Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.311

c5.311

3) Indian Devas. Most of the Indian Devas are the sons of Kaśyapa Prajāpati by Aditi, daughter of Dakṣa Prajāpati. The total number of Devas is 33 crores. The Devas are divided into many classes or sections like Ādityas, Viśvadevatas, Vasus, Tuṣitas, Ābhāsvaras, Anilas, Mahārājikas, Sādhyas, Rudras, Vidyādharas, Pitṛdevas etc. There are further divisions like Apsaras, Virūpākṣas, Bhadras, Gandharvas, Kumbhāṇḍas, Rākṣasas, Nāgas, Aśvinis, Kinnaras, Kimpuruṣas, Piśācas, Guhyakas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Matṛs, Kūśmāṇḍas, Bhūtas, Vetālas, etc. Yet another division is into Lokapālas, Lipikas etc. The Devas are classified with special reference to bhūtaganas like Pṛthvī etc. and are, therefore, referred to as Bhūdevatās, Agnidevatās, Vāyudevatās, etc. The presiding spirit of Bhūdevatās is Kubera, that of the Jaladevatās is Varuṇa, that of the Agnidevatās, Vāyubhagavān and that of the Ākāśadevatās, Indra. And, under them there are various sets of Devas in charge of different departments. Sādhyas, Vasus, Ādityas, Apsaras etc. are Ākāśadevas, Maruttas and Gandharvas, Vāyudevas. Yakṣas and Yakṣis are servants of Kubera. Virūpākṣa, Bhadra etc. are Bhūdevas. Virūpākṣa supports the earth according to the Vālmīki Purāṇa. Those who protect nidhis (treasures) may also be considered Bhūmidevas.