Vedic Gods

Agni

Agni with characteristic symbol of the

ram, wood carving; in the Guimet

Museum, Paris

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York

(Sanskrit: “Fire”), fire-god of the Hindus, second only to Indra in the Vedic mythology

of ancient India. He is equally the fire of the sun, of lightning, and of the hearth that

men light for purposes of worship. As the divine personification of the fire of sacrifice,

he is the mouth of the gods, the carrier of the oblation, and the messenger between

the human and the divine orders. …

Major deities > Mithra

Beside Ahura Mazda, Mithra is the most important deity of the ancient Iranian

pantheon and may have even occupied a position of near equality with him. In the

Achaemenian inscriptions Mithra, together with Anahita, is the only other deity

specifically mentioned. Although the ancient pantheon contained an individual sun

god, Hvar Khshaita, in the eastern Iranian traditions…Cultic practices, worship, and

festivals

In sharp contrast to the peoples of the Middle East, the Iranians did not make images

of their deities, nor did they build temples to house them, preferring to worship in the

open. Worship of the gods was performed primarily in the context of a central ritual

called yazna, which corresponds in a great many details to the Vedic yajña. It is

interesting to note that both rituals, …

Major deities > Anahiti

One of the longest Avestan Yashts is to the powerful goddess whose full name is given

as Ardvi Sura Anahita, literally “the damp, strong, untainted.” In fact, the long name

seems to combine two originally separate names and, hence, two deities. First, Ardvi

Sura is the Iranian name of the heavenly river goddess who in the Rigveda is called

Sarasvati. In this role, she brings fresh water…

Sarasvati

Hindu goddess of learning and the arts. She is first referred to in literature as the

personification of the sacred river, the Sarasvati, and is also identified with Vac, the

goddess of speech. In later Hinduism she is usually considered the consort of the god

Brahma (the promulgator of the Veda), but she enjoys an autonomous position as the

patroness of art, music, and letters. …

Major deities > Vrthraghna

The mighty deity of war Vrthraghna had martial traits in common with Mithra and with

the Vedic war god Indra. In post-Achaemenian times he was syncretistically equated

with Hercules and was a favourite deity of monarchs, some of whom took his name.

The name Vrthraghna means “the smashing of resistance or obstruction,” and in his

capacity as the god who guaranteed his…

The Vedic Pantheon

by Jayaram V

By vedic gods we mean those divinities (devas) who are mentioned in the four Vedas.

The principal Vedic gods are said to be 33 in number, namely eight Vasus, eleven

Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapathi Brahma. These gods belong to the three

regions of the earth (prithvi), the heavens (Dyaus) and the intermediate space

(Antariksha).

Contents

Indra Varuna Agni

Rudra Mitra Vayu

Surya Vishnu Savitr

Pusan Usha Soma

Asvins Maruts Visvadevas

Vasus Adityas Vashista

Brihaspathi Bhaga Rta

Rhibhus Heaven and Earth Kapinjala

Dadhikravan Rati Yama

Manyu Purusha Prajanya

Sarasvathi

Indra

Indra is the lord of the heavens. He is the most popular and powerful of the vedic

deities. He is described as the god of the blue sky. He rides a white elephant called

Airavata and wields the dazzling weapon of lightening called Vajrayudh made by

another god Tvastur. He fought many battles to drive the demons away and ensure

victory to the gods. He also destroyed many cities of his enemies. His most famous

achievement was slaying of Vratasura. He killed the demon of the dark skies

(symbolically the clouds) with his weapon (the lightning) and released the cows

(waters) that were held in captivity by him.

Prone to drinking soma, often losing control over himself, mighty and sensuous, always

concerned about his survival and status as the leader, at times scheming and at times

troubled, Indra is more like a king upon the earth than of heavens. He has a spiritual

side too. According to the Kena Upanishad, he is the only god to have gone nearest to

Brahman and was to know Him as Brahman. This act of him earned him the right to

become the ruler of heavens. In the Chandogya Upanishad we are told that he studied

under Prajapathi Brahma and learned the secrets of immortality. in the images, Indra

is generally shown with four arms and as riding on a while elephant. Sometimes he is

shown with his wife, Sachidevi, but mostly alone. With the emergence of Saivism and

Bhagavatism in the post Vedic period, the importance of Indra gradually declined.

Varuna

If we find in Indra the qualities of a war lord or a typical king, in Varuna we see the

earliest signs of an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and compassionate God, the

precursor the Upanishadic Brahman. Varuna is the ruler of the worlds, the ordainer

and enforcer of law and upholder of the world order. In one of the Rigvedic hymns he

is described as the Lord of the earth and heaven who sustains the tree that has its

roots in heaven and braches down below. This description reminds us of the famous

Asvattha tree of the latter day scriptures.

Varuna is the knower of all and controller of all. He is the supreme God capable of

controlling and dispensing justice. "He knows the path of birds that fly through

heaven, and, Sovran of the sea. He knows the ships that are thereon. True to his holy

law, he knows the twelve moons with their progeny. He knows the moon of later birth.

He knows the pathway of the wind, the spreading, high, and mighty wind. He knows

the Gods who dwell above. Varuna, true to holy law, sits down among his people; he,

Most wise, sits there to govern. all." (R.V)

And how does he know all this? With innumerable spies (rays of light) who are spread

every where acting as his eyes and ears, he knows all that goes on in this world. If two

people talking together, beware that Varuna is there watching every thing that is

going on. Born to Aditi, and friend and brother of Mitra, Varuna is the protector,

"the Holy One, helper of all mankind, the law maker whose holy laws remain

unweakened."

Together with Mitra, he controls the world order, Rta and when people transgress the

moral order and commit sin, he knows and punishes them. But if they repent and seek

forgiveness, he forgives them too.

He causes the rains to come down and the sun to travel. He makes the rivers flow. The

rivers that flows because of him know no weariness, nor they cease flowing. Many

invocations of Varuna repeatedly beseech him to forgive sins, like this one," If we have

sinned against the man who loves us, have ever wronged a brother, friend, or

comrade, the neighbor ever with us, or a stranger, O Varuna, remove from us the

trespass. If we, as gamesters cheat at play, have cheated, done wrong unwittingly or

sinned of purpose, cast all these sins away like loosened fetters, and, Varuna let us be

thine own beloved."

Varuna lost much of his importance as an omnipotent and omnipresent god after Indra

assumed more prominence. He was subsequently relegated, or rather demoted to the

position of a dikpala or ruler of a quarter (the western hemisphere) and lord of the

oceans and water.

