List of water deities


A water deity is a deity in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. Another important focus of worship of water deities has been springs or holy wells.
As a form of animal worship, whales and snakes have been regarded as godly deities throughout the world. In Asian lore, whales and dragons sometimes have connections. Serpents are also common as a symbol or as serpentine deities, sharing many similarities with dragons.

Africa

Akan

  • Bosompo, primordial embodiment of the oceans
  • Abena Mansa, sea goddess associated with gold
  • Ashiakle, goddess of the treasures at the bottom of the ocean
  • Tano, god of the Tano river
  • Bia, god of the Bia river
  • Birim, goddess of the Birim river
  • Bosomtwe, antelope god of the Bosomtwe river
  • Ayensu, god of the Ayensu river
  • Densu, three headed god of the Densu river, often represented as red, and having a bad temper

    Bantu

  • Bunzi, goddess of rain, rainbow and waters.
  • Chicamassichinuinji, king of oceans.
  • Funza, goddess of waters, twin phenomenon and malformations in children. Wife of Mbumba.
  • Jengu, Sawabantu water spirits
  • Kalunga, Bantu Supreme Creator
  • Kimbazi, goddess of sea storms.
  • Kuitikuiti, serpent god of Congo river.
  • Lusunzi, god of spring and waters.
  • Mamba Muntu, goddesses of waters and sexuality.
  • Makanga.
  • Mbantilanda.
  • Mbumba, rainbow serpent of terrestrial waters and warriors.
  • Mboze.
  • Mpulu Bunzi, Bakongo god of rain and waters.
  • Nyami Nyami, Batonga river spirit
  • Simbi, Bakongo ancestral water spirits

    Dahomey

  • Erzulie, goddess of sweet water, beauty, and love.

    Dogon

  • Nommos, amphibious spirits that are worshipped as ancestors.

    Egyptian

  • Anuket, goddess of the Nile and nourisher of the fields.
  • Bairthy, goddess of water, was depicted with a small pitcher on her head, holding a long spear-like sceptre.
  • Hapi, god of the annual flooding of the Nile.
  • Heh, frog headed god of the primordial waters.
  • Heqet, wife of Khnum, also with the head of a frog.
  • Khnum, god of the source of the Nile.
  • Nephthys, goddess of rivers, death, mourning, the dead, and night.
  • Nu, uncreated god, personification of the primordial waters.
  • Osiris, god of the dead and afterlife; originally a god of water and vegetation.
  • Satet, goddess of the Nile River's floods.
  • Sobek, god of the Nile river, is depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile.
  • Tefnut, goddess of water, moisture, and fertility.
  • Wadj-wer, personification of the Mediterranean Sea or represented the lagoons and lakes in the northernmost Nile Delta.

    Ewe / Fon

  • Agwé, a sea loa.
  • Clermeil, a river loa.
  • Mami Wata, a water loa.
  • Pie, a lake and river loa.

    Lugandan

  • Sezibwa, goddess of the Sezibwa River.

    Serer

  • Mindiss is not a deity in Serer religion, but a pangool with goddess–like attributes. She is a female protector of the Fatick Region. Offerings are made in her name at the River Sine. She appears to humans in the form of a manatee, She is one of the best known fangool. She possess the attributes of a typical water fangool, yet at the same time, she is a blood fangool. The Senegalese Ministry of Culture added the Mbind Ngo Mindiss site to its list of monuments and historic sites in Fatick. It is the site where offerings are made, situated on the arms of the sea which bears her name, in the Sine.

    Yoruba

  • Oshun, an orisha of fresh "sweet" waters and the Osun River.
  • Olokun, an ocean orisha. In Yoruba Mythology he was the god of all waters.
  • Yemoja, originally the orisha of the Ogun River but became the orisha over the sea waves by way of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Originally was the metaphysical mother of all the Orishas. In some traditional-myths she is the co-creator of humans with Obatala.
  • Olosa, wife of Olokun, orisha over lagoons.
  • Oya, orisha of storms and the Niger River.
  • Oba, orisha of the Oba River.
  • Yewa, orisha of the Yewa River.
  • Otin, orisha of the Otin River.
  • Yemoo, original wife of Obatala and orisha over waters and maternity. Said to be the original form of most female water orishas.

