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==Classical Hinduism==
==Classical Hinduism==
Nature devas are responsible for 'things' such as fire, air, rain and trees - most of them assumed a minor role in the later religion. Certain other deities rose into prominence. These higher devas control much more intricate tasks governing the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation. '''Mahadevas''', such as Lord [[Ganesha]], have such tremenduous tasks under their diligence that they are sometimes called themselves [[deity|gods]] under the Supreme One God. The [[Hindu trinity|Trimurti]] is composed of [[Prajapati|Brahmā]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]]. (Note: ''Mahadeva'' generally refers to Shiva)
Nature devas are responsible for 'things' such as fire, air, rain and trees. Most of them have a minor role in [[Purana]]s where other deities are more prominent. These higher devas control much more intricate tasks governing the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation. '''Mahadevas''', such as Lord [[Ganesha]], have such tremenduous tasks under their diligence that they are sometimes called themselves [[deity|gods]] under the Supreme One God. The [[Hindu trinity|Trimurti]] is composed of [[Prajapati|Brahmā]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]]. (Note: ''Mahadeva'' generally refers to Shiva)


The devas are functionally equivalent of angels who serve God in Judaeo-Christian tradition. There are also many other celestial beings of lesser rank in Hinduism such as [[Gandharvas]] or celestial musicians.
The devas are functionally equivalent of angels who serve God in Judaeo-Christian tradition. There are also many other celestial beings of lesser rank in Hinduism such as [[Gandharvas]] or celestial musicians.
Line 60: Line 60:
In actuality, [[Brahman]] is the only Ultimate Reality, and all devas are simply mundane manifestations of Him. [[Smarta]] Hinduism allows God to be worshipped in scripturally sanctioned anthropomorphic form for the sake of devotion. See [[Bhakti]].
In actuality, [[Brahman]] is the only Ultimate Reality, and all devas are simply mundane manifestations of Him. [[Smarta]] Hinduism allows God to be worshipped in scripturally sanctioned anthropomorphic form for the sake of devotion. See [[Bhakti]].


Some fundamentalist [[Vaishnavites]] (who often translate ''deva'' as "demigod") cite various verses that speak of the Devas' subordinate status. For example, the [[Rigveda|Rig Veda]] (1.22.20) states, ''{{IAST|oṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ}}:'' "All the suras (i.e., the devas) look always toward the feet of Lord Vishnu." Similarly, in the [[Vishnu sahasranama]] the concluding verses state: "The [[Rishis]] (great sages), the ancestors, the Devas, the great elements, in fact all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe, have originated from [[Narayana]]," (i.e., [[Vishnu]]). Thus the Devas are stated to be subordinate to Vishnu, or God.
[[Vaishnava]]s (who sometimes translate ''deva'' as "demigod" to stress their difference from God) cite various verses that speak of the devas' subordinate status. For example, the [[Rigveda|Rig Veda]] (1.22.20) states, ''{{IAST|oṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ}}:'' "All the suras (i.e., the devas) look always toward the feet of Lord Vishnu." Similarly, in the [[Vishnu sahasranama]] the concluding verses state: "The [[Rishis]] (great sages), the ancestors, the Devas, the great elements, in fact all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe, have originated from [[Narayana]]," (i.e., [[Vishnu]]). Thus the Devas are stated to be subordinate to Vishnu, or God.


In the [[Bhagavad Gita]] Krishna himself states that worshipers of devas other than the Supreme Lord, [[Vishnu]], are incorrect:<ref>BG 9.23</ref>
In the [[Bhagavad Gita]] Krishna himself states that worshipers of Devas other than the Supreme Lord, [[Vishnu]], are incorrect (Gita 9.23) as such worship leads only to temporal benefits, rather than to the Lord Himself (Gita 7.23). [[Krishna]] also says: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. However, their wishes are granted only by Me." (Gita: 7:21-22) Elsewhere in the Gita Lord Krishna states: "O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship Devas other than me with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (Seva, Yajna) and Lord of the universe." (Gita: 9:23)


''"O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship devas other than Me with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (seva, yajna) and Lord of the universe."''
⚫
[[Swaminarayan]], the founder of the Hindu [[Swaminarayan]] sect, a Vaishnavite sect, according to this site,[http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Shikshapatri/shikshapatridetails.asp?shlockcode=116], said in verse 115 of their scripture, [[Shikshapatri]], "Shree Krishna Bhagwan and Shree Krishna Bhagwan's incarnations alone are worthy of meditation. Similarly, Shree Krishna Bhagwan's images are worthy. And men or devas, even if they are devotees of Shree Krishna Bhagwan or brahmavettaa (knowers of divinity), are still not worthy of meditation - and thus one should not meditate upon them.",

Such worship leads only to temporal benefits, rather than to the Lord Himself<ref>BG 7.23</ref>. [[Krishna]] also says: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. However, their wishes are granted only by Me."<ref>BG 7.22-22</ref>

⚫
[[Swaminarayan]], the founder of the [[Vaishnava]] Hindu [[Swaminarayan]] sect, said in verse 115 of their scripture, [[Shikshapatri]], "Shree Krishna Bhagwan and Shree Krishna Bhagwan's incarnations alone are worthy of meditation. Similarly, Shree Krishna Bhagwan's images are worthy. And men or devas, even if they are devotees of Shree Krishna Bhagwan or brahmavettaa (knowers of divinity), are still not worthy of meditation - and thus one should not meditate upon them."<ref>[http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Shikshapatri/shikshapatridetails.asp?shlockcode=116]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 07:24, 6 April 2008

For other uses, see Deva (disambiguation).

