Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

102 Gangaovercome difficulties. He may have originated asa fertility god and as a YAKSA (local forest deity).His father is ŠIVA. His mother, PARVATI, is said tohave created him from the scurf of her skin. He isdepicted in human form with an elephant’s head(or, less frequently, up to five heads) and a trunk(which removes obstacles), sometimes bearingone tusk, on a stout or obese body (which containsthe universe). He has four arms which cancarry a large number of attributes but particularlya shell, a discus, a mace and a water-lily. Hissacred animal is the bandicoot. He is called uponbefore going on a journey, moving house or openinga new business.According to one legend his elephant headwas gained after his mother had put him outsidethe house to guard the doorstep while she took abath. He barred the way to his father whereuponŠiva inadvertently decapitated him. His mothervowed to secure a head for him from the firstpassing creature, which happened to be anelephant. Another account suggests that Parvatitook Ganesa to show him off to the gods but thatSANI (Saturn) burned his head to ashes and theelephant’s head was provided to save his life by acompassionate VIŠNU.Ganesa’s great popularity results in frequentappearance in temples devoted to other Hindudeities. Sculptures are sometimes painted red. Heis also a common household guardian made popularby his gentle nature.her fall. She rides on a fish or water monster. Color:white. Attributes: fly whisk, lotus and water jar.GangirGoddess. Mesopotamian (Sumerian). One ofthe seven daughters of the goddess Baba, knownchiefly at Lagaš. Also, and more properly,Hegir-Nuna.GarmangabisTutelary goddess. South Germanic. Invoked bythe Suebi tribe to bring prosperity. She may belinked with the north German goddess GEFJON.Garuda (the devourer)Archaic sun god and divine vehicle. Hindu(Vedic). Originally depicted as a solar deity,Garuda evolved into a bird-like human hybridwho became the deified mount of VIŠNU. Also achief adversary of nagas (snake-like demons),which he devours. In early depictions Garuda hasa parrot’s beak. Said to have been born from anegg, the son of Vinata and KASYAPA. Epithetsinclude Amrtaharana, Garutman, Tarksya. Attributes:conch, club, lotus and nectar, but may alsobear the attributes of Višnu.2. Mount or vahana of VAJRAPANI. Buddhist.Attributes: flower, horse-head, noose, skin andstaff. Three-eyed and three-headed.GangaRiver goddess. Hindu (Puranic). Guardian deity ofthe Ganges. The elder daughter of HIMAVAN andMENA, she is the sister of PARVATI and the consortof VIŠNU and AGNI. She is also the second consortof ŠIVA. Ganga is regarded as a symbol of purity andis frequently depicted with Brahma washing theraised foot of VIŠNU TRIVIKRAMA. According totradition she was a heavenly river brought to earthand caught by Šiva in his hair to soften the shock ofGatumdugFertility goddess. Mesopotamian (Sumerianand Babylonian-Akkadian). The daughter of thesky god AN, she is the tutelary mother goddessof Lagaš.GaunabMalevolent god of darkness. Khoi (Hottentot)[Namibia, southern Africa]. The chief adversary