It is not worth while to try to get any grip upon the cloud of minor gods, there are too many of them.
It is even a justifiable economy to leave Brahma, the chiefest god of all, out of your studies, for he seems to cut no great figure in India.
The vast bulk of the national worship is lavished upon Shiva and Vishnu and their families.

Shiva's symbol--the "lingam" with which Vishnu began the Creation--is worshiped by everybody, apparently.

It is the commonest object in Benares.

It is on view everywhere, it is garlanded with flowers, offerings are made to it, it suffers no neglect.

Commonly it is an upright stone, shaped like a thimble--sometimes like an elongated thimble.