The Trimurti (Supreme Trinity)
- Brahma (Creator)
- Consort: Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge)
- Children:
- Manas Putras (Mind-born sons): The Saptarishis (7 sages, e.g., Atri, Vashishta).
- Shatarupa (First woman, sometimes considered his daughter or creation).
- Vishnu (Preserver)
- Consort: Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth)
- Avatars (10 primary incarnations, Dashavatara):
- Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki (forthcoming).
- Children:
- Kamadeva (God of Love, born from Vishnu’s mind in some traditions).
- Shiva (Destroyer/Transformer)
- Consort: Parvati (Goddess of Power, reincarnation of Sati)
- Children:
- Ganesha (Elephant-headed God of Wisdom, born from Parvati’s clay).
- Kartikeya (Murugan, God of War, born from Shiva’s seed or Agni).
- Ashokasundari (Daughter, lesser-known goddess of freedom from sorrow).
Major Goddesses (Devi)
- Parvati (Shakti, consort of Shiva)
- Manifestations:
- Durga (Warrior Goddess, slayer of Mahishasura).
- Kali (Fierce protector, destroyer of evil).
- Sati (First wife of Shiva, reborn as Parvati).
- Manifestations:
- Lakshmi (Consort of Vishnu)
- Children:
- Kama (God of Desire, in some traditions).
- Children:
- Saraswati (Consort of Brahma)
- Children:
- Vedas (Sacred texts, considered her offspring in metaphysical terms).
- Children:
Key Deities & Their Lineages
The Solar Dynasty (Suryavansha)
- Surya (Sun God)
- Consorts: Sanjna, Chhaya
- Children:
- Yama (God of Death, from Sanjna).
- Shani (Planet Saturn, from Chhaya).
- Ashvins (Twin healers).
- Rama (7th avatar of Vishnu)
- Consort: Sita (incarnation of Lakshmi)
- Children: Luv, Kush
The Lunar Dynasty (Chandravansha)
- Chandra (Moon God)
- Consorts: Rohini, 26 other Nakshatras
- Children: Budha (Mercury), Varchas (father of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata).
- Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu)
- Consorts: Radha (divine lover), Rukmini, Satyabhama
- Children: Pradyumna, Samba
Other Prominent Deities
- Indra (King of Devas)
- Consort: Shachi
- Son: Jayanta
- Agni (Fire God)
- Consorts: Svaha
- Sons: Pavak, Pavaman, Suci
- Varuna (God of Oceans)
- Consort: Varuni
- Hanuman (Devotee of Rama)
- Parents: Vayu (Wind God), Anjana
- Durga
- Children: In some traditions, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya are considered her offspring.
Complexities & Variations
- Shiva-Parvati: Their family tree is central to Shaivism, but regional myths differ (e.g., Tamil traditions elevate Murugan/Kartikeya).
- Vishnu’s Avatars: Each avatar (e.g., Rama, Krishna) has its own intricate lineage.
- Devi Worship: In Shaktism, Devi is the supreme deity, and all gods are her manifestations.
- Asuras & Devas: Many demons (e.g., Hiranyakashipu, Ravana) are descendants of Brahma or Kashyapa.
Visual Family Tree (Simplified)
Brahma + Saraswati ├── Saptarishis (e.g., Vashishta) └── Shatarupa Vishnu + Lakshmi ├── Avatars (Rama, Krishna) └── Kamadeva Shiva + Parvati ├── Ganesha ├── Kartikeya └── Ashokasundari Devi (Durga/Kali) ├── Lakshmi (sometimes) └── Saraswati (sometimes)
Note
This is a highly condensed overview. Hindu mythology is fluid, with stories varying across the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas (e.g., Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana), and regional folklore. For deeper study, explore texts like the Puranas or regional epics like the Devi Bhagavata.