Discover the Gods and Goddesses Still Worshipped Today
As the celebrations of Lunar New Year have just passed across many parts of Asia, a time when homes were filled with offerings, incense, red decorations, and prayers for prosperity, it is perhaps the perfect moment to look more closely at the gods and goddesses that many Asian communities continue to honor. These are deities that are not seen as distant legends, but still very much revered as living spiritual presences.
Asian mythological traditions are still deeply embedded in daily life across the continent. These belief systems developed alongside some of the world’s earliest civilizations and continue to influence rituals, festivals, architecture, agriculture, and family life today.
Across East, South, and Southeast Asia, the gods and goddesses that feature in the region’s ancient storytelling are actively worshipped in temples, homes, businesses, and rice fields.
In this week’s newsletter we take a look at some of the key divine figures whose presence continues to shape living culture across Asia.
Love
Yue Lao (China)
Yue Lao, known as the ‘Old Man Under the Moon’ is the Chinese deity of marriage and predestined relationships. According to folklore, he ties an invisible red thread between two people who are destined to meet and marry. Devotees pray to him for romantic luck, successful relationships, and harmonious marriages. His worship remains especially popular in Taiwan and parts of China.
Kamadeva (India)
Kamadeva is the Hindu god of love and desire. Often depicted holding a sugarcane bow with flower-tipped arrows reminiscent of Cupid, he symbolizes attraction and emotional connection. His mythology includes the famous episode in which he is burned by Lord Shiva and later restored, reflecting the enduring and transformative power of love.
Wealth
Caishen (China and Taiwan)
Caishen is one of the most widely worshipped gods of prosperity in Chinese folk religion. During Lunar New Year, families and business owners pray to him for financial success and abundance in the coming year. His image often appears holding gold ingots, symbolizing material fortune and economic stability.
Compassion
Guanyin (East Asia)
Guanyin is the Bodhisattva of Compassion in Chinese Buddhism. Her name means ‘She Who Hears the Cries of the World’. Although originally derived from the Indian bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, Guanyin evolved in East Asia into a maternal, merciful female figure. She is widely prayed to for protection, healing, fertility, and mercy during difficult times.
Power and Protection
Durga (India)
Durga represents divine strength and protection. She is typically depicted riding a lion or tiger while defeating the demon Mahishasura. As a warrior goddess, she symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and is especially revered during the festival of Navaratri.
Kali (India)
Kali embodies time, transformation, and the destruction of ego. Although her imagery can appear fierce, she is considered a protective mother figure. In Hindu philosophy, destruction is not purely negative, it also clears the way for renewal and spiritual liberation.
Nature and Agriculture
Dewi Sri (Indonesia)
Dewi Sri is the rice and fertility goddess in Javanese and Balinese traditions. Originating from pre-Hindu indigenous beliefs, she represents nourishment, prosperity, and harmony between humans and nature. In rural Indonesia, offerings are still made in rice fields to honor her spirit and ensure a successful harvest.
Phosop (Thailand)
Known as Mae Phosop in Thailand, she is the spirit of rice and sustenance. Rooted in animist traditions that later blended with Buddhism, her worship reflects the deep agricultural heritage of Thailand. Farmers perform rituals before harvest to express gratitude and seek continued abundance with Mae Phosop’s blessing.
Storm and Natural Forces
Raijin (Japan)
Raijin is the Shinto god of thunder and lightning. He is commonly depicted beating large drums to create thunderclaps. While storms can be destructive, rain is essential for crops, making Raijin both a feared and respected force of nature. He is frequently portrayed alongside Fujin, the wind god, in Japanese art and temple iconography.
Where Mythology Still Lives
Across Asia, gods and goddesses are not distant figures confined to ancient texts. They remain present in daily rituals, temple ceremonies, seasonal festivals, and household altars and shrines. From couples praying to Yue Lao for lasting relationships, to business owners welcoming Caishen during Lunar New Year, to farmers honoring Dewi Sri before a harvest, belief and the power of spiritual assistance continues to shape everyday life across the region.
For travelers, understanding these mythological traditions offers more than historical insight. It provides a cultural context that helps one to understand why temples are built where they are, why festivals follow certain lunar cycles, and why offerings of flowers, incense, and food remain so meaningful today. Asia’s spiritual landscape is layered, living, and deeply intertwined with its communities.
To experience these traditions firsthand, from temple visits in Taiwan and India to agricultural heartlands in Indonesia and Thailand, consider planning and booking a travel itinerary with Secret Retreats that will connect you with the cultural roots of each destination.
Discover curated stays and immersive experiences across the region with Secret Retreats, and explore an Asia where mythology is not just remembered but lived.
