Major Deity List
This table lists all the major deities covered across the 11 periods of the timeline, including their traditional group, description, and whether they have a yoga asana.
The status column will indicate with a ✅ and link to AI generated images.
Click the group heading, to view page with all images and description.
Period 1: Indus Valley / Pre-Vedic (c. 2600–1900 BCE)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Pashupati / "Proto-Shiva" |
Seated horned figure surrounded by animals (elephant, tiger, rhino, buffalo, deer) on steatite seal. Interpretation debated. |
None |
✅ Created |
| Mother Goddess |
Terra-cotta figurines of women; interpreted as fertility cult icons. Existence and worship debated. |
None |
❌ Not Created |
Period 2: Proto-Indo-Iranian (2nd millennium BCE)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
| Mitra |
God of oaths, contracts, and alliances. Attested in Mitanni treaty. |
None |
| Varuna |
God of cosmic order and waters. Attested in Mitanni treaty. |
None |
| Indra |
Warrior god of storms and rain. Attested in Mitanni treaty. |
None |
| Nasatya (Ashvins) |
Divine twin physicians and healers. Attested in Mitanni treaty. |
None |
Period 3: Rig Vedic — The 33 Gods (c. 1500–1000 BCE)
The 12 Adityas (Celestial)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Mitra | God of oaths and friendship | None | ✅ Created |
| Varuna | God of cosmic order and waters | None | ✅ Created |
| Aryaman | God of marriage and hospitality | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhaga | God of wealth and prosperity | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Amsa | A solar deity | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Daksa | A creator god; father of Aditi | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Indra | King of the gods; god of storms | None | ✅ Created |
| Surya | The sun god (also called Vivasvat) | Surya Namaskar (not an asana) | ✅ Created |
| Pusan | God of roads and nourisher of cattle | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Tvastr | God of crafts and smiths | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Visnu | A Vedic deity who later becomes a major Puranic god | Trivikramasana | ✅ Created |
| Savitr | The impeller; a form of the sun god | None | ❌ Not Created |
The 11 Rudras (Atmospheric)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Shiva (Rudra) | Chief of the Rudras; god of storms; later identified with Shiva | Natarajasana, Bhairavasana | ✅ Created |
| Ajaikapat | "The One-footed Goat"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Ahirbudhnya | "The Serpent of the Deep"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Tryambaka | "The Three-eyed One"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhava | "The Existent One"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Sharva | "The Archer"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Isana | "The Ruler"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhima | "The Terrible"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Ugra | "The Fierce"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Vamadeva | "The Beautiful God"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Sthanu | "The Immovable"; a form of Rudra | None | ❌ Not Created |
The 8 Vasus (Terrestrial)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Dhara | Earth; "The Support" | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Anala (Agni) | Fire; god of fire | None | ✅ Created (as Agni) |
| Anila | Wind; god of wind | None | ✅ Created (as Vayu) |
| Aha | Atmosphere/Sky; pervading space | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Pratyusha | Pre-Dawn / Sun; the first light of dawn | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Prabhasa | Sky/Ether / Splendour; shining dawn | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Soma | The Moon; moon god | None | ✅ Created |
| Dhruva | Motionless / Pole Star; the fixed point | None | ❌ Not Created |
The 2 Ashvins (Divine Twins)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Nasatya | Divine twin horseman and physician | None | ✅ Created |
| Dasra | Divine twin horseman and physician | None | ✅ Created |
Period 4: Late Vedic / Upanishadic (c. 1000–500 BCE)
No new deities are introduced in this period. The focus shifts to philosophical concepts: Brahman, Atman, Karma, Samsara. The transition of Rudra to Shiva begins, but no new deity emerges.
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| No new deities |
Philosophical concepts: Brahman, Atman, Karma, Samsara. Rudra → Shiva transition begins. |
None |
N/A |
Period 5: Second Urbanization / Shramana (c. 600–200 BCE)
No new Hindu deities are introduced in this period. This period marks the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, which are non-theistic or reject a creator god. The Bhagavad Gita features Krishna (already established in Period 6).
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| No new deities |
Buddhism, Jainism, early yoga concepts. Krishna appears in the Bhagavad Gita (already established in Period 6). |
None |
N/A |
Period 6: Classical / Epic-Puranic (c. 200 BCE–500 CE)
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Brahma | God of creation; four heads, holds Vedas | None | ✅ Created |
| Vishnu | God of preservation; four arms with conch, discus, mace, lotus | Trivikramasana | ✅ Created |
| Shiva | God of dissolution; third eye, trident, crescent moon | Natarajasana, Bhairavasana | ✅ Created |
| Durga | Warrior goddess; slayer of Mahishasura; lion mount | None | ✅ Created |
| Parvati | Gentle goddess; consort of Shiva | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Lakshmi | Goddess of wealth and prosperity; consort of Vishnu | None | ✅ Created |
| Saraswati | Goddess of learning, music, and arts; consort of Brahma | None | ✅ Created |
| Ganesha | Remover of obstacles; elephant head, mouse mount | None | ✅ Created |
| Skanda / Kartikeya | God of war; peacock mount, spear | Skandasana | ✅ Created |
| Hanuman | Monkey god; devoted servant of Rama | Hanumanasana | ✅ Created |
| Virabhadra | Fierce warrior created by Shiva; avenger of Sati | Virabhadrasana I, II, III | ✅ Created |
| Garuda | King of birds; mount of Vishnu | Garudasana | ✅ Created |
| Krishna | Avatar of Vishnu; hero of Mahabharata | Trivikramasana | ✅ Created |
| Rama | Avatar of Vishnu; hero of Ramayana | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhairava | Fierce form of Shiva | Bhairavasana | ❌ Not Created |
| Durvasa | Short-tempered sage; known for his curses | Durvasasana | ❌ Not Created |
Period 7: Early Medieval / Puranic Peak (c. 500–900 CE)
Only one major new deity emerges in this period: Kali, as a fierce form of the Goddess. Durga (already in Period 6) is elevated to supreme status in the Devi Mahatmyam.
