UVRITTA / A LIVING LIBRARY

Explore Hindu deities,
mantras, puja
and sacred texts.

Discover the stories, prayers, scriptures, temples and living traditions of Sanatana Dharma. Search for what interests you, or browse the library to choose where your journey begins.

Browse the full directory Choose your own starting point.

ONE LIBRARY. MANY PATHS TO EXPLORE. DISCOVER THE DIRECTORY

01 / THE DIVINE

Explore the Divine.
Choose your path.

Browse Hindu deities, goddesses, divine forms and regional traditions by name. Find Bhagwan Ganesha, Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan Vishnu, Maa Durga, Maa Lakshmi, Bhagwan Rama, Bhagwan Krishna, Bhagwan Hanuman and many more—and open their dedicated knowledge pages.

There is no required starting deity or reading order. Search a name, browse a group or follow the path that interests you.

207 INDEX ENTRIES

Find a deity, form or traditional name

Search names and common alternative names within this directory. The search above searches published website pages.

Select a category to expand it or search a name to find the matching entry. Names may refer to regional identities or forms of the same deity, not necessarily separate gods.

01 / 14 Principal deities & divine beingsCore deity pages and widely revered divine beings. Names used for one deity are searchable aliases, not automatically separate gods. 14 ENTRIES

02 / 14 Goddesses & divine mothersAn introduction to divine mothers, consorts, river goddesses and other revered forms. Specialised Shakta groupings appear below. 25 ENTRIES

03 / 14 The ten MahavidyasTen important forms in Shakta traditions. Their names and practices vary by lineage; an index is not a substitute for initiation or guidance. 10 ENTRIES

04 / 14 The nine Navadurga formsNine forms commonly honoured during Navratri. These are forms of the Goddess, not a claim of nine unrelated supreme deities. 09 ENTRIES

05 / 14 Ashta Lakshmi formsEight widely named forms of Lakshmi; the set and spellings can differ among regional traditions. 08 ENTRIES

06 / 14 Sapta MatrikasSeven mother-goddess forms in a widely used grouping; some traditions additionally recognise other Matrikas. 07 ENTRIES

07 / 14 Vishnu avatars & manifestationsAvatars and manifestations associated with Vishnu. Lists of the Dashavatara differ among texts and communities. 14 ENTRIES

08 / 14 Vishnu & Krishna devotional formsRevered manifestations and temple-centred identities. Several names refer to forms of Vishnu or Krishna rather than separate deities. 18 ENTRIES

09 / 14 Shiva forms & traditionsDistinct depictions, names and devotional forms associated with Shiva. Some have their own regional shrines and traditions. 17 ENTRIES

10 / 14 Ganesha & Kartikeya traditionsNames, forms, associated divine consorts and temple identities; many are covered together in the principal deity pages. 14 ENTRIES

11 / 14 Regional goddess traditionsExamples of widely revered regional goddesses and temple identities; the directory remains open to additional local traditions. 30 ENTRIES

12 / 14 Regional deities & guardiansSelected guardian and village-associated traditions. Local forms are numerous and cannot be exhaustively captured in a single homepage index. 15 ENTRIES

13 / 14 Vedic deities & divine groupsNamed deities and collective divine groups from Vedic literature. Some also appear in later Hindu traditions under related names. 17 ENTRIES

14 / 14 NavagrahaNine planetary deities of Hindu devotional and astrological traditions. These are traditional religious categories, not a list of astronomical planets. 09 ENTRIES

CONTINUE EXPLORING

Explore sacred readings.

Mantras, aarti, chalisa, stotras, kavach and more—organised for reading and discovery.

Explore sacred readings

Editorial scope: This index covers deities, manifestations, traditional names, goddess forms and regional devotional identities. A name may refer to a form of another deity rather than a separate god. Each link has a stable planned URL; the corresponding WordPress page must be published at that URL before it can open.

02 / SACRED READINGS

Find your reading.
Follow your devotion.

Explore Hindu mantras, Chalisa, Aarti, stotras, kavach, ashtakam, sahasranama, sacred shlokas and longer devotional readings. Search by title or browse each reading tradition—no fixed order or required starting deity.

Some entries are individual texts, others are collections or reading guides. Each title identifies what you will find on its dedicated page.

146 DIRECTORY ENTRIES · 9 CATEGORIES

Search a reading, deity or alternative title

Filters titles in this directory. The search in the first fold searches published website pages.

