Westerns  have trouble understanding Hinduism because of is vast pantheon of gods. In fact you can look upon all these different gods simple as pictorial representations of the many attributes of one god. The one omnipresent god usually had three physical representations.

Brahma  is the creator

All three gods are usually shown with four arms, but Brahma has added advantage of four heads to represent his-all-seeing presence. Each god has an associated animal know as the vehicle on which they ride. Brahma's consort is Sarasvati, the goddess of learning. She rides upon a white swan and hold musical instrument knows as 'veena'.

Vishnu  is the preserver

Vishnu is the preserver. In all Vishnu was nine times on earth and on his 10th he will be called KALI and will ride a white horse On his seven visit he appeared as RAMA.  On his  eight Vishnu came as Krishna
Vishnu's last incarnation was on visit nine as
BUDDHA..

Siva is the destroyer and reproducer

Siva rides on the bull 'Nandi' and his matted hair  is said to carry Ganga. The goddess of the river Ganges, in it.  He has the third eye in the middle of his forehead and carries a trident. Siva is also known as Nataraj, the cosmic dancer whose dance shock the cosmos and create the world. Siva's consort is Parvati, the beautiful

Sadhus

A sadhu is an individual on a spiritual search. A sadhu is often someone who has decided that their business and family life have reached there natural conclusions and that it is time to throw everything temporal aside. They are an easily recognised group, usually wandering the countryside, half-naked, the few clothes saffron coloured.