    Igbo

  • Nmuo Mmiri or Nne Mmiri, The Water goddess.

    Asia-Pacific and Oceania

East Asia

Taoism and Chinese folk religion

  • Emperor the Water Official
  • Ehuang & Nuying, goddesses of the Xiang River.
  • Gonggong, red-haired dragon with the head of a man and water god who, together with his associate Xiang Yao, is responsible for the great floods.
  • Hebo, god of the Yellow River.
  • Longmu, goddess of the Xijiang River in the Lingnan area.
  • Mazu, goddess of the sea and protector of seafarers.
  • Shuimu, goddess of the water.
  • Shui Wei Niang, goddess of the water.
  • Shuidexianjun
  • Tam Kung, sea deity worshiped in Hong Kong and Macau with the ability to forecast weather.
  • Honorable Kings of the Water Immortals.
  • *Han Ao or Lu Ban, the inventors.
  • * Qu Yuan, Wu Zixu, and Xiang Yu, famous suicides lost in rivers.
  • * Yu the Great, tamer of China's Great Flood.
  • Dragon Kings of the Four Seas.
  • *Ao Kuang, Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.
  • * Ao Qin, Dragon King of the Southern Sea.
  • * Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea.
  • * Ao Shun, Dragon King of the Northern Sea.

    Japanese

  • Ebisu, god of fortunes and fishery, often being referred to marine megafaunas such as whales and whale sharks.
  • Hanzaki Daimyojin, gigantic Japanese giant salamander and master of the water.
  • Kuraokami, one of Suijin.
  • Mizuchi, Japanese dragon and sea god.
  • Ōyamatsumi, god of mountains, sea and war.
  • Ryūjin or Watatsumi, Japanese dragon and tutelary deity of the sea.
  • Suijin, Shinto god of water.
  • Sumiyoshi sanjin, god of ocean and sailing.
  • Susanoo, Shinto god of storms and the sea.
  • Watatsumi, dragon king and ocean god.
  • Yamata no Orochi, serpentine monster but also regarded as an incarnation of violent river.
Ainu
  • Amemasu, monster in the lakes.
  • Rep-un-kamuy, god of the sea, often referring to orca.

    Korean

  • Imoogi or Imugi, giant serpents of Korean folklore which later become true dragons.
  • King Munmu, a king who wished to become a dragon before his death to protect Korea from the Donghae.
  • Yongwang, an undersea deity believed to determine the fortunes of fishermen and sailors.

    South Asia

Hindu

In Hindu culture, each water body is worshipped as a form of God. Hence, the rivers are worshipped as goddesses and the ocean is worshipped as a god.
  • Ap, group of water goddesses.
  • Matsya, avatar of Vishnu in piscine form
  • Apam Napat, god of fresh water, such as in rivers and lakes.
  • Danu, goddess of primordial waters, mother of Vritra and the Danavas.
  • Makara, mystical creature of waters.
  • Varuna, the God of the ocean and rains and water.
  • Indra, King of the Gods, God of weather, and bringer of rain, thunderstorms and clouds.
  • Saptasindhu, the seven holy rivers of India, namely:
  • *Ganga, the Goddess of the Ganges River.
  • *Yamuna, the Goddess of the Yamuna River.
  • *Saraswati, the divine Goddess of knowledge and wisdom who was personified as a river that dried up in ancient times.
  • *Indus, also called Sindhu. The river is considered the eldest daughter of the Himalaya mountains.
  • *Narmada, the river Goddess often worshipped as a deity and daughter of Lord Shiva.
  • *Godavari, the longest river of South India. The river is also considered as Dakshina Ganga aka South Ganga.
  • *Kaveri, a river of South India, worshipped by people as a goddess who was previously incarnated as Lopamudra, the wife of Sage Agastya.
  • Rivers such as Tapi, also known as Tapati, is worshipped as a daughter of the sun god, Surya.
  • The river Krishna, worshipped as Krishnaveni Devi/Krishna Mai, is considered to be Lord Vishnu born as a river.
  • Tungabhadra, a tributary of Krishna, is worshipped as a goddess. The river is also known as Pampa.
  • Pamba River and Suvarnamukhi River flowing past the holy temple towns of Sabarimala in Kerala and Tirupati and Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
  • The river Brahmaputra is the only river to have a male personification, whose name means "son of Brahma", the creator.
  • Mariamman, regional goddess of the rain and medicine

