KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHE A.I.ESL Spanish Specialist Games

Need help with Saints, Gods and Demons? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Saints, Gods and Demons today?

now

A statue of Brahma - the five faced god.

Saints, Gods and Demons

Meet saints, gods and demons in Hindu stories, and explore how their battles, blessings and choices help believers think about right, wrong and the paths people can follow.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

In many myths, gods and goddesses fight these demonic beings, symbolising the struggle between good and evil within the world and the individual.

In Specialist Religions Hinduism, this quiz looks at saints, gods and demons in Hindu traditions. You will explore how their stories raise questions about justice, temptation, courage and the search for spiritual truth.

Key Terms

Deva: A Hindu god or shining being, often linked with light, order and protection.
Asura: A powerful being often described as a demon or opponent of the devas in many Hindu stories.
Dharma: A person’s duty and the moral order of the universe, guiding actions towards what is right.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How does Hinduism explain good and evil?

Hinduism explains good and evil through ideas like dharma and adharma. Actions in harmony with dharma support truth and justice, while selfish or harmful actions lead away from spiritual growth.

Why do Hindu myths show battles between gods and demons?

Myths show battles between gods and demons to dramatise inner struggles and social problems. These stories help people think about courage, temptation, fairness and the results of their choices.

What role do saints play in Hindu traditions?

Saints in Hindu traditions, such as bhakti poets and holy teachers, act as examples of devotion. Their lives show how ordinary people can seek closeness to the divine through prayer and service.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of these pairs (a god and his consort) were most important during the second age, or Treta Yuga?

Rama and Sita

Shiva and Parvati

Indra and Sachi

Krishna and Radha

Although Treta Yuga was a long age, and has many stories, the story of Shri Rama is the most important event of the time. The devas went to Vishnu and asked for his help killing the demon Ravan. Shri Vishnu then became Rama, Kaushyala and Dashrat's son. Later, when he was in his teens, he married Sita. They were exiled. Ravan kidnapped Sita and Rama killed him. Later in this Yuga, Sita went into exile by herself and gave birth to two twin sons. This story is told in the Ramayana

2 .

Who is the teacher or master of all the demons, and also the son of a very great sage, Vhrigu, who once cursed Vishnu?

Bhrispathi

Vishwamitra

Sukracharya

Vasistha

Sukracharya is the demons' teacher. He is a Shiv devotee but offended Vishnu. Long ago, Vishnu killed his mother with his disc as she refused to evict the demons that hid in her house; he needed to kill them for the welfare of the Earth. Vhrigu Rishi cursed Vishnu, saying he would have to live 100 years without his wife, and that happened in the life of Rama (an incarnation of Vishnu). Sukracharya vowed to be Vishnu's enemy and to take his revenge

3 .

What are the names of the two very brave demons that defeated Vishnu, but still were killed by him after they asked him to name a boon?

Hiranyaksh and Hiranyakashyap

Rambh and Karambh

Sumbh and Nishumb

Madhu and Kaitav

These were two very powerful demons that fought Vishnu for days before defeating him. Vishnu, very shocked that they had beaten him, asked them to name a boon. Madhu and Kaitav mocked him, by saying "powerful people give boons and you are not powerful so, oh Vishnu, ask a boon from us. We shall grant you your wish." Seizing his chance, Vishnu asked them for their lives as a boon. Madhu and Kaitav, defeated by his wits, told Vishnu they could only be killed in his lap. Vishnu extended his lap so wide the universe was filled with it. He caught the two demons and eventually killed them

4 .

Whom did Mata Parvati curse?

Balarama

Nandi

Rama

Krishna

You may not know this, but it is true that Nandi the bull was cursed by Parvati. Once, Shiva and Parvati were playing a game of dice. They decided Nandi would be the umpire. Although Shiva lost Nandi announced him as the winner, as he was his master. Parvati, angry at this, cursed Nandi to be killed by a disease. Nandi asked for forgiveness and Parvati agreed, on the condition that Nandi offered what he loved the most (green grass) to Ganesha once a month

5 .

Who is the devi (god) who, alongside Lakshmi and Parvati, can take the form of Devi Durga? She is the goddess of knowledge and music.

Shri

Sati

Sharda

Uma

Sharda is another name of Sarasvati. Sati and Uma are Parvati's other names and Shri is Lakshmi. These three goddesses combined their powers together and merged into Devi Durga. Devi Durga then became Mahakali and killed Mahisasur, thus ending the misery of the three worlds. She is also called Mahisasur Mardini - Killer of Mahisasur. Although Durga was granted the powers of all the gods, she is believed to be an incarnation of Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati

6 .

What is the name of the 10th incarnation of Vishnu who will appear in Kali Yuga, our present age?

Kali

Kalki

Krishna

Kamakshi

Kalki, the magnificent horseman, is believed to be the tenth incarnation of Shri Vishnu. Although he has not yet been incarnated on this earth, it is believed he will show up around 500 years from now. Call it a superstition or a myth if you like, but many people throughout the world believe this to be true

7 .

What are the names of Lakshman and Urmila's sons?

Subahu and Sutushen

Luv and Kush

Daksh and Pukshar

Angad and Citraketu

Urmila was the daughter of Janak and she married Lakshman, the son of Dashrat and Sumitra. Years after Ravan was killed, when Sita was sent into exile, all four sisters (Sita, Urmila, Sutkirti and Mandavi) give birth to two sons each. These are their offspring:

Rama and Sita became the parents of Luv and Kush,
Bharat and Mandavi became the parents of Daksh and Pushkar,
Lakshman and Urmila became the parents of Angad and Citraketu,
Satrughna and Sutkirti became the parents of Subahu and Sutushen

8 .

What is the name of the demi-god who woke Shiva from his meditation so he could marry Parvati -- only to be burned by him?

Kamdev

Vasudev

Varundev

Vamandev

This is a story of how Shiva defeated Kamdev or Kam (love and greediness) and was called Pashupati. Later, when Kamdev's consort Rati asked for forgiveness, Shiva told her that in Dwapar Yug Kamdev would be reborn as Pradyumna, Krishna's son. He would then kill a demon and become Kamdev again

9 .

One of the most important gods in the Hindu mythology is believed to have five heads and four arms. His fifth head later got burned. He also has a son named Daksh Prajapati who is the father of Shiva's first wife - Sati. Who is he?

Vishnu

Brahma

Vishwakarma

Indra

Brahma is believed to have five heads. First, having only one head, he created a very beautiful lady called Shatarupa or Saraswati. She was so beautiful that he could not take his eyes off her. She, out of shyness, moved around so that Brahma could not see her. Brahma, being the creator, created four more heads so that he could see her wherever she went. He made another head on top of those four so he could see her when she moved up. Shiva later burned that head as he was offended by Brahma. Daksh is the human son of Brahma and his story is very famous too

10 .

Who was the mother of Balaram?

Yashoda

Draupadi

Gandhari

Rohini

Rohini was the first wife of Vasudev. She lived with Yashoda and Nandarai after Vasudev married Devaki and was sent to prison. Nandarai was her brother-in-law. Shri Krishna regarded her as a second mother and she was known as Balaram's mother

Author: Siddarth Bhattacharjee (Respected Hindu Scholar and Educator)