In the iconography he is depicted as the rider of a chariot drawn by seven swans, with

four hands and an umbrella over his head. In some images the swans are replace by a

crocodile, suggestive of his lordship over the aquatic life.

Agni

Agni is the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice, the hotar, who lavishes wealth

and dispels the darkness. Sapient-minded priest, truthful, most gloriously great, ruler

of sacrifices, guard of Law eternal, radiant One, no sacrifice is complete without his

presence. His presence verily ensures the success of a sacrifice, because whatever

sacrifice he accepts goes to the gods. Agni is the messenger, the herald, master of all

wealth, oblation-bearer, much beloved, who brings the willing Gods from the heavens

and makes them sit on the grass with him near the sacrificial altar.

He is appointed by Manu as the priest. He is often invoked along with Indra, with

whom he shares the passion for soma drink. He is also invoked along with Maruts

probably to ward off the dangers of forest fires. Agni, was the earliest Angiras, a Seer.

After his holy ordinance the Maruts, were born with their glittering spears. Addressed

as immortal Jatavedas, many-hued effulgent gift of Dawn, bearer of offerings and the

charioteer of sacrifice, Agni is the Lord of Red Steeds, who loves songs. Kind and

bountiful giver of gifts, of wondrous fame, Agni is the friend of all, loved by many in

their homes.

The Vedic Aryans were well aware of his destructive ability, as he sets the forests

aflame. "Urged by the wind he spreads through dry wood as he lists, armed with his

tongues for sickles, with a mighty roar. Black is thy path, Agni, changeless, with

glittering waves! when like a bull thou rushes eager to the trees, with teeth of flame,

wind-driven, through the wood he speeds, triumphant like a bull among the herd of

cows, with bright strength roaming to the everlasting air: things fixed, things moving

quake before him as he flies." We also know some thing about his origins. Matariswan

brought him down from the heavens and handed him over to the Bhrigus for keeping.

In some of the hymns like the following ones, we see Agni being elevated to the status

of a supreme god, " Agni is the Vaivashnara the center of all people ... He is in the sky

as well as at the center of the earth." A similar notion can be found in this hymns also.

"Commingling, restless, he ascends the sky, unveiling nights and all that stands or

moves, as he the sole God is preeminent in greatness among all these other Gods."

In the images, Agni is depicted with two heads, long flowing hair, a pot belly, six eyes,

seven hands, four horns and three legs. His seven hands represent the seven flames

and the three legs represent the three worlds which he reigns. His pot belly denotes

his love for rich oily food. His consorts are svaha and svadha. Being a dhoomaketu,

smoke is his banner. The Ram is his vehicle, and the ram being a typical sacrificial

animal, his association with it denotes his connection with sacrificial rituals.

Rudra and Rudras

The Rudra of the Rigveda is a militant god of storms and lightening and a "provider of

medicines". Though he did not enjoy the same status as Indra, Rudra definitely

enjoyed his own importance in the Vedic pantheon because of his tempestuous nature,

his association with storms and storm gods called Maruts and his ability to bring

medicines to the people to prolong their lives.

He is a fierce looking god, well built and golden in color, with braided hair, "of firm

limbs, multiform, strong, tawny, who adorns himself with bright gold decorations.

The strength of Godhead never departs from Rudra." Father of Maruts, the Rigvedic

hymns describe him eloquently, "Of your pure medicines ... those that are most

wholesome and health bestowing, those which our father Manu hath selected, I crave

from. Rudra for our gain and welfare."

He wields the thunder bolt, bow and arrow, and sends down streaks of lightening

shaking the worlds, making people nervous with fear and trepidation and disturbing

the cattle in the cow pens. Intelligent, and benevolent, he protects people from their

enemies. We do not know whether the Rigvedic Rudra was a precursor to the Rudra of

later times. But the resemblance in some fundamental traits between the two and the

appeal to both in prayers and supplications not to harm the cattle and the people with

their anger, is too evident to be ignored.

The following hymn is one such example, which in many ways sounds like a verse from

the Svetavatara Upanishad, "O Rudra, harm not either great or small of us, harm not

the growing boy, harm not the full-grown man. Slay not a sire among us, slay no

mother here, and to our own dear bodies, Rudra, do not harm. Harm us not, Rudra, in

our seed and progeny, harm us not in the living, nor in cows or steeds, Slay not our

heroes in the fury of thy wrath. Bringing oblations evermore we call to thee. Even as a

herdsman I have brought thee hymns of praise: O Father of the Maruts, give us

happiness, Blessed is thy most favoring benevolence, so, verily, do we desire thy

saving help."

Some times the hymns refer to not just one Rudra but a group of Rudras eleven in

number. According to some this is a symbolic reference to the ten vital breaths and

the mind or suggestive of his association with the Maruts.

Mitra

Mitra and Varuna are both lords of the heaven. Together they uphold the law, cause

the cows to stream, the plants to flourish, and, "scattering swift drops, send down the

rain-flood". Both are Adityas and mostly are invoked together probably because of

their close friendship. The watchful twain, most potent, together uphold Rta or the

moral order. "Firmly set in heaven is Mitra's home, and Aryaman's and Varuna's. Thence

they give forth great vital strength which merits praise, high power of life that men

shall praise." We are informed from the hymns that Mitra stirs men to action and

sustains both earth and heaven. Both Mitra and Varuna are guardians of the world,

who sit in a gold hued chariot from day break and behold the infinity. In course of

time, Mitra came to be associated with morning light, while Varuna with night sky.

Vayu

Vayu is a described in the Rigveda as a beautiful god, ideally the first partaker of soma

juice which he seems to be especially fond of. He is a friend of Indra and a hero who

shares the glory of victory with the latter. He is swift as mind, the thousand-eyed and

the Lords of thought. He drives a chariot yoked with steeds, whose color vary from

from red to purple and the number from two to hundreds and even thousands,

depending upon the occasion. He is praised in the hymns as the Intelligence, who

illumines the earth and heaven and makes the Dawn to shine.

For him the dawn spreads her radiant garments in the dark and distant skies. Invisible,

he moves in the heavens as well as in the human body as the vital breath, like Rudra,

Vayu also brings medicines to cure people. For his sake the cows yield milk, and to him

the coward prays for luck. He is a protector of people whom he protects from every

world and from the highest world of Gods (their wrath). In the post Vedic period, Vayu

became the lord of the north western quarters and father of Hanuman and Bhima,

symbols of immense strength, loyalty and brotherhood, which were the original

qualities of Vayu as a trusted friend of Indra and protector of people. Blue in color, he

is depicted with four hands. He holds a fan and a flag in two hands while the other two

are held in abhaya and varada mudras (postures).

