Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t3.29

v1.c7.s10.t3.29

Secondly, people move from polytheism to major gods. In the early Vedic period, people gradually narrow the scope of their worship, and begin to choose one or several dominating gods from numerous deities; for example, Indra (the God of the Thunder, later often seen as a protector or a god of war for brave tribes). People gradually become aware of so many gods, there is one that has a more powerful and fundamental role, not only affecting everyday life but also mastering or ruling other deities. The Vedic shift from polytheism has something to do with the then prevailing social and historical development, and at that time, in the South Asian Subcontinent, there occurred the combination of tribes or nations and the formation of many small kingdoms. This is more or less reflected in the development of religious worship.