DIVINEINFORMATION PART 28 Dear friends,
While going through one of my external memorydevice, I came across some good information stored from websites. I thought of sharing interestingones from them as a series. In part 28 , I am starting with 98TH item in this posting. Sincerely, GopalaKrishnan 7-6-21 98 Gods of the Vedic Period Much ofthe meaning of the Rig Veda is imperfectly understood and the meanings of manywords have become obsolete for many centuries. However a broad concept ofthe religion of Rig Veda is clear enough. The chief object of worship is the Deva (Prajapati– father of all gods and humans), who is seen as ‘the bright, shiningone’. Prajapati retreated in history and was replaced by many other majorgods. Themain gods of Vedic period are Indra, Varuna, Surya, Agni, Soma, Rudra and Yama. Indra, the warrior God, was associated withthunder and storm. He rode in abright chariot with a thunderbolt in his hand as his weapon (akin to Zeus ofthe Greeks and Thor of the Germans). He is also depicted riding hismount, Iravata the elephant. Varuna, second only to Indra inimportance, was the guardian of the laws of nature. He watched the populace for any misdeeds and assured a moralsociety. He was ethically the highest Vedic god and was pure and holy.The cosmic order (Rta) was his responsibility. Mitra, an important god connected with vowsand covenants is also mentioned in the Zoroastrian pantheonunder his Greco-Iranian name Mithras. Surya, the sun god has several other forms and names. Savitur, thestimulator, is mentioned in the holy Gayatri mantra. Pushan another sun god was the protector ofthe herdsman. Visnhnu, also exhibited solarcharacteristics and covered the earth in three paces. He would gainprominence much later in Hinduism, and would be retained as the main deity. Agni, the fire god was considered as an intermediary between gods and men for he consumedthe sacrifice and carried it to the gods. Soma was originally aplant extract, which made a potent drink. However, later soma wasidentified with the moon. Rudra was a remote god, dwelling in themountains. He was an archer and had a fiercecharacter. He couldbring disease with his arrows and at the same time was the guardian of healingherbs. Later Hinduism adopted many of his characters in theirdeity Shiva. Yama, lord of the dead, was also the guardian of the ‘World of theFathers’, where the blessed dead ancestors feasted in bliss forever. A few goddesses also are mentioned in theRig Veda. Prthvi was thegoddess of the earth. Aditi was thegreat mother of the gods. Ushas was thegoddess of dawn while Ratri was the spirit of the night. Aranyani, a nature goddess was the lady of theforest. None ofthese goddesses played a major role in the practice of the religion. The prominent gods wereexclusively male dominated. Kama the love-god was the Indian version ofcupid, a handsome man with bow and arrow in his hands. 99 Gods of Hinduism-Trimurthy To anuninformed observer Hinduism may appear chaotic and polytheistic. However, fundamentally Hindus believe in a Universal God and this belief isderived from the Vedic philosophy of the World Soul. The hundreds of godsportrayed are faces of the same single force, the Universal God. This Godis all pervasive, omnipotent and omniscient, in the true Vedic sense (sarvantharyami). A Hinduwill see the power of God in everything that surrounds him, animate orinanimate. Animals like cows, monkeys or snakes may beconsidered sacred and even an ordinary stone may hold the power of God. Theall-pervasive God is the creator of all matter and everything created by theUniversal God represents a part of Him. This may appear as idolatry to aWestern observer, whose religion generally condemns it, but a Hindu worshipsthe Spirit that the idol represents rather than the idol itself. It onlygives the worshipper a channel or a symbol to concentrate on during his prayersand meditation. Originally, three major faces of gods cameto be popularly worshipped, namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Shiva is almost as popular as Vishnu and isevolved from the fierce Vedic god Rudra. Residing in the Himalayan Mount Kailasa, Shiva is a great ascetic,always meditating for the welfare of the world. He iscovered with ashes and from his matted hair flows the sacred river Ganga. He is death and time, which destroy all things. On his forehead is athird eye, an emblem of his superior wisdom. His neck is blue (Neelakantan),from the effects of the poison he drank in order to save the humanity. The bullNandi is his mount and beside him sits his beautiful wife, Parvathi. Shiva is also the god of fertility and ismostly worshipped in the phallic symbol called Linga. In the South he is also called asPashuapati (Lord of the Beasts). The Shaivite sect considers Shivaas the Supreme Being. The protector and maintainer of humanity is Vishnu. He lives in thehighest heaven, the Vaikunta. A great eagle (Garuda) is hisvehicle and Lakshmi is his wife seated to his right. He is considered as the Universal God (asearly as in the Bhagavad Gita). He is also called as Hari (asagainst Hara, another name for Shiva). Vishnu became an embodimentof many popular gods, namely Vasudeva in Western India and Narayana,an obscure god mentioned in the Brahmana literature ofUpanishads. Krishna, the hero of the epicMahabharata came to be identified as an incarnate (avatar) of Vishnu. Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana wasanother major avatar of Vishnu, incarnated in order to rid the world of thedemon Ravana. When there isdisorder in the world Vishnu will incarnate himself to restore order for thewelfare of the world. In all there are ten avatars of Vishnu. 