Surya

Surya is the blazing sun. He is one of the Adityas, god among gods, the light that is

most excellent, golden colored, who rides the skies in his golden chariot, drawn by

seven bay horses, who are described in the hymns as the daughters of heaven. He is

said to be extremely brilliant, with radiant hair, who files in the skies like a bird and

shines brightly like a jewel.

Giver of power and strength, destroyer of laziness and darkness, with bright light

radiating from him, he knows all that lives. Before him, the constellations pass away,

like thieves, together with their beams. Swift and all beautiful , Surya is the maker of

the light, who illumines the radiant realm, who goes to the hosts of Gods as well as to

the world of mankind with his light. like Varuna, he is ever watchful. Because of his

power and golden color, he is also depicted as provider of good health, who removes

the heart disease and takes away the yellow hue (jaundice) to be given to the parrots,

starlings and haritala trees.

Vishnu

The Vishnu of the Rigvedic times, is a minor god,. He is one of the Adityas, but with

some qualities of the Vishnu of Bhagavatism. Like the Vishnu of later days, he is a

lover and protector of devotees in whose loved mansion all god loving creatures live

happily. Like the Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana, who strode the earth and the

heaven in two paces and then crushed the demon king Bali with his third pace, the

Vedic Vishnu is also a god of three strides, who upholds the threefold existence, the

earth, the heaven and all living creatures and in whose three wide-extended paces

inhabit all living creatures.

The Rigveda says that a mortal man, can behold two steps of him, who looks upon the

light, but his third step no one venture to approach, not even the feathered birds of

air that fly with wings. Described as the dweller of mountains and a bull with wide

strides, who like a rounded wheel, sets in swift motion his ninety racing steeds

together with the four, Vishnu is the ancient and the last, the primeval germ, with

power supreme. Together with his spouse, he ordains and as a ruler of the three

worlds, he helps the Aryan man, giving the worshipper his share of Holy Law.

Savitr

Savitr is an Aditya who is described as golden eyed, golden handed and golden

tongued. A solar deity, he is regarded as the sun before sun rise, but sometimes

distinguished from the sun. He not only represents the golden sun of the morning, but

the hidden sun of dark night also. Riding a golden chariot he comes, looking on

everyone.

He moves both ways, upward and downward, and travels along "ancient dustless paths

in the air's mid region with two bright adorable bays." From far away he comes to

chases away all distress and sorrow, the rakshasas and the Yatudhanas and illumines

the worlds. Mounting his golden chariot that is decked with colorful pearls and lofty

with golden pole, he goes to darksome regions to illumine them.

Drawing the gold-yoked car with his white footed Bays, he manifests light to all the

peoples. Held in his lap all men and all beings attain immortality. The golden-handed

Savitar, far-seeing, goes on his way between the earth and heaven, drives away

sickness, bids the Sun approach us, and spreads the bright sky through the darksome

region.

Like other Adityas, he is an upholder of law and forgiver of penitent sinner. Some

times he is described as superior to all the other gods, whose statutes none disobeys.

"Him whose high law neither Varuna nor Indra, not Mitra, nor Aryaman, nor Rudra

breaketh" The Gayatri mantra is addressed to Savitr of adorable splendor for the

enlightenment of human consciousness.

Savitr is the most adorable, mysterious and effulgent god of mystic realms, who is

considered to be the goal, the purpose and the object of meditation. When he

descends into the consciousness, a golden disc with bright pointed rays, the inner

world is lit up with the splendor of God and indescribable beauty. This author has been

told by experienced people that whenever and wherever the Gayatri mantra is uttered

with devotion and sincerity, the whole atmosphere and the auras of the people who

participate in the chanting are lit up in this splendorous manner by the golden rays

that descend from above.

Pusan

Pusan is a pastoral god. He is the lord of the paths, who protects people from wild

animals and makes their paths in solitary places pleasant to tread. He is described

variously as a cloud born god, lord of the path, wonder worker, lord of all prosperity

and wielder of golden sword. Pusan is the guardian of cattle who shows the way

carrying a goad with a horny point to rich meadows where the grass is thick and

temperature moderate.

He is often associated with Soma as the whole world protectors, one from above and

the other from below. Pusan stirs our thoughts, drives away the enemies, inspires the

miserly to make generous donations. In some hymns he is also invoked along with

Indra, his friend, whom he helps to generate ripe warm milk from the young raw cows.

In some hymns he is described as the goat borne and as the god who travels across the

oceans in golden ships to meet the Sun.

Usha

Usha is dawn, the daughter of the sky, lady of the light, who rouses all life. She stirs

all creatures that have feet, and makes the birds of air fly up. Borne on a hundred

chariots, she yokes her steed before the arrival of the sun and is never late. Loved by

the Asvins, sister of gods, she eludes the Sun who is always eager to catch her. She

brings not just light to the sleeping mankind, but hope, happiness, riches and all the

good things. Goddess of light and beauty, whom the Rsis of old time invoked for their

protection and help, Usha is the gods' beloved sister, whom she brings to the earth for

enjoying drops of the soma juice offered by the worshippers. . Some of the hymns

speak of not one dawn but many the dawns that have gone before. The hymns

addressed to Usha in the Vedas are among the most poetic and beautiful hymns found

in the Vedas. The following verses illustrates this point.

"She, like a dancer, puts her broidered garments on: as a cow yields her udder so she

bares her breast, creating light for all the world of life..."

" The Gotamas have praised Heaven's radiant Daughter, the leader of the charm of

pleasant voices."

"Bending her looks on all the world, the Goddess shines, widely spreading with her

bright eye westward. Waking to motion every living creature, she understands the

voice of each adorer. Ancient of days, again and again born newly, decking her beauty

with the self-same raiment, the Goddess wastes away the life of mortals, like a skilled

hunter cutting birds in pieces."

" In pride of beauty like a maid thou goest, O Goddess, to the God who longs to win

thee, and smiling youthful, as thou shinest brightly, before him thou discoverest thy

bosom. Fair as a bride embellished by her mother thou showest forth thy form that all

may see it. Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns have

reached what thou attainest."

Both night and dawn are sisters, dutiful in their movements. " Akin, immortal,

following each other, changing their colours both the heavens move onward. Common,

unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Gods, alternately they travel. Fair-

formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do

they travel."

