Fr. Zabed at 10:23, 19 July 2005

2005-07-19T10:23:35Z

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'''Deva''' is the [[Sanskrit]] word for "god, [[deity]]". In [[Hindu mythology]], the devas are opposed to the demonic [[Asura]]s.

==Origins==
The word is from PIE ''*deivos'', originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", a vrddhi derivative from a root ''*div'' "to shine", especially of the daylit sky. The feminine is [[Devi]] "[[goddess]]" (PIE ''*deivih<sub>2</sub>''). The cognate word in Avestan] is '''daeva'''. In [[Zoroastrianism]] and the [Avesta]], the ''ahuras'' are supreme, while the ''daevas'' are [[demon]]ic. This has been forwarded as an argument of a religious split between early Indo-Aryans and [[Iranians]], but it should be noted that in early [[Vedic religion]], some Asuras are still worshipped, so that it seems more likely that the [[Indo-Iranians]], and probably already the [[Proto-Indo-European]]s (the Germanic [[Aesir]] are cognate to the Asuras) worshipped two classes of gods, without any moral dichotomy.
Not to be confused is the PIE proper name ''*Dyeus'' which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the sky itself, and hence to "Father Sky", the chief god of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit Dyaus, Germanic [[Tiwaz]].

==Vedic religion==
The main deva addressed in the [[Rigveda]] is [[Indra]]. [[Agni]] (fire) and [[Soma]] represent modes of [[sacrifice]], but personified are also seen as devas. All gods taken together are worshipped as the [[Vishvadevas]].

==Classical Hinduism==
Nature devas are responsible for things as fire, air, rain and trees. Higher devas control much more intricate tasks governing the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation. '''Mahadevas''', such as Lord [[Ganesa]], have such tremenduous tasks under their diligence that they are sometimes called themselves [[gods]] under the Supreme One God.

They are functionally equivalent of angels who serve God in Judaeo-Christian tradition. There are also many other lesser celestial beings 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 and Asuras are also cited in traditional [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] cosmology. For information on this subject, see six lower realms.

Devas, in [[Hinduism]], are celestial beings that control forces of nature such as fire, air, wind, etc. They are not to be confused with [[God]] or His personal form, [[Saguna Brahman]] which is visualized as [[Vishnu]] or [[Shiva]]. God or Brahman is the ultimate controller.
A famous verse from the Katha Upanishad states:
“From fear of Him the wind blows; from fear of Him the sun rises; from fear of Him [[Agni]] and [[Indra]] and Death, the fifth, run."

According to [[Vaishnavites]], another verse that confers the Devas' subordinate status comes from the [[Vishnu sahasranama]], whose concluding verses state: "The [[Rishis]] (great sages), ancestors, the Devas, the great elements, in fact, all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe, have originated from [[Narayana]]." (i.e.,[[Vishnu]]), expressing that in [[Vaishnavism]], the Devas are subordinate to Vishnu or God.

==See also==
* [[Hindu deities]]
* [[Mahadeva]]
* [[Vishvadevas]]

== External links==
* http://www.dvaita.org/shaastra/gita/gita_sara/gs-007.html (only one God in Hinduism, #56 and see Shri Krishna is the supreme God; #57.)
* http://www.shaivam.org/shpvediy.htm
* http://www.godshiva.com/hipfaq.htm (see info on devas and one Supreme God.)
* http://members.tripod.com/~saran/shpvediy.htm

==References==
*Wikipedia. (2005). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devas Deva (Hinduism)]''. Retrieved on July 19. 2005.

Deva - Revision history

Fr. Zabed at 10:23, 19 July 2005