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== Number of Devatas ==

== Number of Devatas ==

In the Vedas, the number of devatas is said to range from one to six thousand. In Rigveda, the famous mantra emphasizes the '''unity of devatas (एकेश्वरवादः)''', different forms of the same all-powerful Ishvara manifesting as Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni etc.<ref name=":62" /><blockquote>इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् । एकं॒ सद् विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥४॥६॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.164.46)</blockquote>The same aspect is explained in Nirukta and Brhaddevata. <blockquote>तासामियं विभूतिर्हि नामानि यदनेकशः । आहुस्तासां तु मन्त्रेषु कवयोऽन्योन्ययोनिताम् ।। ७१ ।। (Brhd. Deva. 1.171)</blockquote>[[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] and [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] also support Ekeshvaravada. In this universe, there exists one all-powerful entity or energy (Universal Energy), which in the Vedas has been called as Vaishvanara Agni. The components and subparts of this very source of energy are the devatas.<ref name=":62" /> By virtue of their special qualities Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Yama etc the devatas derived their names. Thus we see that Bahudevata-vada is also supported by this  explanation. There is only one root source, Universal Energy. The many devatas are explained by their differing activities, and their names are given based on their gunas.<ref name=":62" />  

In the Vedas, the number of devatas is said to range from one to six thousand. In Rigveda, the famous mantra emphasizes the '''unity of devatas (एकेश्वरवादः)''', different forms of the same all-powerful Ishvara manifesting as Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni etc.<ref name=":62" /><blockquote>इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् । एकं॒ सद् विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥४॥६॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.164.46)</blockquote>The same aspect is explained in Nirukta and Brhaddevata. <blockquote>तासामियं विभूतिर्हि नामानि यदनेकशः । आहुस्तासां तु मन्त्रेषु कवयोऽन्योन्ययोनिताम् ।। ७१ ।। (Brhd. Deva. 1.171)</blockquote>[[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]] and [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] also support Ekeshvaravada. In this universe, there exists one all-powerful entity or energy (Universal Energy), which in the Vedas has been called as Vaishvanara Agni. The components and subparts of this very source of energy are the devatas.<ref name=":62" /> By virtue of their special qualities Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Yama etc the devatas derived their names. Thus we see that Bahudevata-vada is also supported by this  explanation. There is only one root source, Universal Energy. The many devatas are explained by their differing activities, and their names are given based on their gunas.<ref name=":62" /> In the Rigveda, we find a mention of '''three devatas (तिस्रः देवताः)''' as prominent devatas; Agni in the terrestrial region, Indra or Vayu in the atmospheric region and Surya in the celestial region.<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षाद् अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः। (Rig. Veda. 10.15.1)</blockquote>Yaska based his classification of three prominent devatas on the Rigvedic mantra. <blockquote>तिस्र एव देवता इति नैरुक्ताः । (Nirukta. 7.5)</blockquote>Elsewhere in Rigveda we find a mention of '''thirty-three devatas (त्रयस्त्रिंशत् देवताः)''' , eleven on earth, eleven in atmospheric region and eleven in the celestial region.<ref name=":62" /><blockquote>ये दे॑वासो दि॒व्येका॑दश॒ स्थ पृ॑थि॒व्यामध्येका॑दश॒ स्थ । अ॒प्सु॒क्षितो॑ महि॒नैका॑दश॒ स्थ ते दे॑वासो य॒ज्ञमि॒मं जु॑षध्वम् ॥११॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.139.11) </blockquote>Shatapatha Brahmana (11.3.6.5) and Aitareya Brahmana (12.11.22) give their names. They are eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Dyus and Prthvi (or Indra and Prajapati).     

 

In the Rigveda, we find a mention of '''three devatas (तिस्रः देवताः)''' as prominent devatas; Agni in the terrestrial region, Indra or Vayu in the atmospheric region and Surya in the celestial region.<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षाद् अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः। (Rig. Veda. 10.15.1)</blockquote>Yaska based his classification of three prominent devatas on the Rigvedic mantra. <blockquote>तिस्र एव देवता इति नैरुक्ताः । (Nirukta. 7.5)</blockquote>Elsewhere in Rigveda we find a mention of '''thirty-three devatas (त्रयस्त्रिंशत् देवताः)''' , eleven on earth, eleven in atmospheric region and eleven in the celestial region.<ref name=":62" /><blockquote>ये दे॑वासो दि॒व्येका॑दश॒ स्थ पृ॑थि॒व्यामध्येका॑दश॒ स्थ । अ॒प्सु॒क्षितो॑ महि॒नैका॑दश॒ स्थ ते दे॑वासो य॒ज्ञमि॒मं जु॑षध्वम् ॥११॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.139.11) </blockquote>Shatapatha Brahmana (11.3.6.5) and Aitareya Brahmana (12.11.22) give their names. They are eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Dyus and Prthvi (or Indra and Prajapati).     

