You may have found yourself asking why Hindu gods and goddesses have multiple hands or even more than one head. This is actually meaningful and beautiful. Let's examine why Hindu gods and goddesses are represented in this way.
Hindu gods and goddesses are thought to have superhuman powers that allow them to protect the world, overcome evil, and guide people. Having several hands is a way for an artist to visually represent a god as having the ability to do many things at once. Think of yourself trying to do your homework, help your friend, and play cricket all at the same moment. These gods are shown with lots of hands are able to do all of those things and everything else besides, where the god is inferred to have superhuman strength and abilities.
Whenever we notice that every other hand holds something special like a weapon, a flower, or a book, we notice that the items signify different powers or qualities of the god. For instance, Goddess Durga’s hands hold weapons to demonstrate her ability to vanquish evil, Lord Ganesha may hold sweet to show his kindness towards us. Each hand is an opportunity to demonstrate a different ability, power, or lesson for us to learn.
Multiple heads also represent the gods’ tremendous wisdom. For instance, Lord Brahma has four heads to represent his wisdom of the four Vedas, the oldest and most significant books of Hinduism. Shiva’s five heads represent the five elements, like earth, water, fire, air, and space and also his understanding of the entire universe.
The extra hands and heads are symbols. These symbols remind us that gods are powerful, wise, and can help us in multiple ways. Symbols and stories are represented in the Hindu scriptures to help us understand the world and ourselves.
The multiple heads and hands also show us that we all have multiple talents and strengths within ourselves. Like the gods use their many hands to help and fight for good, we can use our abilities to be kind and brave in our lives.
With this very purpose, Disha Publication brings you three elegant books in simple language –
Bhagavad Gita: With Engaging Stories – This book is divided into short chapters and interesting anecdotes, making it easy for students to understand the principles of the soul and karma.
Ramayana: For Young Minds – A narrative-based presentation of life values and ideals that resonates with readers of all ages.
Vedas and Upanishads: For Students – Complex ideas are presented through simple stories, maintaining both depth and interest.
Through these books, we not only return to the path of knowledge but also revive our cultural consciousness.
Now is not just the time to move forward – but also to return to our roots.👉 Explore books by author Avinash Agrawal
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