Changes

=== विष्णुः ॥ Vishnu ===

=== विष्णुः ॥ Vishnu ===

{{Main|Vishnu (विष्णुः)}}Vishnu is an important deity mentioned in Rigveda, Yajurveda and Atharvavedas. He is called Vishnu as he all-pervading in the Universe - वेवेष्टि व्याप्नोति इति विष्णुः। In the Rigveda, Vishnu is famous for his role in measuring the universe in three steps. <blockquote>य इ॒दं दी॒र्घं प्रय॑तं स॒धस्थ॒मेको॑ विम॒मे त्रि॒भिरित् प॒देभि॑: ॥३॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.154.3)</blockquote>According to Dr. Kapildev Dviwedi, the Universe is considered to be enclosed in a vast triangle, and Vishnu is said to be pervading in all the three angles of the triangle. The three angles represent the prthvi, the antariksha and the dyulokas. Hence he is called as Trivikrama, Urukrama, Urugaya, Trishadha, Tripada etc. Surya as the attracting force maintains the place of these lokas.<ref name=":62" />

{{Main|Vishnu (विष्णुः)}}Vishnu is an important deity mentioned in Rigveda, Yajurveda and Atharvavedas. He is called Vishnu as he all-pervading in the Universe - वेवेष्टि व्याप्नोति इति विष्णुः। In the Rigveda, Vishnu is famous for his role in measuring the universe in three steps. <blockquote>य इ॒दं दी॒र्घं प्रय॑तं स॒धस्थ॒मेको॑ विम॒मे त्रि॒भिरित् प॒देभि॑: ॥३॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.154.3)</blockquote>According to Dr. Kapildev Dviwedi, the Universe is considered to be enclosed in a vast triangle, and Vishnu is said to be pervading in all the three angles of the triangle. The three angles represent the prthvi, the antariksha and the dyulokas. Hence he is called as Trivikrama, Urukrama, Urugaya, Trishadha, Tripada etc. Surya as the attracting force maintains the place of these lokas. Vishnu step is considered as the Paramapada or supreme station ([[Moksha (मोक्षः)|Moksha]]). It is here that Madhu flows in cascades, Madhu here means Brahmaananda. There is eternal bliss in this Paramadham, which is said to be the fourth or supreme state of existence. Yogadarshana describes this state as Samadhi.<ref name=":62" /><blockquote>उ॒रु॒क्र॒मस्य॒ स हि बन्धु॑रि॒त्था विष्णो॑: प॒दे प॑र॒मे मध्व॒ उत्स॑: ॥५॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.154.5)</blockquote>Vishnu creates or manifests the Universe of seven planes, unveils its laws and maintains the Universe under these laws. This happens not only in the macrocosm, but also in the microcosm, the subtle body of man. Each plane is manifested by Vishnu is based on a particular principle. For instance this world, earth, is dominated by matter. The midworld, antariksha, is dominated by life-energies, emotional energies etc. The celestial worlds, dyu, is dominated by the mental energies. The highest station is said to be Vishnu's supreme step. He creates the path by which the mortals can reach the supreme station after traversing the intermediate worlds. Upholding the Universe with his three steps, Vishnu creates for Indra a wide station amongst us mortals by which we can reach the supreme station above. When Vishnu is said to sleep on the folds of the snake Ananta upon the ocean of sweet milk, Ananta is clearly seen to be not the common serpent, nor the milk the material sweet milk, nor the ocean an expanse of milky liquid. The symbolic meaning is that the All-pervading Vishnu rests on the coils of the Infinite in the blissful ocean of Eternal Existence.<ref name=":1" />