In the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, in Shaunaka and Yajnavalkya samvada there is a mention about thirty-three crore devatas.     

In the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, in Shaunaka and Yajnavalkya samvada there is a mention about thirty-three crore devatas.     

== Introduction to Important Rigvedic Deities ==

== Important Rigvedic Deities ==

Among the many devatas praised in the Rigveda, a few important deities and their nature are mentioned below. All deities have their part in granting particular desires to the worshipper. The supreme position is ascribed to various deities at different times.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":62" />

Among the many devatas praised in the Rigveda, a few important deities and their nature are mentioned below. All deities have their part in granting particular desires to the worshipper. The supreme position is ascribed to various deities at different times.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":62" />

=== वरुणः ॥ Varuna ===

=== वरुणः ॥ Varuna ===

{{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.<ref name=":62" />  

{{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.<ref name=":62" /> To achieve a luminous consciousness in the mind, the help of Mitra, the deity for Harmony and Joy, and Varuna, the deity of Purity and Vastness, are indispensable. For the workings of the mind constantly interfered with by the vitiating elements of desire, preference and wrong judgement; there is a lack of coherence and harmony between movement and movement; there is a heavy limitation imposed by the nature of the senses through which mind feeds itself. Besides there are influences in the world that stand against the full development of the mind in the direction Truth. To stall all these is invoked the aid of Varuna, the ruler of Vastness and Purity, who breaks down the barriers that limit and eliminate the clinging impurities. All mental disharmonies and wrong movements are converted and a harmonious, wide, right action of thought is accomplished.  <blockquote>ऋतेन मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा। क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे ॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.2.8) </blockquote>The object of the Powers of Truth and Will, at work in the seeker is to establish in him the unimpeded workings of Truth. Mitra and Varuna manifest in a variety of ways, in a number of faculties, e.g. inspiration, intuition, revelation etc., in the seeker, imparting their purity, vastitude, joy and harmony to all his movements.<ref name=":1" />

 

 

To achieve a luminous consciousness in the mind, the help of Mitra, the deity for Harmony and Joy, and Varuna, the deity of Purity and Vastness, are indispensable. For the workings of the mind constantly interfered with by the vitiating elements of desire, preference and wrong judgement; there is a lack of coherence and harmony between movement and movement; there is a heavy limitation imposed by the nature of the senses through which mind feeds itself. Besides there are influences in the world that stand against the full development of the mind in the direction Truth. To stall all these is invoked the aid of Varuna, the ruler of Vastness and Purity, who breaks down the barriers that limit and eliminate the clinging impurities. All mental disharmonies and wrong movements are converted and a harmonious, wide, right action of thought is accomplished. <blockquote>ऋतेन मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा। क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे ॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.2.8) </blockquote>The object of the Powers of Truth and Will, at work in the seeker is to establish in him the unimpeded workings of Truth. Mitra and Varuna manifest in a variety of ways, in a number of faculties, e.g. inspiration, intuition, revelation etc., in the seeker, imparting their purity, vastitude, joy and harmony to all his movements.<ref name=":1" />

{{Main|Rudra (रुद्रः)}}The deity Rudra is found mentioned extensively in the Yajurveda (Rudradhyaya). He is a Ganadevata - of eleven devatas in number. They represent the ten indriyas and one Manas. When these leave the physical body, the body is lifeless making the relatives of the deceased wail out loudly (रुद् - रोदनम्). In the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, it is stated that<blockquote>तद् यद् रोदयन्ति तस्माद् रुद्रा इति। (Brhd. Upan. 3.9.4)</blockquote>There are many synonyms for Rudra as per Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. He is called as Bhava, Pashupati, Mrtyu, Neelakantha, Kshetrapati, Senani, Shankara, Vrkshapati, Shitikantha and Shiva along with many other names. He is called as जलाषभेषज (jalashabheshaja) a specialist in using water for treatment. <blockquote>गा॒थप॑तिं मे॒धप॑तिं रु॒द्रं जला॑षभेषजम् । (Rig. Veda. 1.43.4)</blockquote>He has control over the medicinal herbs,  and environment. He consumes poison and gives back Amrtam, just as the trees consume carbon-di-oxide and give out the clear air filled with oxygen.<ref name=":62" />

Both in the Puranas and the Agamas, Rudra is lauded as Shiva the benevolent and the destroyer. He is prayed to protect the world from diseases and make the beings happy. Rudra is called as Triyambaka and worshiped to grant immortality as seen in the following Rigveda mantra

{{Main|Ashvini Devatas (अश्विनौ)}}In the Rigveda, we have more than 50 suktas dedicated to Ashvini Kumaras. They are the divine Physicians.  

 

त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् । उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान्मृ॒त्योर्मु॑क्षीय॒ मामृता॑त् ॥१२॥ (Rig. Veda. 7.59.12)<ref name=":1" />

== References ==

== References ==