Template:IndicTextRight Deva (देव in Devanagari script, IPA: [ˈd̪eʋə]) is the Sanskrit word for "god, deity". It can be variously interpreted as a spirit, god, celestial being, angel, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence. In Hindu mythology, the devas are opposed to the demonic Asuras.

Etymology

The word is from PIE *deiwos, originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", a PIE (not synchronic Sanskrit) vrddhi derivative from a root *diw "to shine", especially of the daylit sky. The feminine is Devi "goddess" (PIE *deiwih2).

The cognate word in Avestan is daeva, but both it and related forms have a negative connotation. Related but distinct is the PIE proper name *Dyeus which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the sky, and hence to "Father Sky", the chief god of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit Dyaus. The English words "divine", "deity", Latin "deus" and French "dieu" (both meaning "god"), are cognates of deva.

In modern Hindi, the Devas are known as Devatā.

Vedic pantheon

Main article: Rigvedic deities

The Vedas, the earliest comprehensive literature of the Indo-European people, contain mantras for pleasing the devas to obtain blessings. The Rig Veda, the earliest of the four, enumerates 33 devas, which in later Hinduism became exaggerated to 330 million, likely because the same Sanskrit word means "ten million" and "class, group", i.e. "33 types of divine manifestations".[citation needed]

Some devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values. The main deva addressed in the Rig Veda is Indra. Agni (fire) and Soma represent modes of fire-sacrifice, called yagna, but personified are also seen as devas.[citation needed] All gods taken together are worshipped as the Vishvedevas. Varuna, has the dual title of deva and asura. There are also other devas like Savitŗ, Vishnu, Rudra (later given the exclusive epithet of Shiva, "auspicious one"), Prajapati (later identified with Brahmā), and devis (goddesses) like Ushas, Prithvi and Sarasvati (sky, earth, and water respectively).

The pantheon in the Śrauta tradition consists of various gods and goddesses.

The main devas are (vide 6th anuvaka of Chamakam):

The main Devis (goddesses) are:

Classical Hinduism

Nature devas are responsible for 'things' such as fire, air, rain and trees. Most of them have a minor role in Puranas where other deities are more prominent. These higher devas control much more intricate tasks governing the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation. Mahadevas, such as Lord Ganesha, have such tremenduous tasks under their diligence that they are sometimes called themselves gods under the Supreme One God. The Trimurti is composed of Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva. (Note: Mahadeva generally refers to Shiva)

The devas are functionally equivalent of angels who serve God in Judaeo-Christian tradition. There are also many other celestial beings of lesser rank in Hinduism such as Gandharvas or celestial musicians.

Vayu or the Lord of the wind is an example of an important deva. Also, Death is personified as the deva Yama.

Devas, in Hinduism, are celestial beings that control forces of nature such as fire, air, wind, etc. They are not to be confused with the One and the Supreme God or His personal form, Saguna Brahman which can be visualized as Vishnu or Shiva. God (see Ishvara) or Brahman (the Supreme Spirit) is the ultimate controller. A famous verse from the Katha Upanishad states: “From fear (here, power) of Him the wind blows; from fear of Him the sun rises; from fear of Him Agni and Indra and Death, the fifth, run." In actuality, Brahman is the only Ultimate Reality, and all devas are simply mundane manifestations of Him. Smarta Hinduism allows God to be worshipped in scripturally sanctioned anthropomorphic form for the sake of devotion. See Bhakti.

Vaishnavas (who sometimes translate deva as "demigod" to stress their difference from God) cite various verses that speak of the devas' subordinate status. For example, the Rig Veda (1.22.20) states, oṃ tad viṣṇoḥ paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ: "All the suras (i.e., the devas) look always toward the feet of Lord Vishnu." Similarly, in the Vishnu sahasranama the concluding verses state: "The Rishis (great sages), the ancestors, the Devas, the great elements, in fact all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe, have originated from Narayana," (i.e., Vishnu). Thus the Devas are stated to be subordinate to Vishnu, or God.

In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna himself states that worshipers of devas other than the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, are incorrect:[1]

"O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship devas other than Me with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (seva, yajna) and Lord of the universe."

Such worship leads only to temporal benefits, rather than to the Lord Himself[2]. Krishna also says: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. However, their wishes are granted only by Me."[3]

Swaminarayan, the founder of the Vaishnava Hindu Swaminarayan sect, said in verse 115 of their scripture, Shikshapatri, "Shree Krishna Bhagwan and Shree Krishna Bhagwan's incarnations alone are worthy of meditation. Similarly, Shree Krishna Bhagwan's images are worthy. And men or devas, even if they are devotees of Shree Krishna Bhagwan or brahmavettaa (knowers of divinity), are still not worthy of meditation - and thus one should not meditate upon them."[4]

See also

  1. ^ BG 9.23
  2. ^ BG 7.23
  3. ^ BG 7.22-22
  4. ^ [1]
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