33 crores Devi Devta nahi 33 Koti Devta
The concept of “33
crores Devi Devtas” in Hinduism is a concept that has been widely known
to all. Also, this has been a much-debated topic among different scholars. And
it has been found that the concept is completely misunderstood by many, as
there has been a wrong interpretation of Vedic Sanskrit by some foreign
scholars. The Atharva Veda, Yajur Veda, and Satapatha-brahmana define
“trayastrimsati koti” as 33 gods. The term “koti” is a Sanskrit word that has
two meanings; one is “crore” and second is “type”. Hence, it is in their
translation that the mistake occurred, and instead of explaining Hinduism in
terms of 33 supreme Gods, the concept of 33 crores of Gods came into existence.
Believing the Vedas
there are 33 devas and they are classified under the following names:
·
Adityas/Solar deities
These are 12 in number
and are personified deities that correspond to the 12 solar months. Each
represents different features of social life. On Sankranti, when the sun
changes the zodiac signs, these Adityas change their positions. The 12 Adityas
along with their relative attribute are:
1. Shakra/Indra:
It is the eldest and the leader of the other 11 Adityas
2. Ansh: Due share
3. Aryaman: nobility
4. Bhaag: Due
inheritance
5. Dhatri: ritual
skill
6. Tvashtar: crafting
skill
7. Mitra: Friendship
8. Ravi/Pushan:
Prosperity
9. Parjanya/ Savitra:
word power
10.
Vivasan/ Surya: social law
11.
Varun: fate
12.
Vaman: the law of the cosmos
These all are known to
be the protectors that guard and maintain the law. These Vedic Gods are
believed to be pure and bright which erases darkness and spread light. Being 12
in number, these are also known as Dvadash Adityas.
·
Vasus
These are 8 in number
and are known as the sub-deities of Indra. These categorical elemental Gods are
representative of different aspects of Nature. And these are:
1. Dhara/ Prithvi ( Earth)
2. Anila/ Vayu (Wind)
3. Anal/Agni (Fire)
4. Prabhas/Surya
(Dawn)
5. Antariksh/Dyaus
(Space)
6. Apas/ Varuna
(Water)
7. Dhruv/Nakshatra
(Pole Star)
8. Soma/Chandra (Moon)
These are also known
as Astha Vasu. The chakra system is related to the seven Vasu, and the eight Vasu
Sun is eternal. The followings are the different chakras and the elements they
are related with:
1. Mooladhara/ root
chakra: associated with Prithvi/the Earth
2. Manipura/solar
plexus chakra: associated with Agni/ the Fire
3. Agya, Ajna/ the
third eye chakra: associated with Chandra/ the Moon
4. Swadhisthana/ the
sacral chakra: associated with Varuna/ the Water
5. Sahasrara/ the
crown chakra: associated with Nakshatras/ the Stars
6. Vishuddhi/ the
throat chakra: associated with Akasha/ the Sky
7. Anahata/ the heart
chakra: associated with Vayu/ the Wind
·
Rudras
These are 11 in
number, which are explained differently by different schools of thought:
One of the prominent
schools of thought believes Rudras to consist of:
·
5 names of shiva:
·
Isana(ruler)
·
Tatpurusa( that person)
·
Vamadeva( Pleasant god)
·
Aghora( not terrible)
·
Sadyojata( born at once)
·
5 abstractions:
·
Vijnana( knowledge)
·
Prana( life/breath)
·
Ananda( bliss)
·
Vac(speech)
·
Manas( thought)
·
1 Atma (spiritual self)
According to
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the 11 Rudras are the ten vital energies or
Rudra-Prana, in the body, and the last being the Atma, the soul. The following
are the names assigned for Rudra-Prana:
Atha rodayanti
Tadyadrodayanti
AtmaikAdashas
Katame Rudra iti
TasmAdrudra iti(4)
Te
yada.asmAchchharlrAnmartyAdutkrAmanty
Rudras have a vital
role in the universal work and are the God of Gods, the one that lives in the
hearts of gods and other beings. He is the universal lord and is being prayed
for moksha (liberation). The Hanuman, Bhairava, Dhumwan, Tara, Baglamukh,
Mahakal, Kamal, Chinnamastak, Shodash Srividyesh, and Bala Bhuvanesh, are all
Lord Rudras incarnations. The term “Rud” means to weep. The human body
constitutes of 10 organs: 5 karmendriyas( motor organs) and 5 gyanendriya(
sense organs), with the mind being the 11th. All these in total are Rudra as when they
all exit the body, they make people weep. There are some other schools of
thought according to which there are 10 pranas and the 11th is the soul.
·
Ashwini
These are 2 in number.
These Vedic Gods are known to be the only God’s physicians; they are the ones
who blessed the sages with the knowledge of medicine and treatment. Even the
Rig Veda mentions the Ashwins as the savior. Different ancient stories narrate
them as vaidya, “life restorers”. In modern terms, they are equivalent to a
doctor. There are different stories about their existence in ancient times. The
Mahabharata times celebrated them as Nakul and Sahadev, the sons of Kunti
(mother of Pandavas). These Vedic Gods are also called Nasatya, which means to
return home safely.
Yet another story
explains their existence as Ashwini Kumara, the sons of Ashwini. According to
the story, the partner of Surya could not stand the heat of the Lord and hence
took shelter in a forest. And to hide her identity, she started living there as
a mare (female horse). She was blessed with twins in the jungle (the Ashwins),
the sons of Lord Surya.
The sages or rishis
who were considered to be awakened souls transmitted their knowledge to us
through their writings. These writings were called Puranas, Vedas, Upanishads,
etc. Atharva Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Rig Veda are the four Vedas known
to mankind. These are the root of the entire knowledge, wisdom, and logic.
These texts constitute everything; from our evolution to the dissolution of the
universe to the 33 Vedic Gods, one can know everything by reading the Vedas.
They support the presence of 33 koti Gods and Goddesses, which is
misinterpreted to be 33 crores Gods in Hinduism by some foreign scholars. So,
there are 33 supreme Devi Devtas (11 Adityas+ 11 Rudras+8 Vasus+2 Ashwinis)
that people worship and not 33 crores of Gods.
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