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Deva (Hinduism)
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For other uses, see Deva.

Deva ( in Devanagari script) is the
Sanskrit word for deity. Its related

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feminine term is devi. Devas, in

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Hinduism, can be loosely described

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as any benevolent supernatural

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being. In Hinduism, Devas are also

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called Suras and are often

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mentioned in the same context as

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their half-brothers the Asuras.[1]

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Devas are also the maintainers of

the realms as ordained by the
Trimurti. They are often warring with
their equally powerful counterparts,
the Asuras.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
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The male Lokapala devas, the guardians of the directions, on

the wall of Shiva temple, Prambanan.

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Page information

1 Etymology

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2 Vedas

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3 Upanishads

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4 Puranas
5 Classical Hinduism

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6 Sangam literature

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7 See also

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8 References
9 External links

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Etymology

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The Sanskrit deva- derives from Indo-Iranian *devwhich in turn descends from the Proto-Indo-European
"celestial" or "shining", which is a (not synchronic

Franais

Sanskrit) vrddhi derivative from the root *diw meaning

"to shine", especially as the day-lit sky. The feminine

form of *deiwos is *deiwih2, which descends into Indic

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Vaishnavism

word, *deiwos, originally an adjective meaning

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Bahasa Indonesia

Part of a series on

languages as devi, in that context meaning "female

deity".
Also deriving from *deiwos, and thus cognates of
deva, are Lithuanian Dievas (Latvian Dievs, Prussian
Deiwas), Germanic Tiwaz (seen in English "Tuesday")
and the related Old Norse Tivar (gods), and Latin
deus "god" and divus "divine", from which the English
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Supreme Deity

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words "divine", "deity", French "dieu", Portuguese

Norsk bokml

"deus", Spanish "dios" and Italian "dio", also

Norsk nynorsk

"Zeys/" - "Dias/", the Greek father of the

Polski

gods, are derived.

Portugus
Romn

Related but distinct is the proper name *Dyeus which

while from the same root, may originally have referred

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to the "heavenly shining father", and hence to

"Father Sky", the chief God of the Indo-European

Important deities

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Texts

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Sampradayas

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Philosopher-Acharyas

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pantheon, continued in Sanskrit Dyaus. The bode of

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the Devas is Dyuloka.

Vedas

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Main article: Rigvedic deities

The Vedas, the earliest comprehensive literature, contain mantras for pleasing the devas to obtain
blessings. The Rig Veda, the earliest of the four, enumerates up to 33 devas.
Some devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values (such as the
Adityas/asuras, Varuna, and Mitra). The main devas addressed in the Rig Veda are Indra, Agni
(fire) and Soma, the latter two representing modes of sacrifice, called yagna. The post-Rig vedic
Aitareya Brahmana in its opening stanza suggests a hierarchy among devas.[2] Many of the deities
taken together are worshiped as the Vishvedevas, the "all-deities". Varuna has the dual epithet of
deva and asura.
Savitr, Vishnu, Rudra (later given the exclusive epithet of Shiva), and Prajapati (later Brahma) are
gods and hence Devas. Saraswati (knowledge) and Ushas (dawn) are some Devis or goddesses.
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Upanishads

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The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says there are 33 devas in the celestial world, in terms of
performance of yagnas. They are eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra, and
Prajapati, these groups, however, are mentioned already in the Rigveda.
In Sanskrit:

( .)

Puranas

[edit]

As per Puranas, Brahma had ten sons: Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasistha,
Daksa, Narada.[3] Marici had a son called Kasyapa.[4] Kasyapa had thirteen wives: Aditi, Diti, Danu,
Kadru etc.[5] The sons of Aditi are called Adityas,[6] the sons of Diti are called Daityas,[7] and the
sons of Danu are called Danavas.[8] Bhaspati (Jupiter, son of Angiras) is a guru of devas (vedic
gods). Shukracharya (Venus, son of Bhrigu) is a guru of asuras (vedic demons) or/and Danavas.

Classical Hinduism

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Nature Devas are responsible for elements or objects such

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Nature Devas are responsible for elements or objects 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 tremendous tasks under their
diligence that they are sometimes called themselves Gods
under the Supreme One God. The Trimurti is composed of
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. (Note: Mahadeva generally
refers to Shiva)
There are also many other lesser celestial beings in
Hinduism, such as the Gandharvas (male celestial
musicians) and the Apsaras (female celestial dancers).
The musicians and dancers are married to each other.
Vayu, the Lord of the wind, is an example of an important
Deva. Also, Death is personified as the Dev Yama. Devas,
in Hinduism, are celestial beings that control forces of
nature such as fire, air, wind, etc.

Sangam literature

Bas-relief of a Deva in Angkor Wat,

Cambodia

[edit]

Sangam literature of Tamil(300BC-300CE) describes the offerings for Deva's. In Silapathikaram

one of the five epics of Tamil by Ilango Adigal saying the offering for Four kind of Deva'ss .[9]

See also
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See also
Deva (Buddhism)
Hindu deities
Vishvadevas
Maruts
Divinity
Daeva
Diwata
Jinn

References

[edit]

1. ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica
2. ^ agnir vai devnm avamo vishu paramas, tadantarea sarv any devt - "Agni is the lowest
and Vishnu is the highest among Devas. All other deities occupy positions that are in between."
1.1.1
3. ^ Bhagavata Purana 3.12.21-22
4. ^ Bhagavata Purana 4.1.13
5. ^ Bhagavata Purana 6.6.24-26
6. ^ Bhagavata Purana 8.13.6
7. ^ Bhagavata Purana 6.18.11
8. ^ Bhagavata Purana 5.24.30
9. ^ Silappadikaram By S. Krishnamoorthy

External links

. p. 35.

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www.shaivam.org
Different Devs Explained
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Who were the devs

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Hinduism

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Categories: Hindu gods

This page w as last modified on 30 June 2015, at 04:22.

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