Deities and sacred beings
Deities, sages, kings, places and principles compiled from the Puranas. Search, filter and open each profile.
19 beings · page 1 of 1
Balarama
बलरामBalarama is Krishna's elder brother: son of Vasudeva and Rohini, the mighty Yadava, bearing the plough (Halayudha) and identified in traditi…
Purusha-avatara (the first cosmic Purusha)
पुरुष अवतारThe Purusha-avatara is the Lord's first cosmic form at creation's dawn: the sixteen-kala purusha composed of mahat and other principles (SB …
Kumaras (the four celibate boy-sages)
कुमारThe Four Kumaras — Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara — are Brahma's mind-born sons who remained celibate boys and became first te…
Varaha
वराहVaraha is Vishnu's boar avatara (second in the Bhagavata's list here): assuming the sukara form He raised the earth sunk in rasatala; purani…
Kapila
कपिलKapila is the first teacher of the Samkhya system: tradition knows him as Kapiladeva, son of Kardama and Devahuti, who taught his mother the…
Dattatreya
दत्तात्रेयDattatreya is the celebrated yogi-deity of Vaishnava tradition: son of Atri and Anasuya, a partial avatara of Vishnu 'given' (datta) as thei…
Yajna
यज्ञThe Yajna avatara is the Lord's incarnation in the Svayambhuva manvantara, born as the son of Ruchi and Akuti, who with Yama and the sura ho…
Rishabha (Urukrama)
ऋषभदेवRishabha (Urukrama, 'of mighty strides'), son of Nabhi and Merudevi, is the Lord's eighth avatara of SB 1.3.13: the teacher of the spiritual…
Prithu
पृथुPrithu is Hindu tradition's first consecrated emperor — the fountainhead of the chakravartin ideal: son of Vena, who made the earth cultivab…
Matsya
मत्स्यMatsya is Vishnu's fish avatara: in puranic tradition the first incarnation, who at the cosmic flood saved Vaivasvata Manu with the boat and…
Kurma
कूर्मKurma is Vishnu's tortoise avatara: at the churning of the ocean He bore Mount Mandara on His back. SB 1.3.16: 'dadhre kamatha-rupena prstha…
Dhanvantari
धन्वन्तरिDhanvantari is the physician-deity who founded Ayurveda: the divine healer who emerged from the churning of the ocean bearing the nectar-jar…
Mohini
मोहिनीMohini is Vishnu's only female avatara: the distributor of the churning-nectar who served the devas and beguiled the asuras. SB 1.3.17: 'apa…
Narasimha
नरसिंहNarasimha is Vishnu's man-lion avatara: bursting from the pillar at twilight to slay Hiranyakashipu and protect Prahlada — the fierce symbol…
Vamana
वामनVamana is Vishnu's dwarf-brahmana avatara: begging three paces of land at Bali's sacrifice and, as Trivikrama, spanning the three worlds in …
Parashurama
परशुरामParashurama ('Rama with the axe'), son of Jamadagni and Renuka, is the Brahmin-warrior of the Bhrigu line and Vishnu's sixteenth avatara: wh…
Rama (Dasharathi)
रामRama (Dasharathi, Ramachandra) is the Raghu-line king of Ayodhya, Vishnu's celebrated avatara: hero of the Ramayana, the ideal of righteous …
Buddha
बुद्धThe Buddha-avatara is Vishnu's prophesied incarnation of Vaishnava tradition, appearing in Kali to (in the Bhagavata's words) bewilder the f…
Kalki
कल्किKalki is Vishnu's prophesied tenth avatara: at the yuga-juncture at Kali's end, born as Vishnuyasha's son (in the traditional village Shambh…