Soma

Soma is the god of inspiration, the intoxicant who stirs the minds, lures the gods and

brings them to the place of worship. One of the most popular gods of the Rigvedic

hymns, the entire 9th Mandala of the scripture is dedicated to him. Also known as Indu

or Soma Pavamana, he brings joy into the lives of people, cures them from diseases

and leads them to the worlds of bliss and immortality. He gives strength not only to

mortals, but to the gods as well. Because of him, Indra was able to slay Vrata. Because

of him Agni maintains his sway.

He is also known as Lord of the speech (Vachspati), because of his intoxicating

influence on the movement of speech. On the physical plane Soma is some kind of

intoxicating juice. It was probably extracted from some leaves, or mushrooms or some

other substance by pressing them between two stones. We have completely lost the

knowledge of its preparation. People have been trying for the last several centuries to

know the exact ingredients with which the Vedic people used to make Soma juice, but

have not succeeded so far.

Even during the Vedic period the preparation of the Soma juice was probably a

complicated affair. The hymns suggests that the success of extracting the soma juice

depended upon the cooperation of gods, which means that its preparation was not an

easy affair and depended upon several extraneous factors. Since the production of

juice was central to many invocations, the god of soma was invoked to ensure that the

juice flew abundantly and the ceremony would be successful.

We see this concern explicit in the following hymns from the Rigveda.

"Indu as, Indra's Friend, pour on us with a stream of sweetness, like Parjanya sender of

the rain." (The coming of rain is uncertain. So is the extraction of soma.)

"May they in flowing give us wealth in thousands, and heroic power, these Godlike

Soma-drops effused like coursers by their drivers urged, they were poured forth, for

victory, swift through the woolen straining-cloth, noisily flow the Soma-drops, like

milch-kine lowing to their calves they have run forth from both the hands." (The

prayer is for soma to flow swiftly and noisily through the cloth.)

" THE pressers from the Soma-press send forth thy juice for rapturous joy the speckled

sap runs like a flood. With strength we follow through the sieve him who brings might

and wins the kine, enrobed in water with his juice. Pour on the sieve the Soma, ne'er

subdued in waters, waterless, and make it pure for Indra's drink. Moved by the

purifier's thought, the Soma flows into the sieve. By wisdom it hath gained its home.

With humble homage, Indra, have the Soma-drops flowed forth to thee, contending for

the glorious prize." (Note the emphasis on the need for the purity of the juice for

Indra's happiness.)

Asvins

The Asvins are twin deities whose origin is shrouded in myth, mystery and symbolism.

A number of hymns are addressed to them because of their healing and curative

powers. They said descend to earth thrice a day to help the mankind with their

restorative and curative powers. The Asvins are considered to be the brothers of Usha,

the goddess of dawn and may actually represent twilight, when darkness and light

appear intertwined on the horizon just before dawn as well as before dusk. They are

praised in the hymns as wonder workers, with nimble hands and miraculous healing

powers.

The Rigvedic hymns describe them as lords of hundred powers, who can make the

blind and lame see and walk, the injured recover quickly from their afflictions, help

men produce offspring or the cows yield more milk.

They can reduce the heat in the human body, cure the septic sores, store the germ of

life in female creatures and perform even surgery. Traveling in a chariot with three

spokes, they come down to the earth thrice a day carrying with them heavenly

medicines.

Maruts

Maruts are powerful and destructive storm gods, who lash the world from end to end,

make the mountains rock and reel, rend the forest-kings apart, make the earth

tremble, and drench the earth with heavy rains. They are considered to be the

progeny of Rudra, the bulls of heaven, radiant men in serried rank and free from spots

and stains. But no one truly knows from where they sprang, for they only know each

other's birth. Bright is their spirit and wrathful their minds.

Mighty and well-armed, impetuous in their haste, decked in glittering gold ornaments,

they send their windless rain even on the desert places. When they inundate the earth

they spread forth darkness even in day time, with the water filled rain clouds. Loud

roarers, giving strength, devourers of the foe, they make the winds and the lightning

with their powers.

Restless shakers, they drain the udders of the sky, and ever wandering around, fill the

earth full with milk. The Maruts are positively destructive forces of the heave,

ferocious but not wicked. They are divine beings, who work for the welfare of the

world and men, though they do it in their quite noisy way. The Maruts give strength to

the worshippers to make them invincible in battle, bring wealth to the people,

increase their progeny and prolong life.

Visvadevas

The word Visvadevas means lords of the universe. In the Vedas a number of hymns are

addressed to them. The Visvadevas are none but the popular gods of the Vedas. When

they were collectively invoked through a common ritual, they were addressed as

Visvadevas.

In the hymns of the Visvadevas, we generally find the names of such popular gods as

Bhaga, Daksa, Mitra, Aditi, Aryaman, Varuna, Soma, the Asvins, Saraswathi, Vayu,

Prithvi, Father Heaven, Soma, Pusan, Indra, Tarksya, Maruts, Agni , Varuna, Mitra,

Rta, and the dikpalas.

According to some scholars hidden in the hymns of the Visvadevas are the seeds of

monotheism. By addressing various gods collectively, the Vedic people acknowledged

the unity of these gods and their inter relationships. The Rigvedic people believed that

the devas sprang from a common parentage and were helpful in nature, in contrast to

the demons who were wicked and troublesome. Although each god in the pantheon

was endowed with specific qualities and responsibilities, the Vedic Aryans did not miss

the larger picture and their underlying connection in the order (Rta) of things.

The concept of Visvadevas changed during the post Vedic period especially with the

emergence of the Puranas and its rich lore of mythology. The list was reduced to just

ten gods namely Vasu, Satya, Kratu, Daksa, Kala, Dhriti, Kuru, Pururavas, and

Madravas.

Eight Vasus

Dhara (the earth), Anala (the fire), Apa (waters), anila (the wind), Dhruva (the pole

star), soma (the moon), Prabhasa (the light) are the eight vasus who are described to

be attendants of Indra, the lord of the heavens. In course of time these deities

attained popularity in different areas. Dhruva became a symbol of austerity,

determination and a popular name in the Hindu pantheon because of his association

with the polestar. The earth became a mother deity, bearing the burden of the beings,

a symbol of patience and fortitude. Soma came to be associated with soma juice and

attained popularity because of his significance in the Vedic rituals.

