In the Vedas, there is mention of 33 Hindu gods and goddesses (Rigveda 8.30.2), but over the years that number has increased, and now there are believed to be about 33 crores or 330 million gods and goddesses in Hinduism. There are three main deities or gods in Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and three main goddesses, Mata Parvati, Mata Laxmi, and Mata Saraswati. Most of the other gods are incarnations or other forms of Vishnu and Shiva and goddesses are also incarnations or other forms of Devi Parvati.

Besides that, several other gods and local deities are popular in particular areas only. These gods and deities are known as Devas and Devis. It is very difficult to list all Hindu gods and goddesses, but we are trying to cover as many names as possible.

Supreme Hindu God:

Brahman (not to be confused with Brahmin caste) is considered as God of Hindus. He is formless and genderless. He is the supreme soul. He is omniscient and omnipresent. He is also called Parmeshwara, Om, or Parmatma. He created the Trinity who is carrying out their job of taking care of the universe. Other gods are considered manifestations of Him.

Purusha and Prakriti:

Brahman is formless but it manifests itself through Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha is consciousness and Prakriti is the material world. Purusha expresses itself through Prakriti. Prakriti binds Purusha. Purusha is constant but Prakriti changes. It multiplies and breaks down into cruder and more basic forms. Prakriti has three binding principles, viz. Sattva guna, Tamo guna, and Rajo guna.

The universe that we are seeing has come into being because of Purusha and Prakriti. That is why Hindus say God is everywhere.

Trinity – 3 Main Gods:

They are the managers of the universe and have limitless powers. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are given more importance than Lord Brahma (because of some of his mistakes).

1. Lord Brahma:

Lord Brahma is the creator of the universe. He is not worshipped individually because of a curse. He is worshipped in the form of the Trinity and is depicted mostly sitting on a lotus. He has four heads and four hands. Many of his characteristics resemble the Vedic god Prajapati.

2. Lord Vishnu:

Lord Vishnu is the protector of the universe. So far, he has incarnated nine times. The 10^th incarnation is expected to come soon. He is depicted as lying on the bed of a snake on the sea of milk with his wife Lakshmi pressing his legs. The followers of Vaishnavism believe he is the Supreme God.

3. Lord Shiva:

Lord Shiva is considered the destroyer of the universe. He is also called God of Gods (Mahadev). He is very popular and is worshipped mainly in the form of a Lingam. He spends most of his time in meditation. He has four hands and five heads. He carries a moon on his forehead and a snake around his neck.

Other Important Hindu Gods and Goddesses:

1. Goddess Parvati:

She is the wife of Lord Shiva and the daughter of Himalaya. In her previous birth, she was Goddess Uma who was the first wife of Lord Shiva. She has also incarnated many times to kill Asuras. She took the form of Goddess Durga and killed an Asura named, Mahishasura.

2. Goddess Lakshmi:

She is the wife of Lord Vishnu and is the goddess of wealth. Bhoodevi and Shridevi are some of her important incarnations. She assists Lord Vishnu in the task of maintaining the universe. In Diwali, Laxmi Pujan is celebrated, which is one of the biggest Hindu festivals.

3. Goddess Saraswati:

She is the wife of Lord Brahma and is the goddess of wisdom. She is depicted as wearing a white saree, carrying a Veena, and sitting on a swan.

4. Lord Ganesha:

He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. His other popular names are Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Gajanana. He has the head of an elephant and is a god of wisdom and auspiciousness. At the beginning of every good task, he is worshiped first.

5. Goddess Kali:

Devi Kali is the fierce form of Goddess Parvati. She took this form to kill a demon, Raktabija. She is depicted as wearing a skirt of demon hands and a garland of skulls. The book Kalika Purana is dedicated to her.

6. Lord Krishna:

Lord Krishna was the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He killed many demons and guided Pandavas to kill the evil Duryodhana and his forces. He also narrated Bhagavadgita to Arjuna, which is a major book of Hindus. It took place in the Dvapara Yuga.

7. Lord Rama:

Lord Rama was the seventh incarnation of Narayana. He was the prince of Ayodhya who later became a king. He killed the demon king Ravana who abducted his wife Sita and freed many human beings captive. It took place in the Treta Yuga.

