Your e - Acharya on Indian Tradition

GODS OF RIGVEDA

Each sookta of Rgveda has its own Deva, where in that particular Deva is worshipped through hymns in his praise. Yaaska the Niruktakaara defines Deva as – Devo daanaad dyotanaad deepanaad vaa

Deva is the one who bestows things, or who shines or who illuminates. There are 33 Devas in Rgveda. Yaaska has classified Devas into three categories. Prithvi sthaneeya, antariksa sthaneeya and Dyusthaneeya – i.e, terrestial deities, deities of space and deities of heaven. The following are the prominent Devas of Rgveda.

Rigveda Murthy

Indra: Indra is the greatest of all Devas in Rgveda. Indra has been extolled in 1028 suktas of Rigveda. He is the racial as well as the national deity of the Aryan race due to his virtues. He is the king of all Devas. According to Rgveda Indra is endowed with three special characteristics – a) The accomplisher of great feats, b) master of unparalleled might and c) The vanquisher of the Asuraas. Indra’s favourite weapon is the thunderbolt – Vajra. Twashta designed this deadly weapon for Indra. Indra is also known as Shakra. Shachipat, Shachivaan. Shatakratu etc., Dyou is Indra’s father. Agni and Pusha are his brothers and Indraani (Shachi Devi) is his wife.

Agni: Agni is the second most important deity in Rgveda on the basis of his influence and magnitude. 200 hymns are devoted to Agni. Just as Indra is the lord of seasons and war Agni is the lord of household activities. No religious activity is possible without Agni.

Varuna: After Indra and Agni Varuna enjoys the third place among Devas in Rgveda in terms of importance. He is praised only in 12 suktaas. Yet he is the ruler and administrator of the world. He makes people follow the law.

Marut: Marut is not a single deity but a group of deities and therefore they are always addressed in plural. The Marutas are the object of glorification in 42 suktaas. They are known as the sons of Rudra and Prushni.

Vishnu: Vishnu’s glories are sung in 152 suktas belonging to the 1^st mandala. Though a minor deity in Rgveda Vishnu attained great importance later. Actually Vishnu means the Sun.

Surya: According to the description in Rgveda the physical Sun itself is Surya Deva. Thus we find the description of physical attributes of Surya.

Savitaa: Though there is much similarity in Surya and Savitaa, Savita has been described differently. Savita is the lord of day and night. The sacred Gayatri mantra glorifies Savita.

Mitra: Mitra is a close friend of Varuna. He is very compassionate and mighty.

Ushas: The Rgvedic poets have exhibited exemplary poetic skills in describing Ushas. 20 suktas are devoted to Ushas. She is the presiding deity of beauty, grace and charm.

Soma: Soma is an important diety of Rgveda. Nearly the complete Ninth mandala is devoted to Soma. There are 120 hymns in his praise.

Pushan: Pushan is mentioned is 8 sukta of Rgveda. 5 of these appear in the sixth mandala. Pushan is described as the lord of all animate and inanimate living beings and the protector of the paths.

Vaata: Vaata is the deity of air. He has been praised in two short suktas of the Rgveda. He is considered as the inspirer and soul of Vaayu. Vaata is the respiration of the Devas like Rudra, Vaata cures diseases and enhances the life span. His speed is awesome. He is only heard and cannot be seen.

Vaastoshpati: Though described in only one sukta, Vaastoshpati is mentioned seven times in Rgveda. He bears similarity to soma in characteristics. The Vaastoshpati sukta is employed during house-warming ceremony. According to Rgveda the blessings of Vaastoshpati should be sought by householders seeking all the necessary objects essential to run a household.

Vaak: The Rgveda describes Vaak as the presiding deity of speech. She is praised as a great power born of Brahma. Vaak is essentially another form of Brahma. She is the motivator of the Gods and helps them discharge their duties properly. Through here brilliance she transforms her devotees into Rishis, Brahmana and erudite. One should recite the Vaak sukta to attain great oratory skills.

Rudra: Rudra is described only in a few rchas yet as a very powerful Devata. In Rgveda, Rudra is described as the father and master of the Marutas. He is the most powerful among the powerful and indomitable. He supervises the world. Rudra is known as Aadi Deva; the first deity. Rudra is the deity of health and medicinal plants as well.

Yama: Yama is the God of life and shows the path to the dead. The fourteenth to eighteenth sukta of the tenth mandala of Rgveda deals with the spiritual science of death, life after death and similar topics. According to the vedic mantras Vivasvan and Sarayu the daughter of Twashta are the parents of Yama. The word Yama is derived from the root `Yam’ and means the controller of all beings. The suktas related to Yama are recited during the last rites of a man - burning the dead body on/in a pyre.

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