12 Adityas

"Bright and pure as streams of water, free from all guile and falsehood, blameless,

perfect," these are gods of light, with many eyes (rays) corresponding to the 12

months of the year and described as the 12 spokes of the wheel of time. The Adityas

are upholders of Laws. "

Upholding that which moves and that which moves not, Adityas, Gods, protectors of all

beings, provident, guarding well the world of spirits, true to eternal Law, the debt-

exactors," they illuminate the world, drive away darkness, nourish the beings, regulate

relationships and personify the laws of the universe and mankind. "Golden and

splendid, pure like streams of water, they hold aloft the three bright heavenly

regions. Ne'er do they slumber, never close their eyelids, faithful, far-ruling for the

righteous mortal." Originally six in the Rigveda, their number increased to 12 during

the later Vedic period. The 12 Adityas are: Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Daksha, Bhaga,

Amsa, Tvastr, Savitr, Pusan, Sakra, Vivasvat and Visnu. We have given a general

description of some of the Adityas already above.

Vashishta

Vashistha is not a god but a sage, or the head of a particular class of brahmin priests,

who is described in a hymn as born to Urvasi and Varunamitra out of their conjugal

love. He is also described as born from grass and as a fallen drop, whom gods in

heavenly fervor laid in a lotus blossom. He is also described as the leader of the

Bharatas, who brings the Saman. Indra has a great respect for him, whom he probably

helped with this prayers and blessings or with his clan in the battle of ten kings.

Brihaspati

Brahmanaspati, popularly known as Brihaspathi is eulogized in the Vedas as Indra's

lovely friend who gives wisdom, the healer of disease, protector of bodies, who gives

wealth, increases the agricultural produce and protects the heroes in the battle field

from enemy heroes. He is the priest of heaven who makes the oblation prosper. He

promotes the course of sacrifice. Without Brahmanaspati, no sacrifice is complete. He

is the leader of the songs and also the Law maker, whom both gods and mortals listen.

He inspires the heroes with his gifts and his blessings.

Addressed as the father of all sacred prayers, Brihaspati was invoked by the Vedic

Aryans, through prayers and sacrifice, probably during war times, to quell the foe, slay

demons, cleave the stall of kine, and find the light. He is the upholder of justice, who

protects the worshippers from the evil-minded, arrogant, rapacious man and would

not allow the unworthy to ascend to the heavens.

The consumer of the foe, the sin's true avenger, he tames the fierce enemy and

protects his worshippers from the ambush and their enemy's deadly blows. Brihaspati

is also known as Ganapathi Brahmanaspati and considered by some scholars as a

precursor to the latter period Ganapathi.

Bhaga

He is also an Aditya, son of Aditi, a god of bright light. He is a giver and supporter and

bestower of bliss, who discovers treasures and whose gifts are faithful. Since he grants

boons, horses and heroes, he is approached by the rich and poor alike for abundance

and happiness. People forgot Bhaga, but his name remains even today hidden in the

name of Bhagavan.

Rta

Rta is the rhythmic pattern of the universe. It is the orderly way in which the world

regulates itself. Rta determines the usual paths by which the heavenly objects, the

sun, the moon, the stars, the nine planets, conduct themselves. Rta is responsible for

many other things: the manner in which the seasons (ritus) come and go, the way the

rains fall upon the earth, the way the crops are harvested, the way the people live and

die, and the cattle yield wealth through milk and progeny.

The Vedic people believed this universal order to be the work of gods. They uphold

Rta by virtue of their strength, unity and upholding of the Law that governs the

heaven and the earth. The battle between god and demons was basically the battle

between order and chaos, between light and darkness, truth and falsehood. The order

prevails because of the strength and will of gods, especially the Adityas, Indra, and

Agni. In course of time the concept of Rta gave way to the concept of Dharma and God

as the upholder of dharma.

Rbhus

The Rbhus are wise and skilful craftsmen, dexterous-handed, deft in work and

gracious, who are said to be the sons of Sudhavan. They were generally believed to

possess special powers with which they were able to make a cow out of a hide, give

youth to their old parents, shape tawny steeds for Indra and make four wondrous cups

out of a single chalice for gods. Rbhus bring prosperity and were probably associated

with the craft of chariot making and the earlier methods of fire making. The hymns

addressed to Rbhus generally mention the names of Rbhu, Vibhvan, Vaja and speak of

their craftsmanship and how they were promoted to the rank of gods because of their

skills and their "cunning".

Heaven and Earth

In the hymns addressed to heaven and earth, they are referred as two great mothers.

Between them the God, the effulgent sun, travels by fixed decree. These two, the

Heaven and the Earth bestow prosperity on all and sustain the region. They are holy,

wise and the spirited. They keep the truth of all that stands and all that moves and

were made beautiful by the sun with his garment of light.

Kapinjala

Kapinjala is a bird of good omen with sweet and flute like melodious voice whose

sounds are compared to the utterances of a Sama-chanter. The invokers of this bird of

heaven pray for the protection of the bird from the attacks of falcon, eagle and

hunter's arrows. Associated with good luck and happy omens, there are at least two

hymns in the Rigveda addressed to this mystic bird of melodious notes.

Dadhikravan

Dadhivakran is a mighty stallion that was given to Puru by gods. It is swift of foot and

shines bright. It is described as the giver of many gifts, who visiteth all people,

impetuous hawk, swift and of varied color, like a brave King. Some hymns in the

Rigveda are entirely addressed to Dadhivakran.

Rati or Love

There is a hymn in the Rigveda addressed to sage Agastya by his wife Lopamudra as an

invocation to Ratidevi to come to the aid of the aging couple and rekindle love in their

bodies.

Yama

Yama is the controller, god of justice and ruler of the dead and departed who go to

the region of hell. Two fierce dogs, described as Sarama's offspring, with four eyes and

wide nostrils, look on men and guard the pathway that leads the world of Yama. Yama

is master of knowledge. He taught young Nachiketa the secrets of Brahman, fire

sacrifice and immortality. In the Hindu mythology Yama is shown as riding a he-

buffalo, carrying a mace as his weapon and holding a noose. He uses the noose to drag

the deceased beings to the hells. Sitting on a throne he reviews the deeds of men and

accords punishment. He is aided in this task by Chitragupta who keeps an account of

the deeds of the mortals when they were alive on earth. He is also the ruler of the

southern quarter, wears red garments and carries a mace as his weapon.

The Rigveda describes Yama as Vivasvan's Son, who gathers men together, who

traveled to the lofty heights above men and who searches out and shows the path to

many. Dark-hued, insatiate, with distended nostrils, Yama's two envoys said roam

among the People and keep a watch. "Into the six Expanses flies the Great One in

Trkadrukas. The Gayatri, the Trstup, all metres in Yama are contained."

