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| The main god of the Vedas. A hard-drinking, swaggering warrior who rides his solar chariot across the sky and wields the thunderbolt. As a storm god he brings the rain to fertilize India's parched soil. |
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| Maintains the cosmic order with Varuna. The sun, presides over contracts and friendships. |
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| Maintains the cosmic order with Mitra. The moon, supervises oaths. |
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| The priest's god of fire. He presides at the altar and hearth, exists as lightning, and blazes at the heart of the sun. |
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| The god of incantation and ritual. The personification of priestly magic. |
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| Both a narcotic plant and a god who gives inspiration, liberates men, and represents the principle of life. |
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| God of motion, and whatever moves or acts is dependent on this deity with golden eyes, hands, and tongues. |
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| The beautiful, charming goddess of the dawn. A source of delight to all living creatures. |
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| Brings all things into relationship, blessing marriage, providing food, guiding travelers, and ushering the dead. |
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| The terrifying god of destruction. A deity so formidable that people must flatter him to avert calamity. |
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| Wife of Siva. A bloodthirsty fertility goddess decorated with emblems of death. |
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| Master of created beings. The father of gods and demons, and the protector of those who procreate. |
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| Evil semi-divine creatures that practice black magic and afflict men with misfortune. |
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