Shiva'.
Svetashvatara Upanishad 3.11 ↗ - Purushaपुरुष
The Cosmic Person: the primal being who pervades the universe and extends beyond it.
The Gita (15.18) speaks of Purushottama, the Highest Person, a name Vaishnavas apply to Vishnu-Krishna.
Rig Veda 10.90 (Purusha Sukta) ↗ - Sat-Chit-Anandaसच्चिदानन्द
Being, Consciousness, Bliss: a threefold description of Brahman's own nature.
The compound is a later Vedanta formula; its elements come from Upanishadic passages like this one ('which is, which is conscious, without end').
Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1 ↗ - Hiranyagarbhaहिरण्यगर्भ
The Golden Womb (or Golden Embryo): the first-born source from which the cosmos unfolds.
The Rig Veda hymn asks to whom, among the gods, offerings should be made.
Rig Veda 10.121.1 ↗ - Narayanaनारायण
The resting place of all beings; the Supreme Lord who abides in the cosmic waters.
Vishnu (Vaishnava). A principal name in the Vishnu Sahasranama, the 'Thousand Names of Vishnu'.
Vishnu Sahasranama (Mahabharata 13.149) ↗ - Vishnuविष्णु
The All-Pervading One, preserver and sustainer of the world.
Vishnu (Vaishnava). The Rig Veda praises his three strides that measure out the worlds.
Rig Veda 1.154 ↗ - Hariहरि
The one who takes away sin and sorrow.
Vishnu/Krishna (Vaishnava). Used of Krishna as he reveals his cosmic form to Arjuna.
Bhagavad Gita 11.9 ↗ - Vasudevaवासुदेव
The Lord who dwells in all things and in whom all things dwell.
Krishna (Vaishnava). The Gita says the rare great soul knows 'Vasudeva is all'.
Bhagavad Gita 7.19 ↗ - Krishnaकृष्ण
The Dark One, the All-Attractive; the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, worshipped as Vishnu's descent or as God himself.
Krishna (Vaishnava). Arjuna addresses him by this name as he faces the battle.
Bhagavad Gita 1.28 ↗ - Govindaगोविन्द
Protector of cows; the one who gives joy to the senses and to all beings.
Krishna (Vaishnava).
Bhagavad Gita 1.32 ↗ - Keshavaकेशव
The one with beautiful hair; traditionally also the slayer of the demon Keshi.
Krishna/Vishnu (Vaishnava).
Bhagavad Gita 1.31 ↗ - Madhavaमाधव
Descendant of Madhu; also read as 'husband of Lakshmi' (Ma).
Krishna/Vishnu (Vaishnava).
Bhagavad Gita 1.37 ↗ - Ramaराम
The one who delights; the righteous prince of Ayodhya, honoured as an ideal of dharma.
Vishnu's descent (Vaishnava). In the Gita, Krishna says 'among wielders of weapons I am Rama'; the Sahasranama recalls Rama, son of Dasaratha.
Bhagavad Gita 10.31 ↗ - Shivaशिव
The Auspicious, the Kind One; the Lord hidden in all beings.
Shiva (Shaiva). The Upanishad says one who knows Shiva hidden in all beings is freed from all fetters.
Svetashvatara Upanishad 4.14–16 ↗ - Shankaraशङ्कर
The giver of welfare and peace.
Shiva (Shaiva). Krishna says 'among the Rudras I am Shankara'.
Bhagavad Gita 10.23 ↗ - Mahadevaमहादेव
The Great God.
Shiva (Shaiva). From the Mahabharata's Thousand Names of Shiva, which calls Mahadeva 'eternal Brahman'.
Mahabharata 13.17 (Shiva Sahasranama) ↗ - Rudraरुद्र
The Roarer or the Fierce One; the stormy, healing Vedic god later identified with Shiva.
Shiva (Shaiva). The Upanishad says Rudra is one and admits no second.
Svetashvatara Upanishad 3.2; Rig Veda 2.33 ↗ - Pashupatiपशुपति
Lord of creatures; the shepherd of all bound souls.
Shiva (Shaiva). Pashupata Shaivas take their name from it.
Atharva Veda 11.2.28 ↗ - Deviदेवी
The Goddess: the Divine as Mother, source and power of the universe.
Devi (Shakta). The Devi Sukta, spoken by Vak (Speech), is recited by Shaktas as the Goddess's self-revelation.
Rig Veda 10.125 (Devi Sukta) ↗ - Shaktiशक्ति
Divine Power: the energy by which the Absolute creates, sustains and dissolves.
Devi (Shakta). Shaktas worship this power as the Goddess herself; the Upanishad speaks of the Lord's 'high power' (para shakti).
Svetashvatara Upanishad 6.8 ↗ - Durgaदुर्गा
The Invincible, She who is hard to reach; the protecting warrior Goddess.
Devi (Shakta). Arjuna hymns her before battle at Krishna's urging.
Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva 23 ↗ - Parvati (Uma)पार्वती
Daughter of the Mountain; consort of Shiva and gentle form of the Goddess.
Devi (Shakta and Shaiva). As Uma, daughter of Himavat, she reveals Brahman to the gods in the Kena Upanishad.
Kena Upanishad 3.12 ↗ - Lakshmi (Shri)लक्ष्मी
The Goddess of fortune, prosperity and grace, who rose from the churned ocean.
Consort of Vishnu (Vaishnava); also honoured by Shaktas. Indra hymns her as 'mother of all beings'.
Vishnu Purana 1.9 ↗ - Saraswatiसरस्वती
The Goddess of knowledge, speech, music and learning; first a sacred river.
Honoured across traditions; consort of Brahma. The Rig Veda calls her 'best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses'.
Rig Veda 2.41.16 ↗ - Ganesha (Ganapati)गणेश
Lord of the hosts; remover of obstacles, invoked at the start of every undertaking.
Son of Shiva and Parvati; honoured by all traditions (Ganapatya as chief deity). This Vedic verse, first addressed to Brahmanaspati, is now chanted to Ganesha.
Rig Veda 2.23.1 ↗ - Brahmaब्रह्मा
The Creator, seated on a lotus; with Vishnu and Shiva one of the three cosmic functions (Trimurti).
Distinct from Brahman, the Absolute. Arjuna sees him within Krishna's cosmic form.
Bhagavad Gita 11.15 ↗