TERRESTRIAL DEITIES OF THE VEDIC AGE

 Rigvedic people venerated natural forces around them (like wind, water, rain, thunder, fire, etc) which they could not control, and invested nature with divinity conceived in human forms, which were mostly masculine. Very few female deities were venerated. The religion which reflected a patriarchal society was one of primitive animism.

From the names of the Vedic deities, their original status or position is known. Some epithets of natural beings, in course of time became names of Gods, for instance, Savitri – ‘the life giver’ – the God of Light. In this manner besides Surya (Sun God) many other sun Gods appear in the Rigveda. Some of the Vedic deities were of abstract nature such as Visvakarman, Prajapati, Sraddha, Manyu, etc. Of the major Vedic deities, Indra, Varuna and Agni occupy the highest position.

There is no fixed order of seniority among the Vedic Gods in the strict sense of the term. For too many functions, powers and offices are held in common by two or more deities. There is a sort of democracy among them, though it is not thorough going or consistent.

In the Rigveda a triple classification of Vedic Gods has been hinted according to which the corresponding three orders are:

Terrestrial (Prithvisthan) – Prithvi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and the rivers belong to this order.

Aerial or Intermediate (Antarikshasthan or Madhyasthan) – Indra, Apamnapat, Vishnu, Aditya, Rudra, Ahi Budhnaya, Vayuvata, Parajanya, Apah, Matarisvan, etc belong here

Celestial (Dyusthana) – Dyaus, Varuna, Mitra, Surya, Savitri, Pushan, Vishnu, the Adityas, Ushas, and the Ashvins belong here.

This classification is founded on the natural basis which the deities represent. But at certain places this classification is overlapping and not clear cut, such as Tvastri and Prithvi are assigned to all three spheres, Agni and Ushas to the terrestrial as well as aerial spheres and Varuna, Yama and Savitri to the Aerial as well as the celestial ones.

The Gods are usually stated to be 33 in number, divided into three groups corresponding to the three divisions of the universe. The Gods are described as born though not all simultaneously, and yet they are immortal. In appearance they are humans, the parts of their bodies being identified poetically with the phenomena of nature, such as rays or flames. On the whole, the Gods are benevolent, the only one with malevolent traits being Rudra. The Gods subdue the forces of evil and regulate the order of nature, which they themselves follow and enforce on mortals. They reward the righteous and punish the sinful.

Terrestrial Deities

Prithvi – has been invoked only once and is the synonym for earth. Certain rivers like Sindhu, Vipasa, Shutudri are also lauded, the most important among them being Saraswati.

Agni – the second position is held by Agni. About 200 hymns in the Rigveda are addressed to the fire god (Agni). He was an intermediary between Gods and men, for he consumed the sacrificial offerings and carried them to the Gods. He dwelt in the waters of heaven in the form of lightening and on the earth in many forms.

Soma – was the most popular elixir of the Vedic Aryans, extracted from a creeper found int eh Muhawant mountains. The Soma juice has been called Amrita (divine drink) and Shuddha (pure). It was mixed with milk, curd or barley and taken three times a day. The Soma sacrifice was also held which was the centre of the Vedic ritual.