Vishnu creates or manifests the Universe of seven planes, unveils its laws and maintains the Universe under these laws. This happens not only in the macrocosm, but also in the microcosm, the subtle body of man. Each plane is manifested by Vishnu is based on a particular principle. For instance this world, earth, is dominated by matter. The midworld, antariksha, is dominated by life-energies, emotional energies etc. The celestial worlds, dyu, is dominated by the mental energies. The highest station is said to be Vishnu's supreme step. He creates the path by which the mortals can reach the supreme station after traversing the intermediate worlds. Upholding the Universe with his three steps, Vishnu creates for Indra a wide station amongst us mortals by which we can reach the supreme station above. When Vishnu is said to sleep on the folds of the snake Ananta upon the ocean of sweet milk, Ananta is clearly seen to be not the common serpent, nor the milk the material sweet milk, nor the ocean an expanse of milky liquid. The symbolic meaning is that the All-pervading Vishnu rests on the coils of the Infinite in the blissful ocean of Eternal Existence.<ref name=":1" />

{{Main|Soma (सोमः)}}Soma (सोमः) has great importance in the Vedas. The ninth mandala of the Rigveda is completely devoted to Pavamana-Soma, the deity reigning the medicinal herbs and Somalata. In the Vedas, the primary reference of Soma is to the creeper Soma from where the Somarasa is prepared. It is a chief material used in Somayaga. Indra is called Somapa, one who enjoys drinking the Somarasa. Soma also implys Chandrama (Moon), Raja etc. In the Rigveda, Somalata is also called as Moujavat as the natural habitat of this creeper is the [[Mountains in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदे पर्वतानां विवेचनम्)|mountain]] called Mujavat. <blockquote>सोम॑स्येव मौजव॒तस्य॑ भ॒क्षो..... (Rig. Veda. 10.34.1)</blockquote>In the Atharvaveda, there is a reference that Soma is found by the banks of the river Amshuman. Sushruta Samhita (Chikitsa-sthan 26. 1 to 32) gives an extensive description of this creeper. There are twenty-four varieties of Soma - Amshuman, Munjavan, Chandrama, and Rajataprabha etc. All Soma varieties have fifteen leaves, which grow in the waxing phase (Shukla paksha) of the moon and shed in the waning phase (Krishna paksha) of the moon. Soma is said to originate in the Himalayas, Sahya ranges, Mahendra mountains, and Malaya mountains. These creepers are said to be found near the Sindhu river. The creeper grows to a range of one to one-and-half feet tall, with the branches arising from the base near the roots. Many scholars have conducted extensive research about the Somalata. Many believe that "Ephedra", found on the Hindukush and Suleiman ranges, is the Somalata. Soma creeper is crushed using the pressing stones to get the juice, which is strained and get the Pavamana-Soma rasa. When milk is added to the Somarasa, it is called "Gavashir", on adding curds it is called Dadhyashir, on adding the flour of Jau (Barley) it is called Yavaashir. Rigveda mentions all the three dishes of Pavamana-Soma and they are collectively called as Tryaashir. Somarasa is described as Madhu (Madhur or sweet), Mada (Uttejaka or Invigorating), Pitu (Peya or a drink), Piyush (Amrta or nectar-like food), and Indu (Ahladaka or refreshing). Somarasa was said to invigorate, increase power and cause happiness. It also aided in increasing the intellect and boost immunity. <blockquote>अपा॑म॒ सोम॑म॒मृता॑ अभू॒माग॑न्म॒ ज्योति॒रवि॑दाम दे॒वान् । (Rig. Veda. 8.48.3)</blockquote>In the Rigveda the results of drinking Somarasa are said to be Amrtva (eternity), along with finding the inner light and the devatas. Soma is said to be the adhipati of the medicinal plants.

 

{{Main|Varuna (वरुणः)}}Varuna is another important deity well described in the Vedas. Varuna is the devata for Rta (ऋतम्) and Nyaya or the divine law and order. Hence he is the Dharmapati, one who upholds Dharma. He is described as all-knowing (Sarvajna), all-powerful (Sarvashaktiman), and all-pervading (Sarvavyapaka). He rules and sets order in the world from the waters where he is located. In the Rigveda, Mitra-Varuna occur as a pair. Their mansion is said be extensive with many doors having a thousand pillars. Varuna is said to reside in each and every atom of water. He is the presiding deity of law and order. His rules of law are binding on everyone, and no one can break free of his fetters (pasham). Only through Truth, by true words, actions and thoughts can one free himself from Varuna pasham.  

== References ==

== References ==