Manyu

There are some hymns in the Rigveda which are addressed to Manyu a war god,

wielder of thunder, slayer of foes, of Vrtra, and of Dasyu, of surpassing vigor, fierce,

queller of the foe, and self-existent. He is beseeched to bring wealth and health.

Manyu is a war god, who is considered to be Indra himself. Probably the Abhimanyu of

the Mahabharata fame derived his name from this war hero.

Purusha

The famous Purusha Sukta speaks of the Universal Purusha, of a A THOUSAND heads, a

thousand eyes, and a thousand feet who pervading earth from every side fills a space

ten fingers wide. "This Purusha is all that yet hath been and all that is to be; the Lord

of Immortality which waxes greater still by food. So mighty is his greatness; yea,

greater than this is Purusa. All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths eternal

life in heaven."

From this Purusha was born Viraj (world soul) and from Viraj again a second Purusha

(hiranyagarbha) was born. As soon as he was born, the gods gathered and sacrificed

him. From that great sacrifice, from his various bodily parts were born all the animals,

the Riks, Sama hymns and Yajus, the sun and the moon and all the four castes, Indra,

Agni, Vayu, the earth and the sky and all the regions. The Purusha Sukta is very

controversial hymn. It raises a number of interesting questions, about which we can

only speculate but cannot give a definite answer.

One interesting question is who were the gods who gathered and sacrificed the second

Purusha? Probably the original Purusha Sukta referred to the origin of the gods, the

heaven and the earth, the various beings, elements, worlds and objects. It must have

been conveniently altered to justify the origin of the castes and perpetuate a system

that was alien to the Rigvedic Aryans.

Prajanya

Prajanya is a rain god, ferocious, whom all life fears, the bull who lays in the plant,

the seed, who smites the trees apart with lightning and slays the demons. All life fears

him and the sight of his mighty weapon. He is the slayer of demons, who sends the

rains down. He made the desert places fit for travel probably by bringing the rains.

When Parjanya fills the sky with rain-cloud, the winds burst forth, the lightning

flashes, the plants shoot up, food springs abundantly for all creatures and earth bows

low before him. At his command the cattle fly in terror, the plants assume all colors

and the floods descend in torrents. Not just a god of rain and thunder, Prajanya is also

upholder of law who punishes the sinners and protect the people. According to S.

Radhakrishnan, " Prajanya is a sky god. He seems to have become Indra, for Indra is

unknown to other members of the Aryan family. In the Vedas Prajanya is another name

for the sky."

Saraswathi

In the Rigvedic hymn addressed to Saraswathi, she is depicted as a river goddess, who

slays the Parvathas with her might, casts down those who scorn the gods and makes

poison flow away from the waters. She is the giver of opulence, strength and wealth.

She has seven sisters, sprung from three fold source, who is invoked in every deed of

might and sought for treasures.

In the hymn addressed to her, she is beseeched to keep flowing gracefully and not to

spurn people, so that they would not be forced to go to far away countries. Saraswathi

subsequently became a goddess of learning and consort of Brahma. But in the Rigveda,

she is a river goddess with seven sisters, who helps the gods, destroys their enemies

and provides waters to the five tribes. There is no association with either Brahma or

with learning.

Soma

Soma is the moon god also known as Chandra. Soma is identified with amrita (nectar).

He is represented as a copper colored man, trailing a red pennant behind his three

wheeled chariot, which is drawn either by an antelope or by ten white horses. He has

normally four hands, one carrying a mace, second carrying nectar or soma, the third

carrying a lotus and the last in protective mode. His lineage says he was the son of

Dharma or of Varuna, lord of oceans, from which the moon rises.

According to a legend, Surya nourishes the moon with the water from the ocean when

Soma is exhausted by the many beings that feed upon his substance.

It is believed that during half the month, thirty six thousand divinities feed on Soma

and thus assure their immortality. This account neatly combines the two aspects of

Soma: as the nectar from which, the gods derive their strength and as the moon that

waxes and wanes.

The legend of the banishment of Soma by Brahma to the outer atmosphere can be

interpreted as yet another myth explaining how intoxicants came to be banned.

Lesser Gods:

The transition from Vedic gods to the Puranic gods led to the TRIMURTI or the Hindu

Trinity gaining more importance in the post Vedic period. Gradually the Vedic gods

other than AGNI, VAYU and SURYA took second place to the Hindu Triad. At the same

time personification of nature like rivers, heroes who proved their utmost faith to the

legendary heroes of the Puranas and served them were elevated to the status of gods.

Although these gods are not individually worshipped expect for some they have a

special place in the Hindu mythology and are often seen in temples or in paintings or

pictures beside the main three triads and their various manifestations.

HANUMAN - the monkey god - devotee of Rama

INDRA - King of the abode of gods

YAMA - the god of death

GAYATRI - personification of the Vedic hymn

GANGA - personification of the holy river

KAMADEVA - god of love

KUBERA - god of wealth

NARADA - the wandering seer who features in almost all the Puranas

VARUNA - the god of oceans

SOMA - the moon god

VISHWAKARMA - the divine architect of the universe

Other than these lesser gods there are a host of celestial beings. These are often

mentioned in the various Vedas and Puranas and are much a part of the Hindu

mythology as the lesser gods.

Celestial beings:

APSARAS: These are beautiful ladies, who dance in the court of Indra. Indra also uses

them to lure the saints and sages who by their severe penance endanger his superiority

as the ruler of Swarga (Paradise of Indra). In the Vedas they were personification of

vapor and in the Puranas the ballet girls in Swarga. RAMBHA, URVASI and MENAKA are

the most celebrated of them.

GANDHARVAS: Gandharvas are the celestial musicians who play in the court of Indra

and also when some divine act of the gods had been completed in the interest of

humanity. They are said to have a great partiality for women and are said to be

exceptionally handsome.

KINNARAS: are mythical beings, with a body of a man and head of a horse. They are

singers at the court of Indra. They are also sometimes said to be the minstrels of

Kubera's palace at Mount Kailasa, which is also the abode of Shiva.

SIDDHAS: are classes of spirits of great purity and holiness, who dwell apart in the sky

or mid-air between earth and heaven.

YAKSHA: They are the guardians of wealth and attendants of Kubera, employed to

guard his gardens and treasure. They live in ALKA-PURI (yaksha-puri). The female of

Yaksha is known as YAKSHINI.

