Namaste Spirit Seeker
I think I understand your question, and while within the realm of possibilities there are other Devatas (Gods if you will) that are not familiar to me that are "foreign" (is that even the right word?), perhaps the only way I can explain my experience is with emphasis on the word experience itself. For me, I didn't go about one day saying, "Hey! I think I'm going to go out and dig up some God". I didn't "invite" the Family of Devas and Devi, in particular the Saiva tradition thereof, rather I suddenly experienced this Family. The First One was Ganesha, I was 8 years old at that time. So it was more like I was invited, not me inviting Them. Very soon, it became obvious that the Family was larger, and there was the stunning experience of Shiva and Parvati, Whom I call Mahadeva or The Great God, and by such I quickly started to use the term The Great Goddess for Parvati. The Family quickly expanded, Muruga, then Hinduism really came into full view, naturally you suddenly start finding other Hindus all around you. Why this happened is both a mystery, but also so obvious. Devotees suddenly came from every direction, I had a rich life and experience with their associations. I am not going to speak of everything, because some of it is private to non-Hindus, but it was incredible. Not every journey is the same from one to the next. But mine was so simple, everything was just, literally, handed to me. When I would wake up in the morning, well let me just put it this way - it was like waking up in paradise. Each day was both long and short, full of color, full of adventure, moving all around. While each one has their own way, I sort of had no way, it was just so easily given, and frankly fun. And for some reason, there was an openess - all sorts and every type of experiencing Hindu be it Saiva, Vaishnav or Shakta, not only stepped right in front of me, but those who did for whatever reason wanted to be my friend and I wanted to be theirs, too. You cannot avoid some things, when it pervasively is all around you, as was for example the Ramayana. The experience of Hanuman came. He is now my Ishta Lord. The Family grew larger.
I will leave it at that. Some things are only between devotees, not for a forum.
You will find all sorts of what is called Hindus on this forum. But association, direct association, with devotees who have real names and faces is more important then nameless avatars on a forum. Your answer to your question is, you must experience it. No amount of quotes by nameless members of sacred texts, can give you All the answer, far from it even though you find wonders still under a book or next to "there". Doors open everywhere, for some a forum may be the first door, they may have just walked into that door for reasons they don't understand. But you will meet with those who want to meet with you first, this is very common for many. The answer to your question is, I don't have to check into other Gods if you will. And from this point forward, in this life, Whatever "Gods" that I met on the way, they will all be part of this Family.
Today I think of Mother Annapurna. She lives in Kashi. Kashi is the Eternal City, Never Forsaken by Lord Shiva.
Om Namah Sivaya
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