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| SURYA - AGNI - VAYU |
The Vedas are the main and intrinsic
part of the Hindu mythology. Hindu mythology roots back
to 7200 BC when the first hymns of the RIG VEDA was composed. There is
no systematic theology in the Vedas. The hymns of the RIG VEDA are the first
and freshest expression of the sense of beauty and gladness awakened in the Aryan
race by the charms and the bounty of nature.
The gods of the Vedas are in their apparent origin no more than the poetic epithets
of space, the heavens, the firmament, sun and earth, day and night, twilight
and dawn, wind and rain, storm and sunshine; all ministering to the divine care
of man, in the breathing air and radiant light, the fleeting moon and constant
stars, the rising mists and falling dews and the rivers which flow down the hills
through the fruitful plains making with the flocks and herds and woods and fields,
one ceaseless voice of praise and adoration. The etymological meaning of the
epithets is so clear that it at once explains the myths, which, in the course
of time became attached to them. Thus the VEDAS mirror the
exactly how the words uttered centuries ago by the Vedic RISHIS (bards) and sages
gradually became the gods of India.
VEDIC GODS assumed the most undoubted personality, of the real qualities intended
to be expressed by their names. They have no fixed hierarchy, or regular genealogy,
no settled marriages and relationships; they remain to the last transparent reflections
of those physical phenomena and powers of which they are the earliest known appellations.
They were mere abstractions, intangible and illusive personification of powers
of Nature. It is only in the Puranas that they become invested with strong personality,
and it is their order among the Puranic gods that the conventional representation
of them in the later mythology of the Hindus was more appropriately described.
Rig Veda - lore of the verses, enumerates numerous Vedic Gods. The earliest accepted
Gods were DYAUSH PITA (the sky father), PRITHVI
MATHA (the earth mother), VAYU(the wind God), PARJANYA (the rain God), SURYA (the sun God), VARUNA (the God
of oceans), AGNI (the fire God), INDRA (the war God), SOMA (the God of speech,
deity of soma creeper), USHAS (the Goddess of dawn), YAMA (the God of death),
ADITYAS (a group of deities, who are six in number in the Rig Veda, eight in
most of the Brahmanas and twelve in the Satapatha Brahmana), ASWINI (twin Deities),
RUDRAS (eight in number), VASUS (eight in number) and VISVEDEVAS ( ten in number).
Vedic priests believed in ceremonies and rituals, which were offered to appease
these Gods. No one Vedic God has been considered the Supreme God. In fact, different
Gods have been considered as Supreme at different times, attributing the powers
and qualities of one to another. Apart from Gods who have been attributed specific
characteristics, several inanimate objects, qualities, emotions and various forms
of nature had also been deified and worshipped. What began as a celebration of
natural elements such as Air, Water and Fire was converted into the worship of
cosmic elements such as the sun, moon and stars. And thus formed the triad of
the early VEDIC GODS - AGNI (god of fire), VAYU (god of
air) and SURYA (god of energy or life) - THE COSMIC TRINITY. These were all sons of PRITHVI (Mother
nature) and DYAUS (the sky). In addition to this the nine planets (NAVAGRAHA)
were also worshipped. |
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