Vishwakarma

According to Rig Veda, Vishwakarma is the divine architect of the whole universe. He

is the personification of the creative power that welds heaven and earth together. He

is the son of Brahma and is the official architect of all the gods' palaces. He is painted

white, has a club in his right hand, wears a crown, a necklace of gold, rings on his

wrists and holds tools in his left hand.

All the flying chariots of the gods; all their weapons are his creation. It was

Vishwakarma who built the golden city of Lanka, over which King Ravana ruled. He

built the city of DWARKA, the capital of Lord Krishna after the latter had left

MATHURA, it was again Vishwakarma who made the AGNEYASTRA (the weapons

throwing fiery flames) and it was he who revealed the STHAPATYA Veda, or the

science of mechanics and architecture. Mahabharata describes him as 'The Lord of the

arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods, the most eminent

of artisans, the fashioner of all ornaments, on whose craft all menu subsist, and

whom, a great and immortal god, they continuously worship'.

According to legends his daughter SANJANA was married to SURYA, the sun. As she was

not able to endure the heat and light of the sun, Vishwakarma placed Surya upon his

lathe and cut away an eighth part of his brightness. The fragments that fell on the

earth due to this operation were used by Vishwakarma to form 'the discuss of Vishnu,

the trident of Shiva, the weapon of Kuvera, the god of wealth, the lance of Kartikeya,

the god of war and the weapons of all other gods.

Vishwakarma is also reputed to have made the image of Jagannatha and left it

incomplete due to an interruption. He is the god whose blessings enabled Nal, the

monkey, to build the bridge over sea for Lord Rama right from the coast in the south

of India to Lanka of Ravana.

According to Satpath Brahman, Vishwakarma performed a SARVMEDHA YAGYA (a

universal sacrifice) in which he offered up all creatures and ultimately himself too.

This process of ending the universe also became the process of creating another new

universe. In this way every sacrifice is also a repetition of that first creative act. This

is a representation of the drama of the cyclic process of destruction and renewal of all

cosmic life and matter.

He is the presiding deity of all craftsmen. The architects and also the factory owners

perform the worship of Vishwakarma when the sun enters the Bhadrapada

constellation; this ceremony is performed in front of the implements of trade or a

manufacturing machine. The carpenter worships the chisel, the saw, etc., the weaver

prays before the shuttle while the potter worships the wheel and so on. On this day an

atmosphere of festivity is blended with the rituals of prayers. As an independent god,

Vishwakarma is still worshipped in some parts of Bengal.

Vauna

Varuna, the god of oceans, is shown as a fair complexioned man riding a monster fish

called MAKARA, which has the head and legs of an antelope. He may have two or four

hands and in one of his right hands he carries a noose.

Varuna lost his importance even during the Vedic times. Of his former character of a

celestial deity, he retains only the title of the regent of the Western quarter of the

compass. The mythological explanation of this great conflict occurred between gods

and demons and when it was over each of the gods was assigned a clearly defined

sphere of influence to avoid further conflicts.

From this time onwards Indra remained the god of atmosphere while Varuna was

ousted from the guardianship of the heavens and was given the over lordship of the

oceans. Here he kept watch over the various demons of the ocean. Varuna sits with his

wife VARUNI, on a throne of diamonds and the gods and goddesses of the different

rivers, lakes and springs form his court.

Indra

Indra, the god of firmament and the king of the abode of gods, is probably the most

colorful character in Hindu mythology. The ebb and tide of his career, the rise and fall

of his power provides a very fascinating story to all, who are interested in the lives of

Hindu gods and goddesses. His parents were the sky god DYAUS PITA and the earth

goddess PRTHIVI; he was born fully-grown and fully armed from his mother's side. His

wife was INDRANI, and his attendants were called the MARUTS. His sons are named as

JAYANTA, MIDHUSA, NILAMBARA, RBHUS, RSABHA, SITRAGUPTA, and, most

importantly, ARJUNA.

In the Vedas - rather early Vedic age - Indra stands as the top-ranking figure among

gods. Still he is not equivalent to OMKAR or Brahma because he has a parentage.

He was the leader of the Devas, the god of war, the god of thunder and storms, and

the greatest of all warriors, the strongest of all beings. He was the defender of gods

and mankind against the forces of evil. He had early aspects of a sun god, riding in a

golden chariot across the heavens, but he is more often known as the god of thunder,

wielding the celestial weapon VAJRA, the lightening bolt. He is the ruler of the

atmosphere and the weathers are at his command. Whenever and wherever he thinks

proper Indra sends rains as well as thunders and lightning.

He is also represented having a big bow with long pointed arrows as well as a big hook

and a net, in which he is said to entrap his enemies.

He shows aspects of being a creator god, having set order to the cosmos, and since he

was the one who brought water to earth, he was a fertility god as well. He also had

the power to revive slain warriors who had fallen in battle. As a high ranking god he

had been shown as the preserver and rescuer of cows, priests and even gods. He once

killed a demon named VALA, who had stolen cows so that men would not use the milk

for themselves or for religious ceremonies. He killed this demon and saved the cows.

In the earlier Vedic period he is a very great warrior, who subdued the enemies of

Aryans and conquered their forts. During his warfare against enemies of gods he was

assisted by other lesser gods-especially MARUTS. He has got more hymns of praise than

other gods in Vedas and he was widely worshipped for his kindness and as the granter

of rains and the giver of fertility. He was known as a great drinker of Soma; sometimes

he did this to draw strength, and when he did he grew to gigantic proportions to battle

his enemies, but more often he merely wanted to get drunk. When not in his chariot,

Indra rode on the great white elephant AIRAVATA, who was always victorious, and who

had four tusks, which resembled a sacred mountain. He was given numerous titles

including SAKRA ("Powerful"), VAJRI ("the Thunderer"), PURANDARA ("Destroyer of

Cities"), MEGHAVAHANA ("Rider of the Clouds"), and SWARGAPATI ("the Lord of

Heaven").

Indra's most notable exploit was his battle with the asura VRITRA. Vritra took the form

of a mighty dragon, and had stolen all the water in the world for himself. No one could

do anything about this until Indra was born. Upon hearing what had happened, Indra

vowed to take back the life giving liquid. He rode forth to meet him the terrible

Vritra. He consumed great amounts of Soma to give him the strength needed to fight

such a foe. Indra smashed through Vritra's ninety-nine fortresses, and then came upon

the dragon. The two clashed, and after a long battle Indra was able to destroy his

powerful enemy. Vritra had been keeping the earth in a drought, but when Indra split

open the demon, the waters again fell from the skies. So Indra became a hero to all

people, and the gods elected him their king for his victory.

