super-projeclion  of  numerous  pairs  of  normal  arms.  This  multiplication
  again  allowed  the  gods  to  be  given  various  faces,  various
crowns  and  many  emblems  (ayudha)  at  the  same  time.  These
emblems  were  in  their  turn  an  expression  of  the  background
of  theology,  e.  g.  the  club  as  a  symbol  of  physical  strength,  the
lotus  representing  biological  life,  the  conch-shell  representing
Sound,  ether  and  space,  the  flywheel  representing  time,  the
wreath  of  roses  representing  meditation,  the  mirror  for  beauty,
the  butter-spoon  for  sacrifice,  weapons  for  destruction,  and  so  on.
Finally,  each  god  or  goddess  had  his  or  her  own  sacred  animal,
Siva  the  bull,  Parvati  the  tiger,  Ganesha  the  rat,  Karttikeya  and
Sarasvati  the  peacock,  Vishnu  the  eagle,  Lakshmi  and  Indra  the
elephant,  and  many  others.
Types  of  Gods
This  detaiied  symbolism  proved  necessary  because  of  the  numerous ­
  forms  in  which  even  the  great  gods  appeared  and  the
various  parts  which  they  played  in  the  mutually  competitive
Systems  ot  theology.  Their  number  is  so  great  that  only  a  few
of  the  most  important  can  be  given  here.  In  many  cases  their
names  are  self-explanatory.
A.  LOWER  NATURE  AND  FERTILITY  GODS;  Yakshas  and  Yakshis
(roughly  comparable  with  the  Baals  and  Ashtharoths  of  the  Bible,
dwarfs  and  elves;  especially  Kubera,  Pancika  and  Hariti;  Vrikshakas
  (dryads,  Cat.  213),  Nagas  (snakes,  nymphs),  Rakshasas  (giants),
Asuras  (mythological  giants),  Apsaras  (river  goddesses,  heavenly
nymphs),  especially  Ganga  (Ganges),  Yamuna  (Jumna)  and
Sarasvati  (also  goddess  of  art  and  Science),  Gandharvas,  Kimnaras
  and  others  (heavenly  musicians),  Rishis  (holy,  better:
powerful  medicine-men),  Ganas,  Bhutas,  Pretas,  Pishachas,  Vetalas
  (ghosts).
B.  GODS  OF  THE  VEDIC  ARYAS:  Indra-Sakra  (heavenly  god),
Brahma  (god  of  sacrifice),  the  Dikpalas  (keepers  of  the  worid);
Soma  (moon),  Ishana  (the  same  as  Siva),  Indra,  Agni  (fire),  Yama
(death),  Virupaksha  (Siva),  Varuna  (water),  Vayu  (wind),  finally
Surya  (sun).
C.  BUDDHISM:  The  Buddha  (Siddhartha  Gautama,  about  560  to
482  B.  C.i  Cat.  136;  159),  his  mother  Maya,  his  son,  later  the
original  Buddha  (Vajrasattva),  the  five  Dhyani  Buddhas,  their
Dhyani-Bodhisattvas  and  Prajnas,  the  seven  earthly  Buddhas,  the
Bodhisattvas  (redeemers),  especially  Avalokitesvara,  Maitreya
and  Manjusri,  the  goddesses  Tara  (in  various  forms),  Prajnaparamita

  (highest  wisdom),  Marici  ("the  heavenly  Queen”),  the
Dharmapalas  (terrible  protectors  of  the  faith)  and  Lokapalas  (the
same  as  the  Hindu  Dikpalas).
D.  JAINISM:  24  Tirthankaras  or  Jinas  (cosmological  teachers),
especially  Rishabhanatha,  Santinatha,  Neminatha,  Parsvanatha
and  Vardhamana-Mahavira  (about  555—480  B.  C.),  each  of  them
accompanied  by  a  Yaksha  and  a  Yakshi  (Cat.  205;  206);  of  the
latter,  the  most  important  is  Ambika  (mother),  with  her  lion.
E.  SAIVISM  (SIVAISM);  MAHADEVA  OR  MAHESVARA  (THE
GREAT  GOD  OR  LORD):  Sadasiva,  Mahesha-Murti,  Jagesvara
(Lord  of  the  World),  Nataraja  (King  of  the  [Tandava]  dance;
Cat.  283;  284);  Ardhanarisvara  (the  Lord  who  is  half  a  woman),
Hari-Hara  (Vishnu-Siva),  Siva  (the  mercifui),  Shamkara,  Candrashekhara
  (wreathed  by  the  moon),  Girisha  (the  Lord  of  the
Mountains),  Gangadhara  (the  bearer  of  the  heavenly  Ganga,
i.  e.  the  Milky  Way),  Nilakantha  (the  blue-necked),  Kirata-Murti
(the  jungle-dweller),  Gajasamhara-Murti  (slayer  of  the  elephant
demon),  Dakshina-Murti  (the  teacher  of  Southern  India),  Bhairava
(the  terrible),  Mahakala  (the  great  black  one),  Mrityunjaya  (conqueror
  of  death),  Yogisvara  (Lord  of  the  Yogis),  Kankali-Murli
(magician),  Bhikshatana-Murti  (beggar),  Rudra  (shouter),  Virabhadra
  (heroic  splendour),  Lakulisha  (young  ascetic  with  a  staff  in
his  hand),  Linga  (male  organ).  MAHADEVI  (THE  GREAT  GODDESS): ­
  see  under  F,  Saktism,  BOTH  AS  DIVINE  PAIR:  Uma-Sahita
(Standing,  Cat.  290),  Uma-Mahesvara  (seated),  Kalyanasundara
(the  happy  and  beautifui),  Somaskanda  (with  Uma,  the  same  as
Mahadevi  and  Skanda).  THEIR  CHILDREN:  Ganesha  (Ganapati,
Vinayaka,  Cat.  274;  300)  the  elephant  god  and  Karttikeya
(Skanda,  Kumara,  Subrahmanya)  the  war  god  (Cat.  116).
F.  SAKTISM  (CULT  OF  SAKTI,  THE  FEMALE  POWER  OF  GOD,
THE  WORLD  MOTHER);  Mahadevi  (great  goddess),  Mahesvari
(great  mistress),  Mahamata  (great  mother),  Ambika  (mother),
Bhavani,  Bhuvanesvari  (mistress  of  the  World),  Maha-Lakshmi,
Rajrajesvari,  Parvati  (mountain  goddess),  Kumari  (virgin),  Gauri
(the  shining  one),  Kamakshi  (the  loving-eyed),  Durga  (virgin),
Mahishamardini  (Durga  as  the  slayer  of  the  butfalo  demon,  war
godess;  Cat.  195;  272),  Kali  (the  black  one),  Bhairavi  (the  terrible), ­
  Camunda  (goddess  of  death),  Yogesvari  (mistress  of  the
Yoga-Tantra),  Minakshi  (the  fish-eyed  one,  the  unblinking  one,
the  quiet  one;  Princess  ol  Madurai),  Yoni  (female  organ),  Yantra
(Hexagram);  further,  the  seven  or  eight  ”mothers  (Matrika),  the
nine  Durgas,  the  64  Yoginis  and  81  Dakinis,  all  bloodthirsty  and
fearsome  goddesses.