Deities

This is a word with various possible
meanings in different contexts. On one
hand, it can refer to the gods (devas).
These are beings who live in one of the
heavenly realms, by virtue of their past
good karma (actions), but who are still
subject to the law of karma and who
therefore must someday be reborn in a
lower state. This word can also refer to
the Supreme Reality, which can best be
designated as “God,” although the
Hindu imagination has given it various
names: Brahman, the Goddess, Vishnu,
Shiva, Ganesh, and a host of other
deities in the pantheon, including village deities.