Changes

Indra's favourite drink is the Somarasa, hence he is called Somapatama. He is also a good ruler, protecting dharmic people is his main role. His chief weapon is the Vajra, prepared from the bones of Dadichi. He is the chief of all the devaganas, hence called as Ganapati. His chief subordinates are the Marut devaganas, who proceed in front of him. In the "Dasarajna yuddha" he helped Sudas to attain victory. In spiritual sense, Indra represents the Jivatma according to Dr. Kapildev Dviwedi. The negative thoughts are Vrtra, which stop the flow of light from a pure Atma. Vrtravadha is the destruction of such negative thoughts and bad actions. This is symbolic to the Devasura sangrama. The good-hearted dharmic devatas are always at odds with the asuras who are driven by asuric qualities of bad behaviour. Victory of the devata qualities is the victory of Indra.<ref name=":62" />

Indra's favourite drink is the Somarasa, hence he is called Somapatama. He is also a good ruler, protecting dharmic people is his main role. His chief weapon is the Vajra, prepared from the bones of Dadichi. He is the chief of all the devaganas, hence called as Ganapati. His chief subordinates are the Marut devaganas, who proceed in front of him. In the "Dasarajna yuddha" he helped Sudas to attain victory. In spiritual sense, Indra represents the Jivatma according to Dr. Kapildev Dviwedi. The negative thoughts are Vrtra, which stop the flow of light from a pure Atma. Vrtravadha is the destruction of such negative thoughts and bad actions. This is symbolic to the Devasura sangrama. The good-hearted dharmic devatas are always at odds with the asuras who are driven by asuric qualities of bad behaviour. Victory of the devata qualities is the victory of Indra.<ref name=":62" />

=== विष्णुः ॥ Vishnu ===

=== विष्णुः ॥ Vishnu ===

=== अश्विनौ ॥ Asvini Devatas ===

=== अश्विनौ ॥ Asvini Devatas ===

{{Main|Ashvini Devatas (अश्विनौ)}}In the Rigveda, we have more than 50 suktas dedicated to Ashvini Kumaras. They are the divine Physicians. The root अश् is used in the sense of व्याप्तौ। or universally pervading, deriving the term Ashvin; thus Ashvini Kumaras are ubiquitously present. They singly represent the tattva of dual contrasting pairs - of qualities and activities, such as earth and celestial, night and day, Surya and Chandra, and two rajas. Of such pairs if one represents the brilliant form the other is a dark form, one is positive and the other is negative, if one offers prosperity the other causes debts. Their qualities are also contrasting in nature - one has the fiery nature (of Agni) and the other has a cold nature (of Soma). In the human body they represent the Prana and Apana pairs.<ref name=":62" />  

{{Main|Ashvini Devatas (अश्विनौ)}}In the Rigveda, we have more than 50 suktas dedicated to Ashvini Kumaras. They are the divine Physicians. The root अश् is used in the sense of व्याप्तौ। or universally pervading, deriving the term Ashvin; thus Ashvini Kumaras are ubiquitously present. They singly represent the tattva of dual contrasting pairs - of qualities and activities, such as earth and celestial, night and day, Surya and Chandra, and two rajas. Of such pairs if one represents the brilliant form the other is a dark form, one is positive and the other is negative, if one offers prosperity the other causes debts. Their qualities are also contrasting in nature - one has the fiery nature (of Agni) and the other has a cold nature (of Soma). In the human body they represent the Prana and Apana pairs.<ref name=":62" /> In the Rigveda, many suktas (1.116 to 119 and 1.180-184) describe the great deeds of Ashvini Kumaras. They are skilled physicians capable of performing marvelous treatments and cures. They cure even the oldage of Chyavana Maharshi and make him young again. They rescue the son of Tugra, Bhujyu on the high seas from disaster. They cut the head of Dadichi Maharshi and in its place they attach the head of a horse. From him they learn the [[Madhuvidya (मधुविद्या)|Madhu Vidya]].<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>स वां॒ मधु॒ प्र वो॑चदृता॒यन् त्वा॒ष्ट्रं यद् द॑स्रावपिक॒क्ष्यं॑ वाम् ॥२२॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.117.22) </blockquote>The Rigveda states that the Ashvini Kumaras married Suryaa, the daughter of Surya. .... आसी॒द्यदया॑त्सू॒र्या पति॑म् ॥७॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.85.7). Suryaa travels in the chariot of Ashvini Kumaras. The chariot has been eloquently described in Rigveda. It travels with the speed of mind (Rig. Veda. 7.68.3) and flies like a bird (Rig. Veda. 1.46.3). It can travel in space, on earth and in water (Rigveda 4.43.5), on mountains and even the ocean.<ref name=":62" />  

