Sacred Stories of Our Gods

Teacher of the Gita, Lord of Dwarka and the embodiment of love

Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Born in a prison cell in Mathura, he spent a playful childhood in Gokul and Vrindavan, ended the tyranny of Kansa, founded the city of Dwarka and, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, gave Arjuna the teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. His whole life carries a message of dharma, love and selfless action. He has a special bond with Gujarat, because Dwarka was his capital.

Remover of obstacles, giver of wisdom and the god worshipped first

Shri Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. Every auspicious undertaking begins with "Shri Ganeshaya Namah", because he removes obstacles and grants wisdom and success. With his elephant head, large belly and a mouse as his vehicle, every aspect of Ganapati holds a deep spiritual meaning.

God of gods, the kind-hearted Bholenath and the auspicious Shankar

Lord Shiva is one of the Trimurti: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the god of dissolution and transformation. He remains absorbed in meditation on Mount Kailash, with the Ganga in his matted hair and the moon on his head. He is pleased even by someone who offers a single pot of water with a sincere heart, and so he is called "Bholenath", the innocent Lord. Gujarat is home to holy Jyotirlingas such as Somnath and Nageshwar.

Devotee of Rama, treasure of strength and wisdom, and remover of troubles

Shri Hanuman is the supreme devotee of Lord Rama and a treasure house of matchless strength. Born through the blessing of Vayu, the wind god, he is a symbol of strength, wisdom, humility and selfless service. He is immortal, and devotees believe he is present wherever the story of Rama is told. In Gujarat, Kashtabhanjan Dev at Salangpur is a centre of faith for millions of devotees.

The ideal man, the very model of dharma and truth

Lord Rama is the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Though he was the prince of Ayodhya, he accepted fourteen years of exile to keep his father's word, ended the wicked Ravana and established the ideal reign of Ram Rajya. As the ideal son, brother, husband, friend and king, he is called "Maryada Purushottam", the perfect man who never crossed the bounds of dharma. His story was sung by Sage Valmiki in the Ramayana and by Tulsidas in the Ramcharitmanas.