Lord Vishnu As A Preserver-

Vishnu is called the second person of the Triad, but though called second, it must not be supposed that he is regarded as in any way inferior to Brahma. In the beginning of creation, that of Vishnu , desirous of creating the whole world, become threefold; Creator, Preserver, Destroyer. In order to create this world the supreme spirit produced from right side of his body, then in order to preserve world he produced from his left side. And in order to destroy the world , he produced from the middle of his body. Vishnu is represented as a black man with four arms. in one hand he holds a club in another a shell in a third a discus, with which slew his enemy and in fourth a lotus. He rides upon the bird Garuda and he is dressed in yellow robes.

                                                    This deity is worshipped not only under the name and in the form of Vishnu, but also in one of his many incarnations. Whenever any great calamity occurred in the world, or the wickedness of any of its inhabitants proved an unbearable nuisance to the gods, Vishnu as a Preserver , had to lay aside his invisibility, come to earth in some form, generally human, and, when his work was done, he returned again to the skies. The means by which the favor of this god is to be obtained are then explained. The supreme Vishnu is propitiated by a man who observes the institutions of caste, order, and purficatory practices , no other path is the way to please him. He who offers scarifies to him. He is known as many names such as- The Lord of Paradise, He who has excellent hair, made of honey, or a descendant of Madhu, The self existent one, He who wears yellow clothes, He who causes the people to worship, The protector of the world, The endless, Bound with a rope, The deliverer, The supreme man or spirit and The lord of sacrifice.

Lord Siva’s Assurance-

 When the creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live in the top of Mount kailash. Parvati asked. ‘O venerable Lord; which of the many rituals observed in Thy honor doth please. Thee most? The Lord replied- the 13^th and 14^th night of the new moon, in the dark forth night during the month of Phagun, is my most favorite day. It is known as Shivratri. My devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths and offering of flowers, sweets and incense. The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worship me in four different forms during each of the four successive three hour period of the night. The offering of a few bail leaves is more precious to me than the precious jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe me with milk in the first period, with curd in the second, with clarified butter in the third, and with honey in the forth and the last. Next morning, he should feed first and after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his fast. O Parvati: there is no ritual which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity’s parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Shiva. She repeated it to her friends. who in turn passed it on to the ruling princess on the earth. Thus, was the sanctity of shivratri broadcast all over the world. The formal worship consist of bathing the Lord shiva is considered to be the form of light. He is burning with the fire of austerity. He is, therefore best propitiated with cool bathing. And pray to him O Lord: I will bathe thee with water, milk etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with milk of wisdom? Do Thou kindly wash me of all my sins.

Laksmi- The Goddess of Money

Laksmi, or very commonly Sri, is the wife of Vishnu , and under various names appears in this relation in his various incarnations. If a mortal, she becomes a mortal too, transforming her own person agreeably to whatever  character it please Vishnu to assume.

The following account of Sri is from the Ramayana-

When many a years had fled, Up floated, on her lotus bed, A maiden fair, and tender eyed, In the young flush of beauty pride. She shone with pearl and golden sheen, and seals of glory stamped her queen. On each round arm glowed many a gem, On her smooth brows a diadem. Rolling in waves beneath her crown, The glory of her hair rolled down. Pearls on her neck of price untold. The lady shone like burnished gold. Queen of the gods, she leapt to land, A lotus in her perfect hand, And fondly, of the lotus sprung, To lotus-bearing Vishnu clung. Her, gods above and man below, As a beauty Queen and fortune know. As noticed in the last extract, Lakshmi and sri is regarded as the goddess of love beauty and prosperity. When a man growing rich, it is said that Laksmi has come to dwell with him, whilst those in adversity are spoken of as forsaken of Laksmi. The name of Laksmi as that of a goddess does not occur in the Veda, though the word itself is found in its signification as prosperity. Laksmi is known also by the following names such as –The beloved of Hari, The Lotus, she who dwells on a lotus, The ocean- born., The fickle one and The Mother of the World.

Kubera- The God of Riches

Kubera, the god of riches, does not occupy a very conspicuous position in the mythology of the Hindus. No images or picture of him are to be had, though he is frequently referred to in the Ramayana as the lord of gold and wealth. Kubera was one of the guardians of the world; these are commonly said to be four In number. Rama mentions their names- May he whose hands the thunder wield, be in the east thy guard and shield, may yam’s care the south befriend, and Varna’s arm the west defend, and let Kubera, lord of gold, The north with firm protection hold. When eight guardians are spoken of, the additional four are these: Agni has change of the south- east, Surya of the south-west, Soma of the north-east, and Vayu of the north-west. Kubera is called the King of  the yak as- savage beings who, because the moment they were born said, Let us eat, were called yak as. These beings were ever on the watch for prey, and ate those they slew in battle. Throughout there are brief references to Kubera as the giver of riches, and also to the beauty of his place and gardens. His garden is a place where the inhabitants enjoy a natural perfection, attended with complete happiness, obtained without exertion. There is there no vicissitude, nor decrepitude, nor death, nor fear no distinction of virtue and vice none of the inequalities denoted by the words best, worst and intermediate nor any change resulting from the succession. There is neither grief, weariness, anxiety, hunger, nor fear. The people live in perfect health free from every suffering, for ten or twelve thousand year.

Karttikeya – The God of War

The god of war, and generalissimo of the armies of the gods, though called the younger son of Siva and Parvati, according to most of the legends, is their son only in the sense that they formed him. Brahma arranged for his birth in answer to the prayers of the gods for a competent leader of their forces. While Siva, the lord of the gods, was performing austerities, the other deities went to Brahma and asked for a general in the room of Siva, who, it seems, had formerly acted in that capacity. He said they whom thou didst formerly give as a leader of our armies, is now performing great austerities. Karttikya was outwitted by his brother Ganesa. As the two brothers fell in love with two ladies named Siddhi and Buddhi it was agreed that whoever first traveled round the world should have them. Ganesa proved by his logical talents and aptness at quotation that he had done this, and obtained the prize long before his brother returned from his weary pilgrimage, to the disquiet of both families. For sometime after their marriage, as there was no child born to them, the distressed and disappointed deities who had been anxiously expecting a deliverer, renewed their lament- tat ions and complaints. Siva emitted sparks of fire from his eyes, which, being thrown into the lake, became  six infants, who were nursed by the wives of the risis, who are seen in the sky as the Pleiades. When parvati saw these children she was transported with their beauty, and embraced all of them together so forcibly that their six bodies became one, while their six heads and twelve arms remained.