TRIBUTES TO A FEW OF THE LESS COMMONLY PICTURED VEDIC DEITIES

Source of all images: http://members.xoom.it/kundalini/kundalini_eng/
(downloaded Oct. 1999)
The website owner says he got these images from a 19th-century textbook on Hinduism.

Source of all text: The Rig Veda; An Anthology, trans. Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty (New York: Penguin, 1981)


AGNI, "god of the sacrificial fire, the hearth, the cremation fire, lightning, and the sun" (p. 325).

FROM THE RIG VEDA:

"Agni shines forth with a high light; by his power he makes all things manifest. He overpowers the godless forces of evil magic; he sharpens his two horns to gore the demons.
Let Agni's bellowings reach to heaven as piercing weapons to destroy the demons. His angry glare breaks forth in ecstasy of Soma. The obstacles of the godless cannot hold him back.
Inspired with poetry I have fashioned this hymn of praise for you whose very nature is power, as the skilled artist fashions a chariot. If you receive it with pleasure, Agni, let us win waters and sunlight with it." (p. 103)

INDRA, king of the gods.

FROM THE RIG VEDA:
"He who made fast the tottering earth, who made still the quaking mountains, who measured out and extended the expanse of the air, who propped up the sky -- he, my people, is Indra....
He by whom all these changes were rung, who drove the race of Dasas down into obscurity, who took away the flourishing wealth of the enemy as a winning gambler takes the stake -- he, my people is Indra....
He who encourages the weary and the sick, and the poor priest who is in need, who helps the man who harnesses the stones to press Soma, he who has lips fine for drinking -- he, my people, is Indra." (pp. 160-161)

RUDRA, "a storm god and embodiment of wildness and unpredictable danger." (p. 338)

FROM THE RIG VEDA:

"The fierce, tawny god of many forms has adorned his firm limbs with shimmering gold. Never let the Asura power draw away from Rudra, the ruler of this vast world.
Rightly you carry the arrows and bow; rightly you wear the precious golden necklace shaped with many forms and colours; rightly you extend this terrible power over everything. There is nothing more powerful than you, Rudra.
Praise him, the famous young god who sits on the high seat, the fierce one who attacks like a ferocious wild beast. O Rudra, have mercy on the singer, now that you have been praised. Let your armies strike down someone other than us." (p. 222)

VARUNA, the guardian of sacred law and order.

FROM THE RIG VEDA:

"And I ask my own heart, `When shall I be close to Varuna? Will he enjoy my offering and not be provoked to anger? When shall I see his mercy and rejoice?'
I ask myself what that transgression was, Varuna, for I wish to understand. I turn to the wise to ask them. The poets have told me the very same thing: `Varuna has been provoked to anger against you.'
O Varuna, what was the terrible crime for which you wish to destroy your friend who praises you? Proclaim it to me so that I may hasten to prostrate myself before you and be free from sin, for you are hard to deceive and are ruled by yourself alone." (pp. 213-214)

VAYU, god of the wind.

FROM THE RIG VEDA:
"The gods who sacrifice and are guarded by Vayu honour faith; with heartfelt intent they honour faith. And with faith they find wealth." (p. 70)

YAMA, the lord of death, a god who is rarely depicted at all.

FROM THE RIG VEDA:

"The two dark messengers of Yama with flaring nostrils wander among men, thirsting for the breath of life. Let them give back to us a life of happiness here and today, so that we may see the sun.
For Yama press the Soma; to Yama offer the oblation; to Yama goes the well-prepared sacrifice, with Agni as its messenger.
Offer to Yama the oblation rich in butter, and go forth. So may he intercede for us among the gods,so that we may live out a long life-span." (p. 44)

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