THE VEDIC GODS

The Rgveda Samhita forms the basic scripture of Hinduism and tradition accords it the highest place. This great book is full of hymns, Suktas as they are called, which attain supreme heights of poetical beauty and philosophical acumen, a rare combination indeed.
The Vedic gods are usually enumerated as thirty three: eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati. These gods are assigned to the three regions of the earth (Prthvi), the heavens (Dyaus) and the intermediary space (Antariksa). Apart from these gods, we also find some objects and qualities like faith, emotions like anger, and aspects of nature like dawn, deified and described.

The important of these deities in alphabetical order:

• Adityas: The Adityas represent a group of deities. They are six in the Rgveda, eight in Brahmanas and twelve in Satapatha Brahmana. The Adityas can be described as the personifications of laws that rule the universe and the human society. They regulate the relationship of human beings among themselves and with the forces of nature. The twelve Adityas are: Mitra (the friend), Varuna (one who encompasses and binds), Aryaman (the destroyer of foes), Daksa (the skilful), Bhaga (the giver), Amsa (the liberal), Tvastr (the shaper), Savitr (the vivifier), Pusan (the nourisher), Sakra (the mighty), Vivasvat (the resplendent) and Visnu (the pervader). These twelve Adityas are linked with the aspects of the sun spread over the twelve months and hence described as the twelve spokes of the wheel of time.

• Agni – A maximum number of hymns are devoted to describing and praising Agni as the religion at the time of Rgveda was mainly sacrificial. He is all-knowing and all-powerful and all-merciful. The image of Agni in temples represents him as an old man with a red body. He has two heads, a big belly and six eyes, seven arms in which he holds objects like the spoon, ladle, fan etc., seven tongues, four horns and three legs. He has braided hair, wears red garment and also the sacred thread. He is attended on either side by his two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. The smoke is his banner and ram, his vehicle.

• Asvins – These are twin deities, always described or praised together. Some say that they represent the earth and the sky, there are others who opine that they stand for night and day or the moon and the sun. They represent the semidarkness before dawn. They pervade this world with moisture and light. Described as eternally young and handsome, they are the youngest of the gods. They can grant boons like children, food, wealth, health and protection from enemies.

• Indra – is the chief deity in the Rgveda, is armed with the thunderbolt (Vajrayudha) and riding in a chariot. Being a war-lord, he became a symbol of the royal power. Warriors worshipped him before going to the battle field.

• Rudra and Rudras – is the god who howls or roars. He is terrible, tall and well-built. He looks fierce and is armed with terrible weapons and is always merciful to humanity. Sometimes a group of minor deities called the Rudras are also mentioned. They are eleven in number and actually represent the principles of life (Prana) - ten vital breaths and the mind.
• Soma – is the presiding deity of the soma creeper who juice is often used in sacrifices as offering and also as drink. He cures the mortals of their diseases, gives them joy and leads them to immortal blissful world. He rules over the mind and activates speech and makes ordinary mortals Rsis and wise sages.

• Surya – is extremely brilliant and rides in an exquisitely beautiful chariot drawn by seven horses. He gives light, produces day and night, gives power and strength to the living beings, makes them active and destroys their laziness and diseases.

• Varuna – is the lord of oceans, water and aquatic animals. He is depicted as riding on a crocodile. In two of his arms he holds the serpent and the noose (pasa). Sometimes he is pictured as riding in a chariot drawn by seven swans and holding the lotus, the noose, the conch and a vessel of gems in the four hands. There is an umbrella over his head.

• Vasus – are a class of deities, eight in number, chiefly known as attendants of Indra. They are personifications of nature and natural phenomena. The eight Vasus are: Dhara (earth), Anal (the fire), Ap (the waters), Anila (the wind), Dhruva (the polestar), Soma (the moon), Prabhasa (the dawn) and Pratyusa (the light).

• Vayu – god of wind. It is he who is the basis of all living here. He is described as blue in color and as holding a fan and a flag in two hands and the other two hands showing the Abhaya and Varada Mudras (indicating protection and granting gifts).

• Visvedevas – These deities are the protectors of Rta, the moral law. They destroy the enemies of their devotees, protect the good, give auspicious abodes and control like kings. They are ten in number: Vasu (dwelling place), Satya (truth), Kratu (will), Daksa (skill), Kala (time), Kama (desire), Dhrti (forbearance), Kuru (the ancestor of the Kurus), Madravas (cry of joy). These deities are said to be fond of funeral offerings.

• Yama – is one who restrains, who curbs, and who controls. He was the first of men to die and to depart to the celestial world. He is the god of the dead and so the spirits of the departed dwell with him. He has two very fierce dogs, with four eyes and wide nostrils, which guard the path of the departed souls leading to Yama’s kingdom. He is the god of death and the judge, meeting out rewards and punishments to the souls of the dead brought to him. He is green in color, wears red garments, has a mighty mace and noose and rides a he-buffalo. He is ably assisted by Citragupta, the recorder.


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