India’s spiritual landscape has never stood still. Long before the grand shrines of Shiva and Vishnu rose to prominence, the land was alive with countless other gods. They watched over forests, rivers, fields, and kingdoms. Warriors called upon them before battle, farmers whispered their names for rain, and traders left offerings before crossing the seas. Some were fierce protectors, some gentle givers of abundance, others wild spirits of nature that could bless or curse in equal measure.

As centuries passed, kingdoms rose and fell, new beliefs took root, and old stories were rewritten. Many of these once-mighty gods were absorbed into greater traditions or simply left behind. Today, their temples stand in ruins, their names buried in stone inscriptions, their legends lingering only in half-remembered folk tales. Yet if you look closely, you can still hear their whispers in forgotten shrines, ancient sculptures, and the winding pathways of India’s spiritual memory.

1. Revanta – The Warrior Son of the Sun God Revanta, the valiant son of Surya, was once a beloved god of hunters and warriors, especially in northern and eastern India during the early medieval period. Depicted as a handsome prince on horseback, armed with a bow and sword, Revanta was the chief of the Guhyakas, mystical forest beings. His images graced temples in Bihar, Bengal, and Odisha. But with time, as solar cults merged into broader traditions or declined, Revanta’s temples fell silent and his once-vibrant cult faded into obscurity.

2. Yaksha and Yakshini Deities – Guardians of Nature and WealthLong before the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva rose to prominence, India’s people revered Yakshas and Yakshinis, ancient nature spirits and guardians of treasures hidden in the earth and forests. These spirits were beloved during the Mauryan era, venerated by both villagers and kings alike. The famous Didarganj Yakshi is a striking reminder of their once-splendid presence. Over time, as organized religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism formalized their pantheons, these primal deities were absorbed, sidelined, or left to linger only in folk tales.

3. Khandoba – The Forgotten Hero-God of the DeccanOnce a fierce guardian deity across Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka and Telangana, Khandoba was seen as a warrior god deeply connected with farming communities, shepherds, and even some Sufi Muslims. Regarded as a local form of Shiva, Khandoba had his own independent mythology, temples, and rituals. While Jejuri in Maharashtra still attracts devotees, the widespread, everyday worship that once made Khandoba a household name has waned, overshadowed by the broader Shaiva traditions.

4. Brahma – The Creator, Now a Forgotten One Ironically, one of Hinduism’s original Trimurti, Brahma the Creator, is today the least worshipped. Once venerated across the subcontinent as the god who birthed the cosmos, Brahma gradually fell out of favor due to mythological tales portraying him as flawed or redundant. The few temples that remain, like the famous Brahma Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, stand as rare witnesses to a time when the Creator commanded grand rituals and deep reverence.

5. Rishabhanatha – Jainism’s First TirthankaraWithin Jainism, Rishabhanatha (or Adinath) remains central. But few outside Jain circles today remember that this first Tirthankara once commanded a significant following even beyond Jain communities. His influence is visible in ancient statues scattered across north and central India, suggesting that early Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions may have borrowed elements from his cult. Today, beyond the devout Jain community, Rishabhanatha’s once-wide worship is largely forgotten.

6. Murugan in North India – The Lost Pan-Indian War GodMurugan, also known as Kartikeya or Skanda, is now almost entirely synonymous with Tamil Nadu, where he remains one of the most beloved deities. But few realize that this god of war once had grand temples and fervent followers in Kashmir, Rajasthan, and the Gangetic plains during the Gupta period. As regional traditions shifted and local rulers promoted other deities, Murugan’s northern cult nearly vanished, surviving robustly only in the Tamil south.

7. Indra – The King of the Gods, Now Ceremonial Long before Shiva and Vishnu took center stage, Indra reigned supreme. As the Rigveda’s king of the gods, lord of thunder, rain, and war, Indra was worshipped with elaborate rituals and hymns. But as Puranic Hinduism evolved, Indra’s power diminished dramatically. He now appears mostly as a background figure in myths, often portrayed as prideful or easily bested by more powerful deities, his once-mighty thunder reduced to a ceremonial echo.

8. Chausath Yoginis – The Divine SisterhoodOne of India’s most enigmatic and powerful tantric traditions was the cult of the 64 Yoginis. These fierce goddesses were invoked for fertility, protection, and occult powers. Circular, open-air Yogini temples still stand in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, their stone figures half-worn but still radiating an eerie power. Once, devotees gathered under moonlit skies to worship this divine sisterhood. Today, these temples are mostly archaeological sites, their cults nearly erased from living memory.

9. Soparaya Yaksha – The Forgotten Guardian of Coastal TradeIn ancient coastal towns like Sopara (modern Nala Sopara near Mumbai), a Yaksha known as Soparaya protected maritime traders and seafarers. Merchant guilds offered him prayers and treasures to ensure safe voyages and prosperous trade. Inscriptions and Buddhist texts speak of his importance. But as coastal routes shifted and religious practices changed, Soparaya too sank beneath the tides of time and urban expansion.

Why Do Gods Fade? India’s forgotten gods remind us that faith is never static. Deities rise when people need them — for protection, fertility, rain, or power — and fade when kingdoms fall, new ideas take hold, or old myths are retold. But even when temples crumble and rituals stop, these lost gods never truly die. They linger in ancient sculptures, hidden shrines, and the collective memory of a land where the divine has always worn countless faces.

From thunder kings like Indra to nature spirits like Yakshas, these forgotten gods continue to whisper stories of India’s spiritual diversity, if we’re willing to listen.