A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Hamsa : wild goose (from Himalaya), the vehicle (vâhana) of god Brahmâ

Hanuman : commander in chief of the Monkeys army, allied of King Râma, hero of the Râmâyana, in His struggle against the demon-king Râvana, who had kidnapped His wife Sîtâ. Hanuman is the perfect servant and worshipper model. He is in turn widely worshipped in India. He is often represented in temples, mainly in Tamil Nadu

Harihara : Twin image of gods Shiva and Vishnu, of whom a half is Shiva (chignon, trident), and the other half is Vishnu (tall headdress, conch, chakra-discus). Harihara symbolizes the union of Shiva's and Vishnu's respective qualities. This divine representation is not very usual

Haveli : big house belonging to rich merchants in Rajasthan. The haveli in west Rajasthan (region of Shekavati, north Jaipur), Bikaner, Jaisalmer and many smaller towns are famous for their architecture and mural painted frescoes

Hinduism : one uses to say that hinduism follows the Tradition because it recognizes the Veda authority and follows its teachings. It's really very hard and complex to try defining what is hinduism, in the very narrow frame of a glossary. The goal of every hindu people is to reach, during this life or future ones, the fusion with the Divine Self. It does not much matter who is the god worshipped or the method followed, as long as religious practices are authenticated by tradition and a recognized master

Hiranyaksha : younger brother of the demon Hiranyakashipu, he drew Earth down the Ocean. Vishnu, as the avatar Varaha (boar) had to plunge and give battle against him for 1000 years before He could win and bring back the Earth thanks to his mighty snout

Hiranyakashipu : this demon-king obtained from Shiva, thanks to hard restraints, to rule over the three worlds (Triloka). Nobody could subdue this king, since his strengh was impressive. Worshipper of Shiva, Hiranyakashipu persecuted his son, a worshipper of Vishnu. The young boy asked Vishnu to help him. The god came on earth, taking a form which was half-man half-animal, called Narasimha (the Lion-Man). Narasimha gutted the demon-king Hiranyakashipu. This story is often carved on temple bas-reliefs.

Hoysala : was a kingdom small in size, north Mysore (Karnataka, in the Dekkan peninsula). However, it left monuments of a remarkable architecture. Hoysala ruled from the 11th to the 14th century. Thus, they followed the Chola, influent in this region under their leadership but far from their main cities. Following a difficult period disturbed by muslim irruptions, which culminated in 1327, the region was governed and protected by the Vijayanagar.
The first capital of the Hoysala, after they got freed from the Kalyan Chalukya, was founded by King Sala in the 11th century and took the name of Dvarasamudra, which transformed later in Halebid. Later again, Belur took the first place.
The most famous Hoydala monument is the Chennakeshava temple, erected in Belur in 1133 by King Bittiga to commemorate his victory against the Chola; the temple was completed in 1397 by a Vijayanagar general

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