The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c10.107

c10.107

The most significant of all monotheistic personifications is derived from the sphere of worship and ritual, namely the God Brihaspati or Brahmanaspati, "Lord of Prayer or Devotion." He presents himself at first as a mere personification of the acts of the poets and priests. We remember a preceding statement that the Vedic poets' consciousness is invaded by and impressed with the dignity and charm of their own poetic devotions. They go so far as to lift this very devoutness to the level of divinity.¹ In Brihaspati we have a personification of prayer and religious performance both in one. A beautiful stanza of the Rig-Veda² has it: "When, O Brihaspati, men first sent forth the earliest utterance of speech, giving names to things, then was disclosed a jewel treasured within them, most excellent and pure." In another famous hymn of the Rig-Veda³ Vāc, "Holy Speech," is represented as the companion and upholder of the gods, and as the foundation of all religious activity and its attendant boons. From a later time we have the significant metaphoric statement that "Holy Song" (Dhenā) is the wife of Brihaspati just as "Weapon" (Senā) is the wife of Indra.¹