100 About Sri JagannathMahaprabhu Sri JagannathKrishna, His brother Sri Balabhadra Deva and His sister Sri Subhadra areworshipped in Puri in the famous Vishnu temple. Depending on the Vedic Date (Tithi), the deitiesadorn different Vesha. The word 'Vesha' means form and can beloosely translated as outfit or costume. The dais on which thethree deities are seated is called the Ratnavedi Simhasana. Ratna refers to the gems andprecious stones as well as 108 conches of various auspicious markingswhich are embedded on the dais. The three deities are dressed in differentoutfits for different occasions starting with the Mangala Arati (the firstprayer offered in the Brahma Muhurta or early hours at about 4.00 AM). The last prayer isthe Ratri Pahuda. Some of the importantoccasions for special Vesha are as under. Sri Jagannatha Vesha-AbakashaVesha or Tadapa Uttari Vesha This is done daily, after mangala arati, for the abakash rituals.Abakash is the tooth brushing and bathing ritual. The clothes that are worn bythe deities are called 'Tadapa' and 'Uttariya.' Badasrunghara Vesha This is a very beautiful vesha. It is done before the night time'pahuda', when the deities are allowed to take rest. It is therefore the veshathe deities appear in the following morning, for mangala arati. This vesha ismostly made of different kinds of flowers. The Lords are decorated withflowered ornaments known locally in Puri as adhara, jhumpa, gava, chandrika,tilak, alaka, guna, hruda pallava, karapallava and tadaki among others. TheDeities also wear many flower garlands, some with tulasi leaves, and silkclothes called khandua. Chandana Vesha This vesha is done for 42 days, beginning on Akshaya Trutiya. Ganapati Vesha or Hati Vesha On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha, after the bathing ceremonyis over, the Deities are dressed in elephant costumes. Lord Jagannath and LordBalabhadra are made to look like Ganapati (Ganesh, the son of Shiva andParvati). Suna Vesha or Bada Tadhau Vesha On the 11th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashada, when theDeities return from the Gundicha Mandir on their chariots, they appear in theSuna (Gold) Vesha. They are are decorated with golden ornaments and wear goldcrowns. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhada appear with hands and feet made ofgold. Lord Jagannath holds a golden chakra in His right hand and a silver conchshell in His left. Lord Balabhadra holds a golden club in His right hand and agolden plough in His left. Raja Vesha The same outfit as Suna Vesha, but it is performed on Dussera, KartikPurnima and Pousa Purnim. Banabhoji Vesha On the 10th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadra, theDeities are dressed for a picnic, like the cowherd boys. Kaliyadalana Vesha On the 11th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath isdressed as Krishna in His pastime of killing the serpent Kaliya. Pralambasura Badha Vesha On the following day, the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, theDeities are dressed to commemorate Lord Balabhadra's pastime of killing thedemon Prahlamba. Krishna-Balarama Vesha On the 13th day of the darkfortnight of Bhadra, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed veryattractively as Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama. Bali Vamana Vesha On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadra, Lord Jagannath isdressed like the dwarf brahmin Vamana, who defeated the demon Bali. Vamana Devais one of the das avatars, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Radha-Damodara Vesha For an entire lunar month, from the 11th day of the bright fortnight ofAshwina to the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, the Deities aredressed in this vesha. Damodararefers to the lord with a rope tied around His waist, which relates toKrishna's pastimes with Mother Yashoda. Thiakia Vesha or Laxmi-Narayana Vesha This vesha is used on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. Bankachula Vesha Used on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. Adakia Vesha or Trivikrama Vesha Used on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. Dalikia Vesha or Laxmi Nrisimha Vesha Used on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika. Nagarjuna Vesha This vesha honors Parasurama, the warrior incarnation. It is used onlyoccasionally. It happens during the month of Kartika, when there are six daysof Panchaka. This was done six times in the last 30 years on 11/3/95, 11/16/94,11/26/93, 11/3/68, 11/16/67 and 11/26/66. Ghodalagi Vesha During the period from the 6th day of the bright fortnight of Margasirato the 5th day of the bright fortnight of Magha (Basanta Panchami) the Deities wear winter clothes. Jamalagi Vesha >From Basanta Panchami to Dola Purnima the Deities wear modified ghoda(winter >clothes). Padma Vesha It is done on Saturdaysor Wednesdays between the new moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. 'Padma' means 'lotus,' and the Deities' dresses are made from lotus,sola lace and paper. These dresses are traditionally supplied by the Badachhata Math. Halva(sweet pudding) is offered to the Deities when They are in this vesha. Gaja Uddharana Vesha This vesha is done on the full moon day of the month of Magha. Itcommemorates the story of Gajendra, the king of the elephants, and thealligator. I will continue in next posting -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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