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== Kinds of Devas ==

== Kinds of Devas ==

Devas or Suras are the general class of devas ruled by [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]]. Most of the Devas are the sons of Kashyapa Prajapati by Aditi, the daughter of Daksa Prajapati. The Devas are classified with special reference to bhutaganas like Prthvi etc. and are, therefore, referred to as Bhudevatas, Agnidevatas, Vayudevatas, etc. The presiding spirit of Bhudevatas is Kubera, that of the Jaladevatas is Varuna, that of the Agnidevatas, Vayudevata and that of the Akashadevatas, is Indra. And, under them there are various sets of Devas in charge of different subdivisions.<ref name=":2" />  

Devas or Suras are the general class of devas ruled by [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]]. Most of the Devas are the sons of Kashyapa Prajapati by Aditi, the daughter of Daksa Prajapati. The Devas are classified with special reference to bhutaganas like Prthvi etc. and are, therefore, referred to as Bhudevatas, Agnidevatas, Vayudevatas, etc. The presiding spirit of Bhudevatas is Kubera, that of the Jaladevatas is Varuna, that of the Agnidevatas, Vayudevata and that of the Akashadevatas, is Indra. And, under them there are various sets of Devas in charge of different subdivisions.<ref name=":2" />

 

There are nine groups of devatas called as Ganadevatas, i.e., a collective group of Devas.<blockquote>आदित्यविश्ववसवस्तुषिताभास्वरानिलाः । महाराजिकसाध्याश्च रुद्राश्च गणदेवताः ।। १.१.२० ।। (Amara. 1.1.10)</blockquote>They are [[Adityas (आदित्याः)|Aditya]] (आदित्यः - 12 devas are collectively termed Adityas), Vishve (विश्वेदेव - 13) Vasu (वसु - 8) Tushit (तुषित - 36), Abhasvar (आभास्वर - 64), Anila (अनिल - 49) Maharajika (महाराजिक - 220), Sadhya (साध्य - 12), Rudra (रुद्र - 11)<ref name=":0" /><ref>Amarakosha ([https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha/amara/#id=101 Ganadevata])</ref>

There are nine groups of devatas called as Ganadevatas, i.e., a collective group of Devas.<blockquote>आदित्यविश्ववसवस्तुषिताभास्वरानिलाः । महाराजिकसाध्याश्च रुद्राश्च गणदेवताः ।। १.१.२० ।। (Amara. 1.1.10)</blockquote>They are [[Adityas (आदित्याः)|Aditya]] (आदित्यः - 12 devas are collectively termed Adityas), Vishve (विश्वेदेव - 13) Vasu (वसु - 8) Tushit (तुषित - 36), Abhasvar (आभास्वर - 64), Anila (अनिल - 49) Maharajika (महाराजिक - 220), Sadhya (साध्य - 12), Rudra (रुद्र - 11)<ref name=":0" /><ref>Amarakosha ([https://ashtadhyayi.com/kosha/amara/#id=101 Ganadevata])</ref>

As mentioned in the earlier section, Devas are benevolent and helping in nature to other beings. In light of these perspectives, the elements such as Earth (Prthvi), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), the Sun (Surya), the Moon (Chandra), the Clouds (Megha) etc are all devas because they are always benevolent entities always giving and helping all the beings of the world.<ref name=":6" />

As mentioned in the earlier section, Devas are benevolent and helping in nature to other beings. In light of these perspectives, the elements such as Earth (Prthvi), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), the Sun (Surya), the Moon (Chandra), the Clouds (Megha) etc are all devas because they are always benevolent entities always giving and helping all the beings of the world.<ref name=":6" />

It is this characteristic nature that is recognized by the Vedic seers and they outpoured their gratitude towards these "devas" in the form of stuti mantras with an intent to receive their benevolence for the good of all. Keeping some devatas in mind the stuti mantras were given by the seers and thus we have a particular devata for each mantra. Devas became the subject matter described by a particular sukta. Sayanacharya mentions thus,<blockquote>देवता तु मन्त्र प्रतिपाद्या । (Sayana, Rigvedabhashya Bhumika Page 114)</blockquote>The mantras throw light on the nature of a particular deity but the knowledge about them can only be obtained by tapas and sadhana. The mantras are powerful invocations and invitations to call a particular deity. This aspect is also discussed by Yaska in his Nirukta (7.1)<ref name=":6" />

It is this characteristic nature that is recognized by the Vedic seers and they outpoured their gratitude towards these "devas" in the form of stuti mantras with an intent to receive their benevolence for the good of all. Keeping some devatas in mind the stuti mantras were given by the seers and thus we have a particular devata for each mantra. Thus Devas became the subject matter described in a mantra, and a collection of such stutis formed a particular sukta. Sayanacharya mentions thus,<blockquote>देवता तु मन्त्र प्रतिपाद्या । (Sayana, Rigvedabhashya Bhumika Page 114)</blockquote>The mantras throw light on the nature of a particular deity but the knowledge about them can only be obtained by tapas and sadhana. The mantras are powerful invocations and invitations to call a particular deity. This aspect is also discussed by Yaska in his Nirukta (7.1)<ref name=":6" />

 

 

They are described as having a certain special abode in the various regions of this universe. They play a significant role in yajnas, being specially invited and receiving havishya, they help in fulfilling the yajamana's wishes.

The characteristic quality of each deva/devi depends on his/her innate nature. Some deities are human-like (manava-vat) in their activities, example, Indra, Varuna, Marut etc. Their physical description is also given in many texts, distinctly, in the Agamas. Yaska mentions that some devatas are similar to humans and they are worshipped as though they are animate beings. Some other deities are not similar to the humans, such as Agni, Vayu, Surya, Chandra, Prthvi etc. Their worship includes an inanimate aspect.<ref name=":6" /><blockquote>पुरुषविधाः स्युः, इत्येकम् । चेतनावद् हि स्तुतयो भवन्ति । अपुरुषविधाः स्युः, इत्यपरम् । (Nirukta. 7.6 and 7)</blockquote>They are described as having a certain special abode in the various regions of this universe. They play a significant role in yajnas, being specially invited and as recipients of havishya, they help in fulfilling the yajamana's wishes.

== Vedic literature ==

== Vedic literature ==