Explain in brief about three
vedicgods considered especially important
Answers
Indra
Indra is the most popular and praised god in the Vedas. In the Rig Veda, more than half the hymns invoke 3 gods, with Indra being the one who has the maximum number of hymns ( 250 hymns). He is the lord of the heavens. He is the god of thunder and rain and a great warrior. Vayu Devta is his friend and servant and the Vasus are his advisors. His Vahan is a white elephant called Airavata and has a weapon of lightning called Vajrayudh. His status and survival is the most important for him and he is always concerned about it. He goes to any lengths of scheming to keep his position as the leader. He fought many demons and brought victory to the gods. The slaying of Vratasura is his most famous achievement. Indra’s Kingdom is situated near Mount Meru and his love for Soma (Amruta, Elixir) is no secret. Indra is also depicted as someone who disguises himself to win over women. One such popular story is of Ahalya and Gautama Muni.
Varuna
Varuna is the ruler of the world and enforcer as well as upholder of law and order in this world. He has supreme Varuna - Vedic Godknowledge and knows everything happening in this world. He is the protector of this world. Everything in this world happens through his wishes. He has thousand eyes and oversees the whole world. Hence he is the God of the moral law. He punishes those who transgress from this law but forgives them out of compassion if they repent and pray. By activating Vayu, the lord of the wind, he sustains life by giving rain and crops. Though Varuna was the chief deity in the beginning, he seems to have yielded his place later on to Indra and Prajapati. In the subsequent mythological literature Varuna is described as the presiding deity of the western quarter and as the lord of oceans, water and aquatic animals.He is depicted as a rider of chariots pulled by 7 swans and he has four hands.
Agni
Agni is the master of sacrifices and wealth. No sacrifice is complete without his presence. His presence makes the sacrifice successful because he sends those sacrifices to the gods. He is the messenger as well as the priest of gods. He is kind and giving and loved by many. He is depicted as having 2 heads, 6 eyes, 7 hands, 3 legs and 4 horns with a pot belly and long flowing hair. He is said to be a son of Dyaus and Prithivi; he is also called the son of Brahma, and is then named Abhimani; and he is reckoned amongst the children of Kasyapa and Aditi, and hence one of the Adityas. In the later writings of hinduism, he is described as a son of Angiras, king of the Pitris (fathers of mankind), and the authorship of several hymns is ascribed to him.