If you want to understand the village gods of India, you must understand what defines a living creature. The fundamental difference between a living creature and a non-living creature is that a living creature seeks food. Plants seek food, animals seek food, humans seek food. In other words, all living creatures are looking for opportunities. However, all living creatures also have threats because there are those who consider them food. Animals feed on plants, animals feed on animals. Therefore, every plant and animal is afraid that it will be consumed by someone else. So, they also seek protection.

Considering these two factors, when humans look for help from the divine, they primarily are seeking two things: food and security. Therefore, most gods in India will have a hand, pointing upward, with its palm facing forward, and a hand, pointing downward, again with its palm facing forward. The palm, pointing down, represents Varadamudra, which means 'I will provide food', it is commonly seen in goddesses, such as Lakshmi, and the palm, pointing upward, represents Abhyamudra, which means 'don't be afraid'. Basically, we are talking about a god who protects and provides. We seek the provision of food, clothing, shelter, intelligence, wisdom along with protection and security.