The Hindic Pantheon
Preliminary Version
from Iron Czar
Agni (He Who Consumes)
Agni is the Lord of Fire, and dwells in Earth.
Amsha
The share of the Gods, as distinct from the share
of mortal men (personified by Bhaga) in the traditions of inheritance.
Aryaman
God of Chivalry (*not,* obviously, the Aeropan
version of chivalry)
The Ashvins
Twin brother-deities, possibly the same as, or
related in some way to, the Grecian twins Kastor and Polydeukes (Castor
and Pollux, in Roman parlance.) They are divine healers, physicians with
the power to cure the sick, aged and infirm, and often aid heroes in need.
Bhaga
Lord of Inheritance.
Citragupta (The Scribe of the Lord of Death)
A powerful minion of Yama, it is Citragupta who
records the good and ill deeds of men, that they may be judged.
Daksha
God of Ritual, who makes it possible that mortals
worship the Gods correctly.
Indra (The Ruler of Heaven; Lord of the Spheres; Captain
of the Celestial Host; Regent of the East; the Embodiment of Might)
Indra is the Chief of the Gods, the ruler of the
storm, the source of fertility. Indra is a God of the sky much like Agni
is a God of the earth. He is also a patron of the arts, including that
of magick. He is often associated with Agni and Surya—the three may be
brother-Gods.
Kubera (Regent of the North; Lord of Riches)
God of wealth, King of the yakshas, the protector
of travelers, and the compansion of Shiva.
The Maruts
Collective name for a host of minor deities. There
are seven groups of seven maruts—they are the friends of Indra, who is
their chief.
Mitra
God of friendship.
Nirrta (Regent of the Southwest)
Hermaphroditic God of Misery (called Nirrti in
its female aspect), also the patron of Elves, protector of ghosts, those
born with handicaps and those who wander abroad in the night. Some folk
make offerings to him to isure victory over their enemies.
Pushan (the Nourisher)
Protector of cattle.
Savitri (the Vivifier)
God of the Word, of power through speech, of magic
in utterances.
Shakra (the Mighty)
God of Courage.
Soma (the Luminous; Regent of the Northeast)
God of the Moon, presider over the seas, protector
of plants, source of Immortality.
Surya (Regent of the Southwest)
God of the Sun, source of all Light, warmth and
knowledge.
Trita (The Third)
Mysterious water-deity and Servant of Indra.
Tvashtri (the Shaper)
God of craftsmanship, industry and skill.
Varuna (the Knower; Greatest of Poets; The Law of the
Gods)
Varuna governs the interactions of Gods and mortals.
He has great power overe the Planes and Spheres, and indeed is often invoked
as a patron of magick.
Vayu (Regent of the Northwest; the Life-Breath of the
World, the Wanderer)
God of Wind and Life, and the patron of Speech.
Vishnu (the Pervader)
God of knowledge.
Vivasvat (the Ancestor; Embodiment of Mortality)
Vivasvat is born into mortal form, though he is
posessed of great might when he come into his divine heritage. He lives
out his alloted span, dies and is reincarnated. He is the only Hindic deity
to follow the same birth-life-death-rebirth cycle as mortals.
The Yakshas (The Mysterious Ones)
The protectors, bodyguards and servants of Kubera,
and guardians of the earth's trasures.
Yama (The Binder; the King of Ancestors; Lord of Death;
Keeper of the Law; Regent of the South.)
It is Yama, according to the holy Vedas, who binds
mankind to the cycle of Death and Rebirth. He is the God of Justice, who
punishes those who commit evil deeds.
Bibliography