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through its own significant process of evolution. The concept of the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu was firmly established, and this ushered in a host of popular gods and goddesses who overshadowed or replaced important Vedic deities.
These gods and deities are sacred heroes, mythic and benevolent. They are said to look after the welfare of mankind and destroy the demons who interfere with the realization of the Truth that leads to liberation. Each deity has its distinct personality, specific attributes, and a lineage that personalizes Hinduism. These gods and goddesses are accessible; worshippers can even choose to focus their worship on the gods of their choice, instead of worshipping all of them. Hinduism introduced freedom into the concept of devotion.
It was always understood, however, that every one of these deities was the embodiment of perfection and represented an aspect of the one Supreme Creator. Each deity, in its own unique manifestation, was ultimately a reminder of the Truth that is revealed in the philosophy of the Upanisads and other Vedic texts: Thou Art That.
Temple carvings and sculptures of these deities are abundant in Khajuraho. It is also a place where we see the new relationship between the deities of the Vedic Era and the popular deities still worshipped today. We also see that each representation of a deity follows vastu guidelines to determine its size, proportion, and actual placement on a temple wall or pillar. As is true with the Vedic deities, all the deities that became prominent with the evolution of Hinduism are imbued with symbolism. The following section provides a brief introduction to some of the important deities and their symbols.19
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19See Chapter 9, Appeasing the Gods, Appeasing Your Soul, for more information on these deities.

 
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