8. Lord Hanuman:

Hanuman is an incarnation of Lord Shiva who helped Lord Rama defeat Ravana. He has the face of a monkey and is a symbol of strength and power. He also played an important role in the Mahabharata. Lord Hanuman is one of the eight immortals and is still alive.

Names of 33 Gods Mentioned in Vedic Scriptures:

A. 12 Adityas:

1. Vishnu.

2. Aryaman.

3. Indra.

4. Tvastr.

5. Varuna.

6. Bhaga.

7. Savitr.

8. Vivatsat.

9. Amsa.

10. Mitra.

11. Pusan.

12. Daks.

B. 8 Vaasus:

1. Dyaus.

2. Prithvi.

3. Vaayu.

4. Agni.

5. Naksatra.

6. Antariksa.

7. Surya.

8. Chandra.

C. 11 Rudras:

1. Ananda.

2. Vijnana.

3. Manas.

4. Prana.

5. Vac.

6. Isana.

7. Tatpurusa.

8. Aghora.

9. Vamadeva.

10. Sadyojat.

11. Atma.

D. 2 Asvins.

Twin solar deities.

Natural powers/animals worshipped as deities:

1. Indra: Indra is considered as the king of paradise and is a deity of the storm. Hindus do not worship Indra because he is cursed as he is not of a good character.
2. Agni: Agni means fire. Agni is considered as a deity by Hindus. It is believed that the sacrifices offered through Agni go to heaven.
3. Vayu: Vayu means wind. The wind is worshipped as Vayu deva. Lord Hanuman is considered as the son of Vayu deva.
4. Surya: Surya means sun. Sun worship is prevalent in many parts of India since ancient times. Sun worship is also common to many other cultures in the world. Hindus consider Sun as a deity and he is depicted in many epics and Puranas as a person.
5. Kamdev: Kamdev is the god of sex in Hinduism. The desire for sex in all animals is because of him.
6. Dharti Mata: Mother Earth.
7. Navgraha: Nine planets.
8. Shani: Planet Saturn.
9. Nandi: The bull.
10. Cobra: On the day of Nag Panchami, the cobra is worshipped by Hindus.
11. Rivers: The rivers are considered sacred and are worshipped as goddesses.
12. Sea God: The sea is worshipped on Narali Pournima by fisher castes.
13. Mountains: Mountains are considered sacred and are worshipped.
14. Moon – The Earth’s natural satellite.
15. Varuna: The rain god.
16. Garuda: The eagle god.

List of Other Hindu Gods:

1. Ahi.
2. Ajaikapad.
3. Apam Napat.
4. Ardhanirshwar.
5. Ashwini Kumar.
6. Ayyappan.
7. Balarama.
8. Barbarika.
9. Bapuji Bua.
10. Bhaga.
11. Bhairavnath.
12. Brihaspati.
13. Buddha: Gautam Buddha is known as the founder of Buddhism, but he is believed to be the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
14. Budhnya.
15. Dahana.
16. Dattatreya: Lord Dattatreya is one of the most powerful deities of Hindus. This deity is formed by the combination of three main Hindu deities viz Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva and he is the most powerful than any other deities.
17. Dhanwantari.
18. Dharma Shastha.
19. Dhavaji Patil.
20. Gandharvas.
21. Ganesha: Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is blessed to be worshipped first in all deities and at the start of all rituals and new activities. His head is that of an elephant and his body is that of a human.
22. Guliga.
23. Hanuman: Hanuman is known as a monkey god who belonged to the ape race. He served Lord Rama and helped him kill Ravana. He is immortal and Hindus believe that he is still alive.
24. Hastar.
25. Iravan.
26. Ishvara.
27. Jyotiba.
28. Kalbhairava.
29. Kalki.
30. Kapali.
31. Kapinjala.
32. Kartikeya: Lord Kartikeya is the elder son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is also known as Lord Murugan.
33. Khandoba.
34. Krishna: Lord Krishna is considered as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He killed many demons. He told Bhagavad Gita, the divine song, to Arjuna. Vaishnavites consider him an incarnation of Brahman, the Supreme Being.
35. Kshetrapal.
36. Kshetrapati.
37. Kuber.
38. Kurma.
39. Lakshman.
40. Mahavishnu.
41. Manas.
42. Manyu.
43. Manu.
44. Masan Bhairava.
45. Matsya.
46. Mhasoba.
47. Mitra.
48. Narasimha: Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who killed the demon king, Hiranyakashyapu. Hiranyakashyapu was a very despotic ruler and was trying to kill his son, Pralhad, who was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Narasimha’s head is that of a lion and the body is that of a human.
49. Nirta.
50. Nirriti.
51. Panjurli.
52. Parjanya.
53. Parshuram: Parshuram is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. When the warriors became powerful, they started bullying common people. Hence, Vishnu was incarnated as Parshuram and defeated them seven times.
54. Pinakin.
55. Rama: Lord Rama is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He killed Ravana, the demon king, and established an ideal kingdom which is known as Ramrajya.
56. Rbhus.
57. Sarpa.
58. Sharabha.
59. Sheshnag.
60. Sthanu.
61. Tvastar.
62. Vach.
63. Vaikuntha-kamalaja.
64. Vamana: He is the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
65. Varaha: The Third incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar.
66. Vastospati.
67. Vasuki.
68. Venkatesha or Balaji: Lord Venkatesha is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
69. Virbhadra.
70. Vishwakarma.
71. Yajna.
72. Yakshas.
73. Yama: Yama is considered as God of death. His ambassadors come to take the soul of the dead person.

List of Hindu Goddesses:

1. Annapurna Devi: She is the goddess of food. She is also a form of Devi Parvati.

2. Maa Durga: Devi Durga is the incarnation of Devi Parvati who killed Mahishasur, a very cruel and powerful demon. Mahishasur was invincible for men. Hence, Goddess Parvati had to incarnate as Durga and kill him. Maa Durga is worshipped in 9 different forms during the Navratri festival:

A. Shailaputri.

B. Brahmacharini.

C. Chandraghanta.

D. Kushmanda.

E. Skandamata.

F. Katyani.

G. Kaalratri.

H. Mahagauri.

I. Siddhidhatri.

3. Different Forms of Goddess Kali:

• Adharvana Bhadra Kali.
• Adya Kali.
• Bhadra Kali.
• Bhadra Kali.
• Bhima Kali.
• Chintamani Kali.
• Dakshina Kali.
• Guhya Kali.
• Guhya Kali.
• Hamsa Kali.
• Kalasankarshini Kali.
• Kamakala Kali.
• Raksha Kali.
• Samhara Kali.
• Santati Kali.
• Shyama Kali.
• Siddhi Kali.
• Smashana Kali.
• Sparshamani Kali.

List of Other Goddesses:

