Religion and Spirituality In Vedic Age

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Aryans worshipped the forces of nature. these forces were divided into two classes. Benevolent forces of nature were called Devas and malevolent forces Asuras. They worshipped the Devas-benevolent forces of nature or shining Gods.

The Sun, Sky, Rain, Air and Fire were all defined and worshipped. Whenever they required sun or rain or fire, they chanted certain hymns especially meant for that particular natural force and invoked its help.

The religious beliefs were extension of primitive faiths prevalent among the Aryans before their arrival in India.

Rigvedic Aryans worshipped numerous deities.

There was as yet no definite hierarchy among the gods but Varuna and Indra were treated with special adoration. The male divinities were considered dominant overe females.

Prayers and sacrifices were offered to the accompaniment of milk, grain and ghee to propotiate the gods.

The religious thought, was not concerned so much with metaphysical speculation as with the practical concern for a pleasant, cheerful and materially comfortable living.

Varuna, the chief of Gods was the sovereign of the Universe and the guardian of moral laws. He had knowledge of everything. Nothing was concealed from him.Varuna with his omniscience and omnipotence in the affairs of men has many aspects of a supreme deity. The daily Sandhyavandanam ritual of a dvija Aryan addresses Varuna in this aspect in its evening routine, asking him to forgive all sins.

God Varuna on Makar

God Indra On Aravat

Indra, God of Rain, Thunder and War was the next. The Rigvedic Aryans held that ‘Indra’ was a warrior God, “. Vritra, who was withholding rain could only be slain by Indra.

In later period of Hinduism, Indra rose to supreme position and was hailed as king of deities-Devendra.(Today also the word Indra is used as synonym for king, mostly as suffixes. For example Narendra- King of men.) Even later, with rise of Trinity-Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, the position of Indra has diminished.

But in early Rigvedic period, Varuna enjoyed a higher position than Indra.

Aryans also worshipped Surya or Mitra-the-Sun-God , Dawn or Usha, considered to be the consort of the Sun-God. Agni, the sacred Fire-God and the Soma drink, the Amrita of the Aryans, were also worshipped.

Vayu, the Wind-God, Rudra, the God of Storm and Lightning, Prithvi, the Mother Earth, and the river saraswati were also other important deities.

The Aryans, did not built temples to worship their gods; nor did they prepare ‘idols’ of these gods. Their gods were worshipped in the open air.

Sacrifices or ‘Yajnas’ were performed in those times.

‘Hotri’ used to chant the Vedic hymns during sacrifices. Sacrificial fire was first kindled with the firestick and then fed with ghee, milk and rice. Soma juice was also offered to the gods.Ram and horses were also sacrificed.

When Aryans worshipped the natural forces, they, in reality, worshipped various manifestations of one supreme God. They knew that God was one, but he was manifested in various forms of nature. They worshipped the Supreme as well as his various manifestations.Rigvedic religion, has been called “Henotheism” because while worshipping so many gods the early Aryans never forgot that there was one Supreme God.

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