Indra held court at SWARGA, his heaven in the clouds surrounding the highest peak of

the sacred mountain MERU. This heaven could move anywhere at its lord's command.

In Swarga, there is an enormous hall when slain warriors went after death. Indra and

the beautiful Indrani presided over their paradise. No sorrow, suffering, or fear was

allowed in Indra's home. Apsaras (beautiful damsels) and Gandharvas (celestial beings)

danced and entertained those who attended court, and gaming and athletic contests

were held.

In the post-Vedic period and during the age of Puranas Indra falls from the front rank

status and is given the lower grade in all respects. Though still the king of other

smaller gods, Indra is much inferior to the holy triad of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Indra is still regarded as the controller of atmosphere, but only under the supervision

of the Almighty. Indra in later ages is the ruler of only SWARG, the heaven where the

gods live enjoying life in the company of beautiful APSARAS, the female dancers. He is

now shown having great weakness and big faults. He is shown even to have a lascivious

character; indulging in sexual wrongs. He tried to seduce the pious wife of sage

GAUTAMA, named AHILYA. This enraged the sage, who cursed him to have a thousand

wounds resembling female organ on his whole body. When he repented and prayed,

these thousand wound marks were changed into thousand eyes; hence Indra is also

called SAHASRA CHAKSHU (the thousand eyed).

In later versions of the story of his battle against Vritra, he is portrayed as vengeful

and cowardly, and needs the help of Shiva and Vishnu to slay the dragon. In the

Mahabharata, a terrible female goddess called only Brahminicide who rose up out of

the dead Vritra, who was a Brahman in that version of the story, pursues Indra. She

relentlessly chased him and overtook him in his chariot and clung to him so that he

could not escape; he hid inside a lotus blossom, but he still could not dislodge her.

Finally, he went before Brahma and acknowledged his crime, for the killing of a

Brahman was considered a terrible sin, and Brahma agreed to help him become free.

The king of the gods had to perform penance to atone for his transgression. Indra also

suffered such indignities as having his elephant's head cut off by Shiva to be given to

Shiva's son Ganesha.

In the Ramayana comes the story that Ravana, the demon-king of Lanka, attacked

heaven and fought against Indra. Indra was badly defeated by Ravana's son, named

MEGHNAD, who since then was called INDRAJEET. As Meghnad took Indra captive,

other gods under the leadership of Brahma had to purchase Indra' s freedom by

bestowing on the demon the blessing of an immortal life. He is very much afraid to

lose his throne of heaven and regularly sends beautiful female singing and dancing

girls to disturb the penances of the holy men, whom Indra thinks may dethrone him.

In the life of god Krishna, he presents himself as one whom the incarnated god teaches

a great lesson. He pours incessant rains to drown the people of Brajbhumi; God

Krishna raises the mountain named Govardhan on his little finger and defeats the

design of Indra. Again when Krishna goes to visit Swarg, he wants to carry the divine

Parijata tree. Indra opposes it and fights. In the battle too Krishna defeats him and the

tree is carried off.

Indra is actually a position, which the aspirant god attains if his divine conduct is

beyond any blemish. According to the mythological details even a moral being or a

man could get it, like king Nahush got once. But he fell from grace when he tried to

lay hold on the previous Indra's wife. Hence whoever becomes the Indra has to guard

his position by his good conduct. Though Indra is not the object of direct worship in

temples, he is constantly appearing in all tales of religious scriptures as the king of

lesser gods.

Yama

YAMA is the god of death and is the lord of the infernal regions visited by man after

cessation of life. He is the embodiment of the rule of law and imparts justice

according to deeds. The word ' Yama' means the restrainer, it is he who keeps the

mankind in check. Yama's mount is a fierce-looking black buffalo, a form, which he

also adopts for himself on occasions. He has got a rope noose in one hand, by which he

is supposed to catch hold of his victims and a mace in the other, which represents the

weapon of punishment.

He decides what are the actions of the living beings that bear or do not bear fruits,

when his messengers drag the dead before his throne. In Vedas, Yama is the First

Ancestor and has the full distinction of a god. He is shown as having a fearful and grim

appearance and he wears a glittering crown upon his head.

Yama is the son of VIVASAT, the embodiment of social morality, while his mother is

SARANYU (clouds), who is the daughter of VISHWAKARMA, the cosmic architect. Yama'

s twin sister is YAMI, who has the greatest affection for her brother. Yami later

appeared on this earth as the river YAMUNA.

As being the judge of the dead, he is said to hold a court, in which he is the presiding

officer. He has another small god to assist him, who is called CHITRAGUPTA.

Chitragupta is supposed to keep an account of the actions of men. If the actions of the

deceased in his lifetime have been wicked, he is sent to suffer in a particular part of

hell, while a man with noble deeds is sent to a part of heaven.

Yama is regent of the south quarter and as such is called DAKSHINASAPATI. His abode

is named as YAMALYA on the south side of the earth and has an interesting legend

around it. This account is taken from the Mahabharata. The narration is that after

Brahma had created the three worlds, viz. EARTH, HEAVEN and PATAL (i.e.,

subterranean region), he recollected that a place for judgment and punishment of the

wicked was wanting. He therefore asked the architect Vishwakarma to prepare a

suitable place for this purpose. Vishwakarma prepared a magnificent palace and

opposite its south door he created four pits to punish the wicked. Three other doors

were reserved for the entrance of the good so that they might not see the place of

punishment when they went to be judged. Brahma named this palace SANJEEVANI.

Brahma ordered the architect to form a vast trench around and fill it with water,

which came to be called VAITAMEE. Brahma next ordered Agni (the fire god) to enter

this river so that the water might boil. After the death each person is obliged to swim

across this Vaitamee river, which gives harmless passage to good souls but the evil

ones have to suffer torments and pangs while crossing this river's boiling water.

This legendary place of heaven created for Yama by Vishwakarma is 800 miles in

circumference. At this place there is no fear of enemies and sorrow of mind and body

is non-existent. The climate is mild and salubrious and each one is rewarded in kind

according to his deeds. He who has given much in charity receives very many comforts

of all kinds.

Surya

Ushas, the goddess of dawn is related to him. Surya's son is Vaivasvata and his son is

Iksvaku. The Ashvins, his twin sons, ride before him in their own golden chariots. He

lives in his own capital called Vivasvati.