Open a category, or type a title to show matching entries. On-site reading pages identify a text’s version, source and whether the material is a full transcription or a reading guide.

01 / 09Mantras & sacred namesShort prayers, daily japa, traditional invocations and collections organised by deity.23 ENTRIES

02 / 09ChalisaForty-verse devotional hymns and related readings. Different published versions may vary.15 ENTRIES

03 / 09AartiDevotional songs traditionally sung during worship; find the deity and the text you want to read.18 ENTRIES

04 / 09Stotras & stutiHymns of praise, devotional verses and traditional recitations with identifiable textual sources.20 ENTRIES

05 / 09Kavach & protection hymnsTexts known as kavach or protective hymns, presented with the relevant devotional context.15 ENTRIES

06 / 09Ashtakam & short hymnsEight-verse compositions and other short hymns; titles and recensions are identified on their own pages.13 ENTRIES

07 / 09Sahasranama & name collectionsThousand-name hymns, 108-name collections, and other traditional namavali readings.16 ENTRIES

08 / 09Suktas & sacred shlokasSelected Vedic hymns, well-known verses and short compositions, with source and pronunciation guidance on their reading pages.15 ENTRIES

09 / 09Longer readings & recitation guidesExtended devotional readings and chapter-based texts; full verses and reading guides are distinguished on their pages.11 ENTRIES

03 / PUJA & DAILY PRACTICE

Worship, understood.
Practices, explored.

Browse Hindu puja guides, home worship, puja vidhi, offerings, vrat, festival rituals, temple etiquette and devotional practices. Find the practice you came for, or discover something new—at your own pace.

Ritual customs differ by family, region, temple and tradition. Each guide can explain its context instead of assuming one method applies to everyone.

172 DIRECTORY ENTRIES · 12 CATEGORIES

Search a puja, offering, festival or practice

Filters this directory only. Use the homepage search to search published articles across UVRITTA.

Open any category to browse. Search shows matching guides across all categories. Published guides can include explanations and steps; this directory is an index, not a single universal puja procedure.

01 / 12Daily puja & home worshipSimple ways to begin and sustain home worship; customs vary across families and traditions.15 ENTRIES

02 / 12Puja by deityFind a deity-specific worship guide, including commonly observed offerings and variations.25 ENTRIES

03 / 12Preparing for pujaMaterials, cleanliness, space and intention before beginning a worship practice.14 ENTRIES

04 / 12Puja steps & ritual termsClear explanations of commonly encountered steps, with context where procedures differ.17 ENTRIES

05 / 12Offerings & prasadExplore commonly discussed offerings and how temple and household customs can differ.15 ENTRIES

06 / 12Japa, meditation & devotional practiceWays to use sacred readings in worship; discover individual texts in the Sacred Readings directory.13 ENTRIES

07 / 12Worship by weekdayFind commonly associated weekday practices; associations vary across communities.9 ENTRIES

08 / 12Vrat & observancesGuides to fasting and vrata traditions, including regional calendars and family variations.15 ENTRIES

09 / 12Festival pujaFestival-specific worship guides, with dates and procedures checked for region and year.18 ENTRIES

10 / 12Temple visits & community worshipWays to participate respectfully in temple worship and community observances.9 ENTRIES

11 / 12Family ceremonies & samskarasIntroduction to household life-cycle rites; the officiant and family tradition guide specialised observances.10 ENTRIES

12 / 12Abhishekam, homa & specialised ritesUnderstand ritual terminology and traditional contexts; formal procedures may require trained guidance.12 ENTRIES

04 / SACRED PLACES & TEMPLES

Sacred places.
Many paths to explore.

Explore Hindu temples, Jyotirlingas, Shakti Peethas, Char Dham pilgrimages, sacred cities, rivers, mountains and regional places of worship. Search by deity, temple or location—or open a category to discover more.

Temples and pilgrimage places belong to many local and regional traditions. This directory helps you find a place; individual guides can explain its particular history, customs and sources.

198 DIRECTORY ENTRIES · 14 CATEGORIES

Search a temple, pilgrimage, river or sacred city

Filters this directory only. Use the homepage search to search published articles across UVRITTA.

Choose a category to explore. Search opens sections containing matching places. Planned article links become available when the matching WordPress pages are published; travel conditions and temple rules should be checked with the relevant temple or local authority.