• Aaimata.
• Adimaya.
• Aditi.
• Ajapa.
• Alakshmi or Jyeshtha Devi.
• Akshara.
• Ambabai.
• Ambika.
• Amrita.
• Anagha Devi.
• Aparajita.
• Apsaras.
• Aranyani.
• Ashapura Mata.
• Ashokasundari/Bala Tripura Sundari.
• Ashvarudha.
• Bagalamukhi Mata.
• Bagdai Mata.
• Bahuchara Mata.
• Bahumaya.
• Balotakata.
• Bhagyalakshmi.
• Bhairavi.
• Bhasi.
• Bhima.
• Bhramari.
• Bhuvaneshwari.
• Brahmani Mata.
• Buddhi.
• Bijasen Mata.
• Bolai Mata.
• Brahmacharini Mata.
• Chamunda Devi.
• Chandi.
• Chatushringi.
• Chinnamasta.
• Daityatapini.
• Dakshina.
• Danu.
• Danujendrakshayamkari.
• Devasena.
• Dhavdi Maa.
• Dhi.
• Dhriti.
• Dhumavati.
• Diksha.
• Draupadi.
• Dura Mata.
• Ekadashi.
• Ganga.
• Garutmati.
• Garvaharita.
• Gayatri Devi.
• Godavari.
• Gajavaktra.
• Harkor Mata.
• Hinglaj Mata.
• Humkaraheti.
• Ila.
• Iravati.
• Jambhali.
• Janaai Devi.
• Janani Devi.
• Japaharini.
• Japasiddhi.
• Jaya.
• Jayanti.
• Jivdani Mata.
• Jvalamukhi.
• Kali Mata.
• Kalubai or Mandhardevi.
• Kaki.
• Kamakhya.
• Kamalakshi.
• Kamala.
• Kanbai.
• Kanya Kumari.
• Karni Mata.
• Kasar Devi.
• Kateri Amman.
• Kaushiki.
• Kaveri Devi.
• Kharamukhi.
• Kheer/Ksheer Bhawani.
• Khodiyar Mata.
• Klinna.
• Koradi Mata.
• Kotarakshi.
• Kshama.
• Kshemakari.
• Kuhu.
• Kuldevi Mata.
• Kumbaljai Mata.
• Lajja Gouri.
• Linga Bhairavi.
• Maya.
• Mayurvadana.
• Mahamaya.
• Mahanidra.
• Mahavarahi Mata.
• Mahishaghni.
• Maholkasya.
• Maitrikrit.
• Malaai (मळाई) Devi.
• Manasa Devi.
• Manda or Dhamini.
• Maniya Mata.
• Mari Mata.
• Matangi.
• Maya.
• Mhalsa.
• Mitranetra.
• Mohani.
• Mohata Devi.
• Mokshalakshmi.
• Momai Maa.
• Mumba Devi.
• Naini Mata.
• Namagiri Mata.
• Narmada.
• Neela/Neelima/Neelamratna.
• Nirti.
• Niyuta.
• Padmakeshi.
• Padmasya.
• Padmavasini.
• Padmavati.
• Para.
• Pashapani.
• Pranaveshi.
• Pratyangira Devi.
• Prasuti.
• Purandhi.
• Radha.
• Raka.
• Rakshoghni.
• Raktadantika.
• Ranapriya.
• Ranbai.
• Renuka Mata.
• Riddhi.
• Sachiya Mata.
• Sadanana.
• Santoshi Mata.
• Sanjana.
• Sarasana.
• Sarpasya.
• Sarpis.
• Sarvamangala.
• Sarvasundari.
• Sati.
• Satwai.
• Shachi.
• Shakambhari.
• Shankhini.
• Shatarupa.
• Shitala Devi.
• Shivarava.
• Shodashi.
• Shubhananda.
• Siddhi.
• Siddhikari.
• Sinivali.
• Sita.
• Smashan Taara
• Subhanana.
• Sudha.
• Suki.
• Surasa.
• Sureshvari.
• Susani Mata.
• Suvarchala Devi – The daughter of Sun God and the wife of Lord Hanuman.
• Svadha.
• Svaha.
• Svaratmika.
• Taleshi.
• Tanot Mata/Aavad Mata.
• Tantu.
• Tapahsiddhi.
• Tara.
• Trailokyavijaya.
• Trailokyasundari.
• Trijaganmata.
• Trinetra.
• Tripada.
• Tripura.
• Tripurabhairavi.
• Trivaktra.
• Trivargaphaladayini.
• Trivarga.
• Tryakshara.
• Tuljabhavani Mata.
• Uchchatani.
• Uma.
• Urvashi.
• Usana.
• Ushas.
• Vaaghjai Mata.
• Vaishno Devi.
• Vajratara.
• Vajreshwari.
• Vanadevi.
• Varahi Devi.
• Vartali.
• Vidujjihva.
• Vijaya.
• Vinayaki.
• Vinzai Devi.
• Vritti.
• Yallamma Devi.
• Yami.
• Yamuna.
• Yogamaya.
• Yogasiddhi.

Saints worshipped as Gods:

1. Saibaba of Shirdi.

2. Shri Swami Samartha.

3. Saint Gyaneshwar.

4. Saint Tukaram.

5. Mahatma Basaweshwar.

6. Nar-Narayana.

7. Saint Vyas.

8. Jhulelal.

9. Navnath.

Also Read: How Many Gods Are There In Hinduism?