What is the difference between Avtar, God, Devta, Bhagwan, and Bhogwan?

This text discusses the complex and multifaceted nature of the Hindu pantheon, with a focus on some of the prominent deities and their stories. The author acknowledges that the relationships and narratives among these gods are often contradictory and evolving due to the long history of Hinduism. The following deities are mentioned and summarized:

1. Devi: The goddess who represents creative power, energy, and is the source of all existence. Devi is worshipped in various forms, and many Hindu goddesses are considered aspects of her.
2. Brahma: One of the Trimurti, the creator god in Hinduism. He is associated with the creation of the universe, although his popularity has diminished over time.
3. Saraswati : The goddess of wisdom, learning, and the arts. She is the consort of Brahma and is often depicted with a veena, a traditional Indian instrument.
4. Vishnu: A major deity in Hinduism and the preserver of the universe. Vishnu is known for his avatars, physical incarnations, to deal with earthly challenges.
5. Lakshmi: The goddess of wealth and luck, and the wife of Vishnu. She emerged during the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.
6. Rama: The seventh avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the epic Ramayana. The story revolves around Rama’s journey to rescue his wife, Sita, who was kidnapped by the demon king Ravana.
7. Sita: Rama’s wife, who was kidnapped by Ravana and subsequently rescued.
8. Hanuman: A devoted follower of Rama, Hanuman is a monkey-like god with superhuman abilities and is considered one of Rama’s closest allies.
9. Balarama: Krishna’s older brother, who is known for his agricultural skills and for defeating demons.
10. Krishna: An incarnation of Vishnu and a central figure in the Mahabharata. He imparts important philosophical teachings in the Bhagavad Gita.
11. Matsya: Vishnu’s first avatar, depicted as a fish-man who warned Manu of an impending flood.
12. Kurma: Vishnu’s second avatar, represented as a turtle, which helped the gods in churning the Ocean of Milk.
13. Varaha: Vishnu’s third avatar, taking the form of a boar to defeat a demon and rescue the world.
14. Nrisingha: Vishnu’s fourth avatar, half-man and half-lion, who defeats a demon who had gained immunity against all forms of attack.
15. Vamana: Vishnu’s fifth avatar, appearing as a dwarf, who outwits a demon king by requesting three steps of land and then growing to encompass the entire universe.
16. Parasurama: Vishnu’s sixth avatar, known for resolving a conflict between the priestly class (brahmins) and warrior class (kshatriyas).
17. Kalki: Vishnu’s future avatar, yet to appear, who is expected to arrive on a winged horse and bring an end to the world.
18. Shiva: A complex god, often associated with destruction and creation, and is a central deity in Shaivism. He is known for his third eye and is the husband of Parvati.
19. Shiva’s Wives: Parvati, Sati, Durga, Kali, and others are considered incarnations or aspects of Parvati and/or Devi.
20. Kartikeya/Skanda: A god of war and the wise general of the gods’ armies.
21. Ganesha: A well-known god, often invoked for success and depicted as a cute, elephant-headed deity.
22. Riddhi and Siddhi: Concepts of prosperity and spiritual power, often associated with Ganesha.
23. Rudra: An ancient god associated with storms and fertility.
24. Soma: A god of the moon and the ancient soma drink, used in rituals.
25. Vayu: An ancient god of wind.
26. Aditi: A mother goddess, considered the source of all living things, and the mother of the Adityas.
27. Mitra: An ancient god of light, order, and agreements, and a widely worshipped deity in ancient times.
28. Varuna: A god closely related to Mitra and often associated with the sky.
29. Aryaman: A relatively minor sun god.
30. Bhaga: Another sun god, associated with wealth.
31. Daksha: An Aditya and a figure in various family tree interpretations, who was involved in a family dispute with Shiva.
32. Tvastar: The artisan of the gods who created the demon Vritra.
33. Savitar: A relatively less-known deity associated with the sun.
34. Pushan: A god associated with travel, livestock, and herds.
35. Amsa: Another Aditya with limited information available.
36. Surya: The chief sun god, often associated with the sun itself.
37. Saranyu: An ancient cloud goddess, known for her children, including Yama, Yami, and Manu.
38. Yama: The Hindu Lord of Death, who rules over Naraka and oversees the process of reincarnation.
39. Yami: Yama’s twin sister, who has a complex relationship with him.
40. The Ashvins: Twin sons of Surya.