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Kali |
Fierce goddess of time and destruction; emanation of Durga's rage; dark complexion, garland of skulls, standing on Shiva |
None |
❌ Not Created |
Period 8: Medieval Tantric (c. 900–1400 CE)
The Ten Mahavidyas are codified in this period — ten Tantric goddesses representing facets of the Divine Mother.
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Kali | The ultimate form of Brahman; "Devourer of Time"; Supreme Deity of Kalikula systems | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Tara | Goddess as Guide and Protector; offers ultimate knowledge; also known as Neel Saraswati | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Tripura Sundari (Shodashi) | "Beautiful in the Three Worlds"; Supreme Deity of Srikula systems; the "Tantric Parvati" | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhuvaneshwari | Goddess as World Mother; whose body is the cosmos | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bhairavi | The Fierce Goddess; Guardian deity of the three worlds | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Chhinnamasta | The self-decapitated Goddess; drinks blood from her own severed throat | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Dhumavati | The Widow Goddess; Goddess of death; inauspicious and transformative | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Bagalamukhi | Goddess who paralyzes enemies; power to stun or silence | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Matangi | The "Tantric Saraswati"; Prime Minister of Lalita in Srikula systems | None | ❌ Not Created |
| Kamala | The Lotus Goddess; the "Tantric Lakshmi"; prosperity and spiritual fulfillment | None | ❌ Not Created |
Period 9: Late Medieval / North Indian Bhakti (c. 1400–1700 CE)
No new deities are introduced in this period. The focus is on devotional worship of already-established deities (Krishna, Rama, Shiva) through the North Indian Bhakti movement, and the codification of hatha yoga texts.
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| No new deities |
Bhakti movement (Kabir, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya); Hatha Yoga Pradipika (15th CE); Gheranda Samhita (17th CE) |
Hatha yoga asanas codified (~15 in HYP, 32 in GS) |
N/A |
Period 10: Early Modern / Colonial (c. 1700–1947 CE)
No new deities are introduced in this period. This period marks reform movements (Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj) and the invention/popularization of modern postural yoga (Surya Namaskar, Krishnamacharya's standing poses).
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| No new deities |
Reform movements; Surya Namaskar (1920s); standing poses added by Krishnamacharya (1930s–50s) |
Surya Namaskar, standing poses (Virabhadrasana, Trikonasana, etc.) |
N/A |
Period 11: Modern / Global (1947–present)
No new deities are introduced in this period. The focus is on the globalization of yoga and the systematization of modern postural yoga (Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa, etc.).
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| No new deities |
Global yoga; Iyengar's Light on Yoga (1966); Ashtanga Vinyasa; hundreds of modern asanas |
Modern asanas (Ardha Chandrasana, etc.) |
N/A |
The Saptarishi (Seven Sages) - dedicated page here
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Atri |
Mind-born son of Brahma; husband of Anasuya; father of Dattatreya |
None |
✅ Created |
| Bharadvaja |
Composer of parts of the Rig Veda; associated with birds (lark/skylark) |
Bharadvajasana |
✅ Created |
| Gautama |
Extreme ascetic with long nails; hands clasped above head in intense penance |
None |
✅ Created |
| Jamadagni |
Father of Parashurama; fierce warrior-sage with battle-axe (parashu) |
None |
✅ Created |
| Kashyapa |
Father of the Devas, Asuras, and all humanity; fatherly serene expression |
Kashyapasana |
✅ Created |
| Vasistha |
Author of Yoga Vasistha; royal sage with divine cow (Kamadhenu) |
Vasisthasana |
✅ Created |
| Vishvamitra |
King who became a Brahmarishi; discovered the Gayatri Mantra |
Visvamitrasana |
✅ Created |
Other Sages
| Deity Name |
Description |
Yoga Asana(s) |
Image |
| Ashtavakra |
Born with eight physical deformities; became profoundly learned; author of Ashtavakra Gita |
Astavakrasana |
❌ Not Created |
| Durvasa |
Notoriously short-tempered sage; known for his powerful curses |
Durvasasana |
❌ Not Created |