Unlike most religions, Hinduism did not begin with a prophet; it evolved, adding layers of belief over thousands of years. At the heart of Hinduism is the belief that living beings are trapped in an endless cycle of rebirth by their karma, their actions. To escape this endless cycle is to achieve nirvana. The concept of karma and rebirth also belongs to other Indian religions, but it began with Hinduism.

In the Hindu pantheon there are said to be three hundred and thirty-three million gods. Nevertheless, Hindus believe in one Supreme Being. The multitude of gods are all perceived as creations of the Supreme God. Hinduism allows for different observances, different beliefs and even different gods to guide each life on earth. The gods most widely followed and portrayed are Shiva, Vishnu and the Goddess.

Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. His attributes include a conch shell, the turning wheel of time, and a mace indicting his power to punish. Vishnu's vehicle is the swift-flying bird, Garuda.

Vishnu has many avatars or appearances and has arrived on earth as a fish, a boar, and a man-lion. Voluptuous female attendants, called Devi, often accompany Vishnu.

Shiva is the destroyer. He is most often seen dancing or meditating. As he dances, he beats the rhythm of the universe on his drum, destroying each world, as it becomes too evil to continue. Shiva wears the matted hair of an ascetic in which you can usually see a crescent moon and a tiny woman, who is the Ganges River flowing from his hair. As his attributes, Shiva carries a trident, a drum and sometimes a beggar's bowl. His vehicle is a bull called Nandi, a symbol of happiness and strength. Women who wish to become pregnant make offerings of flowers to Nandi.

Uma, which means the light and the gracious, is Shiva's wife. She has destructive forms such as Kali in which she is horrifying, but as Uma, she signifies maternity and motherhood. Uma is one of many forms of the Goddess, the female principle in the universe.

The elephant-headed god, Ganesha, is Shiva's son and one of the most popular deities in India. His blessing is sought at the beginning of a journey or before starting an important undertaking. Ganesha is called "the remover of obstacles. Typically shown with four arms, an elephant head and a round belly, his vehicle is a tiny mouse, which makes images of Ganesha very humorous. In Indian art, objects or attributes such as Ganesha's bowl of sweetmeats, symbolize a god's powers. Multiple arms and heads represent multiple powers.