Hindu Gods
Agni - A Hindu fire god who is a part of all things; the essence of life.  When he was born he consumed his parents because they could not provide for him; this is symbolis of the fire born when two sticks are rubbed together as the sticks are consumed as well when the fire begins to grow.  He vists everyone's hearth and gives equal fire regardless of social classes; he loves all his worshippers equally.  When using fire people must face it towards the proper direction:  if facing East the fire should be used for sacrificed to the gods, if facing South, the fire should be used for sacrifices to the spirits of the dead, and if facing West then it is probably used to cook.  Agni is also assoictaed with virility in men and sex and is invokmed for purity, feritlity, and the element fire. 

Ahi - The serpant god who was slain with a thunderbolt by Indra.

Anala - Associated with the element fire he is one of several Hindu attendant gods.

Ansa - A minor sun god.

Apam Napat - A god of fresh water.

The Asvins Nasatya and Dasra - Twin brothers who represent the morning and evening stars in Hindu legend.

Ayyappan - A god of growth.

Balarama - Symbolised by the club and the plow he is the god of agriculture and physical strength.

Bali - A god of the sky at one point, then Vishnu took his power from him and cast him to the underworld where he now rules instead.

Bhima - A warrior god.

Bhumiya - A fertility god.

Brahm - The Hindu trinity; the union of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Brahma - One of the members of the Hindu Trinity.  He symbolises the aspect of the Supreme Reality that brings forth creation and is seen as the creator of the universe.  His consort is Saraswati and she provides him with the knowledge and wisdom needed to create the universe.  Brahma symbolises the comcept of the universal mind and the individula intellenct and is worshipped mainly by those seeking understanding or knowledge (like teachers and students). 

Brihaspati - An astral god who is considered a helper in creation and the lord of prayer and a priest of gods.  Sometimes he is confused with his son Agni because he me a mediator of th gods and associtaed with fire.

Budha - An astral god associated with the planet Mercury.

Chaitanya - A begger god.

Chama - The god of young love.

Dhanvantari - Originally a sun god, he is the physician of the gods and teacher of medicine to humans.

Dhatara - A sun god.

Dhruva - The god of the pole star.

Dyau Pita - A rain and sky god also known as Dyaus.  Originally he was the chief Hindu god but eventually he forfeited his postition to Indra his son, the father of the gods.

Ganesha - The elephant-headed god of wisdon and removers of obstacles.  He is one of the most popular gods in Hinduism and symboilses prosperity and good fortune.  All sacrifices, music, books, rituals, and affairs begin with an invocation to Ganesha.  His totem animal is the rat which is a symbol of perserverence.  He is the song of Paravati, the wife of Shiva.

Imra - The Supreme god of Kafirstan in Hindu-Kush.

Kama - The god of love and Lord of the Asperas (which were heavenly nymphs).

Rudra - A storm and wind god.

Savitar - An all-powerful sun god who has a golden tounge and golden eyes.  Once he cut off his hand as a sacrifice and the priests gave him a gold hand to replace it.

Shiva - "The Great Lord" or "The Cosmic Dancer."  He represent the aspect of the Supreme Being which continuously dissolves and is recreated.  He is the creator and the destroyer and is associated with the changes of the seasons and balance and constant conflict of good and evil.  The cycle of the univers is birth-death-rebirth.  He is the thrid memeber of the Hindu Trinity.  His elements are air and fire and he is also a god of compassion and mercy who protects man from evil.

Vayu - An Air and wind god who was an ally of the storm gods known as the Maruts ("crushers") and who accompanties Indra the storm god.  "The One who Moves Though The Sky."

Vishnu - The aspect of the Hindu Trinighty that represents the perservation and sustenances of the universe.  He is "The All Pervading" and is present and prevalent in all things.  It is believe that Buddha is an incarnation of Vishnu but this doesn't mean that Hindus follow Buddha's teachings though they do accept them.  Vishnu is associated with health, love, kindness, and compassion, and the element fire.