Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Do you know your Vedic Gods ?

Vedas talk about three strata or spheres to which various devatas belong. They are prithivi - terrestrial, antariksha - middle and dyou -heaven.

Agni is the primary deity for the terrestrial sphere, Vayu and Indra for antariksha and Surya for the uppermost.

The deities associated with each sphere are -

Prithivi - Agni in its various aspects as Jaataveda, Vaishvanara, Dravinodaa, Tanoonapat and Naraashamsa, Ila (cow) , Raatri (night) , Ushas (dawn), Devyou hotarou ( two sacrificers) , Devyastisraha ( 3 devies), Vanaspati, Svahakrits, Agnaayee (wife of Agni), Aranyaani (devata of forest), Joshtree (  two goddesses), Urjaahuthee , Shunaaseera, Aaptyaas, Vasus.

There are also objects, articles and beings of quasidivine nature. They are often addressed to, prayed to or instructed upon in mantras. In the terrestrial plane they are - Idhma (fuel in yajna), Barhi (grass),Dvarou ( two doors ), Ashva ( horse ), Shakuni (bird), Manduka (frog), Graavaana (pressing stones), Aksha (dice), Ratha (chariot), Dundubhi (drum), Ishudhi (quiver), Hastaghna (hand guard), Dhanu (bow), Abheeshava (reins), Jyaa (bow string), Ishu (arrow), Ashvajanee (whip), Vrushabha (bull), Drughana (long pestle), Ulookhalam (mortar), Nadyaha (rivers), Aapaha (water), Oshadhayaha (plants), Shraddha (piety), prithivi (earth), Aartnee (two ends of the bow), Rodasee ( two worlds consisting of earth and heaven), Musalolookhale ( the pair of mortar and pestle), Havirdhane (the twin holders of sacrifice), Vipaat ( a river), Shutudree (sutlej river), loka (world), pratassavana (morning extraction of soma juice), Vasantasharadou (spring and autumn), Stoma (yajna), Anushtup, Trivrut (yajna), Gayatri, Ekavimsha (yajna), Rahtantara, Vairaja, Saama, Saadhyas.

Antariksha - Indra, Parjanya, Vayu, Rudra, Bruhaspati, Varuna, kaha, Mrutyu, Brahmanaspati, Manyu, Vishavakarma, Mitra, Kshetrapati, Yama, Taarkshya, Vastoshpati, Sarasvaan, Apaannapat, Dadhikrava, Suprana, Purooravaas, Ruta, Asooneeti, Vena, Aditi, Tvashtaa, Savitaa, Vaataha, Vaachaspati, Dhaataa, Prajapati, Atharvans, Shyena, Agni, Ila, Vidhaataa, Indu, Ahirbudhnya, Soma, Ahiratha, Chandramas, Vishavanaras, Rudragana, Maruta, Angirasas, Pitrus, Rubhus, Raakaa, Vak, Saramaa, Aapti, Bhrugus, Aghnya, Sarasvati, Yamee, Urvashi, Sineevaalee, Pathyaa, Svasti, Ushas, Kuhu,Prithivi, Anumati,  Gauri, Rodasee, Indraani, 


Other associations with this sphere are Vimanani (aeroplanes), Seetaa, Laashaa, Gou, Dhenu,Trishtup, Pankti, Madhyamam savanam (mid day extraction of soma),  the two seasons Greeshma and Hemanta, Bruhat, Shakavaree, Panchadasa and Trinava yajnas.

Dyou - Surya, Ashvins, Vrishakapaayee, Sooryaa and Ushas (the three wives of Surya), Yama, Vaishvanara, Vishnu, Varuna, Aja ekapad, Prithivi, Saptarshis, Aadityaas, Keshee, Saadhyaa, Savitaa, Vasus, Manu, Dadhyang, Atharvas,  Devapatnyaha (wives of Devas).




Other associations are Vaajinaha (horses),Samudra, Truteeyam Savanam ( third extraction of soma), Raivatam and Vairoopam, Varsha and Shishira rutus, Trayastrimsha and Saptadasha yajnas, Jagati and Atichhandas.