Elder or Senior God(dess)

Hindi translation: parameshwar (male), parameshwari (female)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Elder or Senior God(dess)
Hindi translation:parameshwar (male), parameshwari (female)
Entered by: Anindita Basu (X)

11:36 Oct 11, 2008
English to Hindi translations [PRO]
Religion / Ways of referring to Hindu gods and goddesses
English term or phrase: Elder or Senior God(dess)
Greetings,

An Indian friend writes, “Female Goddesses are called "Devi". But for Goddesses like Durga, Parvati and Lakshmi we prefer to use Maa because they are "elder goddesses”.
He goes on to say that there are also three “elder gods” in Hinduism: “Brahma Jee Vishnu Jee and Shiv Jee.” As you can see, these are called “Jee”, while other gods such as the fire god (Agni Dev), the wind god (Pawan Dev) and the sun god (Surya Dev) are called Dev rather than Jee.
So, unless I misunderstand completely, you have 3 senior/elder gods and 3 senior/elder goddesses. My question: what is the Hindu term for these senior or elder gods and goddesses, please?

All the best,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:03
parameshwar (male), parameshwari (female)
Explanation:
Literally, parameshwar = param + ishwar (supreme god) and parameshwari = param + ishwari.

I do not agree with the explanation of your friend regarding Jee/Maata being reserved for "elder" gods. Hanuman is routinely called HanumanJee, for example, and avatars such as Rama are called RamachandraJee or RamJee, never ever Hanuman Dev or RamDev. Similarly, Ganga is always called Ma Ganga. As far as I know, gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon are not elder/juinor but manifestations of a particular aspect.

Dev, literally, means "the shining one" and its adjective form is "divya". Gods such as Agni, Pawan and Surya belong to the Rig Vedic times when gods such as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh had not yet attained their "present" forms. During the Rig Vedic times, almost all gods were referred to as "shining".
Selected response from:

Anindita Basu (X)
India
Local time: 14:33
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1parameshwar (male), parameshwari (female)
Anindita Basu (X)
5Param Pita (Supreme God) or Param Mata (Supreme Goddess)
Vimal Panchal
5ब्रह्मा-विष्णु-महेश्वर
keshab
5Jagad Pita and Jag janani
nvin


  

Answers


50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
elder or senior god(dess)
Param Pita (Supreme God) or Param Mata (Supreme Goddess)


Explanation:
* The planetory Gods like SUN (Surya), SATURN (Shani) are referred as DEVs OR DEVTAs. Similarly, there're Food God (Anna Dev), Water God (Pani Dev), Wind (Pawan OR Vayu Dev) etc. According to Hinduism, they feed the earth planet / mankind, with some or other means as they are meant for. Similarly, there are Goddesses who are called DEVIs or MATAs in Hindi. Here MATA means Mother. According to locals, MATA may be further respectfully referred as MATA JEE or MATA DEE etc. JEE is a term often used to suffix any name, just to respectfully refer someone.

* All DEVs, DEVIs are under control of senior GODs / GODDESSes, who are more like SUPREME Gods, viz. BRAHMA, VISHNU and MAHESH. They are the elder Gods as you said. The supreme deities could be referred as PARAM PITA (Supreme Father), PARAM MATA (Supreme Mother) in Hindi.

Hope this clarifies your point. Please feel free to ask for any more clarifications.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 56 mins (2008-10-11 12:32:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

BRAHMA Jee's wives GAYATRI Ma, SAVITRI Ma;
VISHNU Jee's wife LAXMI Ma;
MAHESH Jee's wife PARVATI Ma.

Ma is a short form of MATA. Aforesaid MATAs are example of Supreme Mothers

Vimal Panchal
India
Local time: 14:33
Native speaker of: Native in GujaratiGujarati
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
elder or senior god(dess)
parameshwar (male), parameshwari (female)


Explanation:
Literally, parameshwar = param + ishwar (supreme god) and parameshwari = param + ishwari.

I do not agree with the explanation of your friend regarding Jee/Maata being reserved for "elder" gods. Hanuman is routinely called HanumanJee, for example, and avatars such as Rama are called RamachandraJee or RamJee, never ever Hanuman Dev or RamDev. Similarly, Ganga is always called Ma Ganga. As far as I know, gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon are not elder/juinor but manifestations of a particular aspect.

Dev, literally, means "the shining one" and its adjective form is "divya". Gods such as Agni, Pawan and Surya belong to the Rig Vedic times when gods such as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh had not yet attained their "present" forms. During the Rig Vedic times, almost all gods were referred to as "shining".

Anindita Basu (X)
India
Local time: 14:33
Native speaker of: Native in BengaliBengali, Native in HindiHindi
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
many thanks excellent

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nitin Goyal
5 mins

agree  Suyash Suprabh
3 days 11 hrs

disagree  suraj jaiswal: Literally, parameshwar = param + ishwar (supreme god) and mateshwari = (supreme god female)
29 days
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
elder or senior god(dess)
ब्रह्मा-विष्णु-महेश्वर


Explanation:
Brahma-Visnu-Mahashwar(Shiv)- the three senior gods are called "Tridev"(त्रिदेव). The Trio are responsible for everything of this universe. Among them, Brahma creates the universe (सृजनकर्ता), Vishnu looks after the universe (पालनकर्ता) and Maheshwar brings destruction to this universe to create a new world (संहारकर्ता). The Trio are the supreme gods.

They have their wives too who are the senior/supreme goddess. They are : Brahma- Saraswatee ( goddess of education), Vishnu- Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) Mahashwar- Parvati (goddess of power(शक्ति). According to Hinduism all these six control mankind and the universe.


keshab
Local time: 14:33
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi, Native in BengaliBengali
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1 day 23 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
elder or senior god(dess)
Jagad Pita and Jag janani


Explanation:
In hindu religion Brahma is crature of Shristi and Shakti is female part of god in creation in form of MAA.

Example sentence(s):
  • Hey Jagadpita , Hey Jagjanani
nvin
India
Local time: 14:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HindiHindi
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