Book excerpt: The Himalayas have been a source of spiritual inspiration for the sages and meditators, who called it `DEV BHOOMI` or the `Land of Gods`. The whole of the region is full of mystic vibrations and it has been mythologically painted as the land of divine spirits. In nearly 20, 000 Villages of Himchal Pradesh, there are more than 27,000 places of worship as per 2001 census. Among several intersting social practices prevalent in the hill society, especially in places of higher altitude, the institution of village gods is the most remarkable. The gods and goddesses here are not sitting spectators but are expected to behave like common human beings with sentiments and pride. There has been a history behind each one of them, rooted in the mist of the hoary past. The present work of the author is the result of an extensive study of the Gods of Himachal Pradesh, belonging to all regions and districts. It traces the origin or manifestation of the Gods and describes the traditions, myths and legends associated with them.