 

In the Rigveda, many suktas (1.116 to 119 and 1.180-184) describe the great deeds of Ashvini Kumaras. They are skilled physicians capable of performing marvelous treatments and cures. They cure even the oldage of Chyavana Maharshi and make him young again. They rescue the son of Tugra, Bhujyu on the high seas from disaster. They cut the head of Dadichi Maharshi and in its place they attach the head of a horse. From him they learn the [[Madhuvidya (मधुविद्या)|Madhu Vidya]].<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>स वां॒ मधु॒ प्र वो॑चदृता॒यन् त्वा॒ष्ट्रं यद् द॑स्रावपिक॒क्ष्यं॑ वाम् ॥२२॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.117.22) </blockquote>The Rigveda states that the Ashvini Kumaras married Suryaa, the daughter of Surya. .... आसी॒द्यदया॑त्सू॒र्या पति॑म् ॥७॥ (Rig. Veda. 10.85.7). Suryaa travels in the chariot of Ashvini Kumaras. The chariot has been eloquently described in Rigveda. It travels with the speed of mind (Rig. Veda. 7.68.3) and flies like a bird (Rig. Veda. 1.46.3). It can travel in space, on earth and in water (Rigveda 4.43.5), on mountains and even the ocean.<ref name=":62" />  

=== रुद्रः ॥ Rudra ===

=== रुद्रः ॥ Rudra ===

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

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

मरुतः ॥ Maruts{{Main|Marut Ganas (मरुद्गणः)}}Maruts also are Ganadevatas just like the Rudras. Very early on we see the description of Maruts in the Rigveda. They are said to be "सप्त - सप्त" or fortynine in number, each having a power of hundred times (Rigveda. 5.52.17). Based on their function, they have different names such as Shukra-jyoti, Chitra-jyoti, Ugra, Bhima, Dhvanta etc. They have special dress and ornaments of gold. Bearing weapons they are described as courageous warriors and soldiers. They have a large powerful army, and win all wars. They are also described as Vayu devatas (air); their fierce forms are the violent storms, and as pleasant benevolent deities they cause rains on earth. Their thunderous sounds make even the earth and atmosphere shake and tremble. They are the subordinates and helpers of [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]]. In the Rigveda, their origin is described to be from Vidyut or electricity.<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>ह॒स्का॒राद् वि॒द्युत॒स्पर्यऽतो॑ जा॒ता अ॑वन्तु नः । म॒रुतो॑ मृळयन्तु नः ॥१२॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.23.12)</blockquote>Apart from the electrical energy, they develop electro-magnetic fields and radiate the energy. The sukta 5.87 in Rigveda, refers to electromagnetic waves.<ref name=":62" />

=== मरुतः ॥ Maruts ===

{{Main|Marut Ganas (मरुद्गणः)}}Maruts also are Ganadevatas just like the Rudras. Very early on we see the description of Maruts in the Rigveda. They are said to be "सप्त - सप्त" or fortynine in number, each having a power of hundred times (Rigveda. 5.52.17). Based on their function, they have different names such as Shukra-jyoti, Chitra-jyoti, Ugra, Bhima, Dhvanta etc. They have special dress and ornaments of gold. Bearing weapons they are described as courageous warriors and soldiers. They have a large powerful army, and win all wars. They are also described as Vayu devatas (air); their fierce forms are the violent storms, and as pleasant benevolent deities they cause rains on earth. Their thunderous sounds make even the earth and atmosphere shake and tremble. They are the subordinates and helpers of [[Indra (इन्द्रः)|Indra]]. In the Rigveda, their origin is described to be from Vidyut or electricity.<ref name=":62" /> <blockquote>ह॒स्का॒राद् वि॒द्युत॒स्पर्यऽतो॑ जा॒ता अ॑वन्तु नः । म॒रुतो॑ मृळयन्तु नः ॥१२॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.23.12)</blockquote>Apart from the electrical energy, they develop electro-magnetic fields and radiate the energy. The sukta 5.87 in Rigveda, refers to electromagnetic waves.<ref name=":62" />

They are mentioned by the epithets such as "children of Rudras" and as "brothers of Indra". Such epithets are based on their functions or actions. Because of their impetuousness, they are called as the children of the fierce Rudras, rudraha, (1.39.7); rudrāsaḥ, (1.39.4).

They are mentioned by the epithets such as "children of Rudras" and as "brothers of Indra". Such epithets are based on their functions or actions. Because of their impetuousness, they are called as the children of the fierce Rudras, rudraha, (1.39.7); rudrāsaḥ, (1.39.4).