01 / 14Shiva temples & sacred shrinesTemples associated with Shiva, including historic places beyond the twelve Jyotirlingas.14 ENTRIES

02 / 14Vishnu, Rama & Krishna templesShrines devoted to Vishnu and his forms, including Rama, Krishna and Venkateswara.15 ENTRIES

03 / 14Devi, Shakti & mother-goddess templesPlaces of worship associated with Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati and other revered forms of Devi.16 ENTRIES

04 / 14Ganesha, Hanuman & other deity templesTemples dedicated to Ganesha, Hanuman, Kartikeya, Surya, Ayyappa and other worshipped forms.15 ENTRIES

05 / 14The twelve JyotirlingasExplore the twelve traditionally enumerated Jyotirlingas of Shiva; location attributions differ for some names.12 ENTRIES

06 / 14Shakti Peethas & Devi pilgrimageExplore Shakti Peetha traditions; the list, names and locations vary among textual and regional traditions.12 ENTRIES

07 / 14Char Dham & pilgrimage circuitsOrient yourself to important pilgrimage circuits and the distinct traditions that describe them.13 ENTRIES

08 / 14Sacred cities & temple townsCities and towns visited for worship, festivals, river ghats, temples and inherited pilgrimage traditions.18 ENTRIES

09 / 14Sacred rivers, lakes & confluencesDiscover the spiritual and cultural significance of rivers, bathing ghats, lakes and meeting places of rivers.15 ENTRIES

10 / 14Mountains, forests & sacred landscapesMountains, hills, forests and other landscapes connected with Hindu devotional and pilgrimage traditions.13 ENTRIES

11 / 14Southern temple regionsBrowse sacred places in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.15 ENTRIES

12 / 14Northern, eastern & northeastern shrinesA geographically diverse entry into temple and pilgrimage traditions across northern and eastern India.14 ENTRIES

13 / 14Western & central Indian shrinesTemples and pilgrimage places across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and central India.14 ENTRIES

14 / 14Plan a respectful temple visitGeneral reference guides: temple etiquette, different puja customs, access requirements and travel considerations.12 ENTRIES

05 / SCRIPTURES & SACRED LITERATURE

Find a text.
Explore its tradition.

Browse Hindu scriptures and sacred literature: the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, philosophical sutras, Agamas and regional devotional works. Search a title or open a category to find an individual text or chapter.

Different traditions preserve different editions, translations and interpretations. Each dedicated page can identify its source, version and whether it contains a full text or an introductory guide.

218 DIRECTORY ENTRIES · 12 CATEGORIES

Search a scripture, chapter, author or alternate name

Filters this directory only. The homepage search searches published pages across UVRITTA.

Open a category or search for a work. Some links lead to an entire scripture, others to a book, chapter, translation guide or later commentary. Page links become available as their corresponding WordPress pages are published.

01 / 12The four VedasExplore the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda, along with their textual layers and selected associated works.17 ENTRIES

02 / 12UpanishadsFind the principal Upanishads and introductory guides to their schools, themes, textual histories and translations.16 ENTRIES

03 / 12Bhagavad Gita: all 18 chaptersOpen the Bhagavad Gita as a complete text or navigate to a particular chapter.20 ENTRIES

04 / 12Ramayana traditionsExplore the Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas and other regional and later Ramayana retellings without conflating their versions.24 ENTRIES

05 / 12Mahabharata & related worksExplore the eighteen parvas, major episodes, and other texts transmitted alongside the Mahabharata.23 ENTRIES

06 / 12Puranas & sacred narrativesBrowse texts commonly named among the eighteen Mahapuranas and related narrative literature; enumerations vary by tradition.22 ENTRIES

07 / 12Vedangas & supporting disciplinesSix traditional disciplines supporting the study, pronunciation and interpretation of the Vedas.12 ENTRIES

08 / 12Darshana & philosophyClassical philosophical systems, sutra literature and interpretive traditions, with differences among schools acknowledged.19 ENTRIES

09 / 12Agamas & temple traditionsIntroductions to Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta textual traditions, temple worship and lineages; specialised practices require appropriate guidance.14 ENTRIES

10 / 12Dharma, Smriti & classical textsHistorical texts on duties, social life and conduct, studied in their particular period and interpretive context.14 ENTRIES

11 / 12Regional devotional literatureMajor devotional compositions from different languages and communities, presented with their distinct authorship and literary traditions.23 ENTRIES

12 / 12Commentaries & reading guidesStudy how different commentators interpret the same texts, and distinguish a primary text from its later explanation.14 ENTRIES