    Meitei

  • Wangbren, the Sea God who holds storm, rain and disaster.
  • Poubi Lai, the giant dragon who ruled its tyranny in the Loktak lake.
  • Irai Leima, the Goddess of water and aquatic life.
  • Ngāreima, goddess of fish
  • Thongjarok Lairembi of Thongjaorok River
  • Iril Lairembi of Iril River
  • Imphal Turel Lairembi of Imphal River
  • Kongba Turel Lairembi of Kongba River
  • Loktak Ima of Loktak Lake
  • Pumlenpat Lairembi of Pumlenpat Lake

    Southeast Asia

Filipino

  • Sirinan: the Isnag spirit of the river
  • Limat: the Gaddang god of the sea
  • Oden: the Bugkalot deity of the rain, worshiped for its life-giving waters
  • Ocean Deity: the Ilocano goddess of the ocean whose waters slammed the ediface of salt being built by Ang-ngalo and Asin, causing the sea's water to become salty
  • Gods of the Pistay Dayat: Pangasinense gods who are pacified through the Pistay Dayat ritual, where offerings are given to the spirits of the waters who pacify the gods
  • Anitun Tauo: the Sambal goddess of win and rain who was reduced in rank by Malayari for her conceit
  • Sedsed: the Aeta god of the sea
  • Apûng Malyari: the Kapampangan moon god who lives in Mt. Pinatubo and ruler of the eight rivers
  • Lakandanum: variant of the Kapampangan Naga, known to rule the waters
  • Bathala: the Tagalog supreme god and creator deity, also known as Bathala Maykapal, Lumilikha, and Abba; an enormous being with control over thunder, lightning, flood, fire, thunder, and earthquakes; presides over lesser deities and uses spirits to intercede between divinities and mortals
  • Anitun Tabu: the Tagalog goddess of wind and rain and daughter of Idianale and Dumangan
  • Lakapati: the Tagalog hermaphrodite deity and protector of sown fields, sufficient field waters, and abundant fish catch
  • Amanikable: the Tagalog god of the sea who was spurned by the first mortal woman; also a god of hunters
  • Amansinaya: the Tagalog goddess of fishermen
  • Haik: the Tagalog god of the sea who protects travelers from tempests and storms
  • Bulan-hari: one of the Tagalog deities sent by Bathala to aid the people of Pinak; can command rain to fall; married to Bitu-in
  • Makapulaw: the Tagalog god of sailors
  • Great Serpent of Pasig: a giant Tagalog serpent who created the Pasig river after merchants wished to the deity; in exchange for the Pasig's creation, the souls of the merchants would be owned by the serpent
  • Quadruple Deities: the four childless naked Tau-buid Mangyan deities, composed of two gods who come from the sun and two goddesses who come from the upper part of the river; summoned using the paragayan or diolang plates
  • Afo Sapa: the Buhid Mangyan owner of rivers
  • Apu Dandum: the Hanunoo Mangyan spirit living in the water
  • Tubigan: the Bicolano god of the water
  • Dagat: the Bicolano goddess of the sea
  • Bulan: the Bicolano moon god whose arm became the earth, and whose tears became the rivers and seas
  • Magindang: the Bicolano god of fishing who leads fishermen in getting a good fish catch through sounds and signs
  • Onos: the Bicolano deity who freed the great flood that changed the land's features
  • Hamorawan Lady: the Waray deity of the Hamorawan spring in Borongan, who blesses the waters with healing properties
  • Maka-andog: an epic Waray giant-hero who was friends with the sea spirits and controlled wildlife and fish; first inhabitant and ruler of Samar who lived for five centuries; later immortalized as a deity of fishing
  • Magwayen: the Visayan goddess who rules over the oceans as her kingdom; mother of Lidagat; wife of Kaptan
  • Magauayan: the Bisaya sea deity who fought against Kaptan for eons until Manaul intervened
  • Lidagat: the Bisaya sea deity married to the wind; daughter of Maguayan
  • Bakunawa: the Bisaya serpent deity who can coil around the world; sought to swallow the seven "Queen" moons, successfully eating the six, where the last is guarded by bamboos
  • Makilum-sa-tubig: the Bisaya god of the sea
  • Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan: the Bisaya god of streams
  • Magdan-durunoon: the Bisaya god of hidden lakes
  • Santonilyo: a Bisaya deity who brings rain when its image is immersed at sea
  • Magyawan: the Hiligaynon god of the sea
  • Manunubo: the Hiligaynon and Aklanon good spirit of the sea
  • Launsina: the Capiznon goddess of the sun, moon, stars, and seas, and the most beloved because people seek forgiveness from her
  • Kapapu-an: the Karay-a pantheon of ancestral spirits from whom the supernatural powers of shamans originated from; their aid enables specific types of shamans to gush water from rocks, leap far distances, create oil shields, become invisible, or pass through solid matter
  • Neguno: the Cuyonon and Agutaynen god of the sea that cursed a selfish man by turning him into the first shark
  • Polo: the benevolent Tagbanwa god of the sea whose help is invoked during times of illness
  • Diwata Kat Sidpan: a deity who lives in the western region called Sidpan; controls the rains
  • Diwata Kat Libatan: a deity who lives in the eastern region called Babatan; controls the rain
  • Tagma-sa-Dagat: the Subanon god of the sea
  • Tagma-sa-uba: the Subanon god of the rivers
  • Diwata na Magbabaya: simply referred as Magbabaya; the good Bukidnon supreme deity and supreme planner who looks like a man; created the earth and the first eight elements, namely bronze, gold, coins, rock, clouds, rain, iron, and water; using the elements, he also created the sea, sky, moon, and stars; also known as the pure god who wills all things; one of three deities living in the realm called Banting
  • Dadanhayan ha Sugay: the evil Bukidnon lord from whom permission is asked; depicted as the evil deity with a human body and ten heads that continuously drools sticky saliva, which is the source of all waters; one of the three deities living in the realm called Banting
  • Bulalakaw: the Bukidnon guardian of the water and all the creatures living in it
  • Python of Pusod Hu Dagat: the gigantic Bukidnon python living at the center of the sea; caused a massive flood when it coiled its body at sea
  • Bulalakaw: the Talaandig deity who safeguards the creatures in the rivers; the lalayon ritual is offered to the deity
  • Tagbanua: the Manobo god of rain
  • Yumud: the god of water
  • Pamulak Manobo: the Bagobo supreme deity and creator of the world, including the land, sea, and the first humans; throws water from the sky, causing rain, while his spit are the showers
  • Eels of Mount Apo: two giant Bagobo eels, where one went east and arrived at sea, begetting all the eels of the world; the other went west, and remained on land until it died and became the western foothills of Mount Apo
  • Fon Eel: the Blaan spirit of water
  • Fu El: the T'boli spirit of water
  • Fu El Melel: the T'boli spirit of the river
  • Segoyong: the Teduray guardians of the classes of natural phenomena; punishes humans to do not show respect and steal their wards; many of them specialize in a class, which can be water, trees, grasses, caves behind waterfalls, land caves, snakes, fire, nunuk trees, deers, and pigs
  • Tunung: the Maguindanao spirits who live in the sky, water, mountain, or trees; listens to prayers and can converse with humans by borrowing the voice of a medium; protects humans from sickness and crops from pests
  • Tonong: divine Maranao spirits who often aid heroes; often lives in nonok trees, seas, lakes, and the sky realm
  • Umboh Tuhan: also called Umboh Dilaut, the Sama-Bajau god of the sea and one of the two supreme deities; married to Dayang Dayang Mangilai
  • Umboh Kamun: the Sama-Bajau totem of mantis shrimp
  • Sumangâ: the Sama-Bajau spirit of sea vessels; the guardian who deflects attacks