The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c12.2

c12.2

Aborigines of India, 24, 175 Abstract gods, 96, 109, 131, 135, 191, 242 Açoka or Piyadassi, Buddhist Emperor, 19, 53 Açvamedha, "horse-sacrifice" 213, 216 Açvins, or Dioscuri, 46, 90 *ff.*, 94, 110, 112 *ff.*, 141, 160, 167, 172 Aditi, 130 *ff.* Ādityas, 78, 92, 120, 129 *ff.*, 153; meaning of the word, 131 Agni and Soma, 78 Agni, "God Fire," 78, 87, 89, 91, 92, 110, 127, 156 *ff.*, 244; son of Ushas (Dawn), 73, 160; his descent from heaven (lightning), 165; produced by friction, 139, 158; progenitor of men (Āyu), 139, 158; servant of the gods, 162; and his brothers, story of, 162 Agni Jātavedas ("Omniscient"), 164, 189 Ahalyā, story of, 229 *Aham brahma asmi*, "I am the Brahma," 275 Ahura Mazda (Ormazd), 120 *ff.*, 126, 133, 232. *See* Asura Airyama, 129. *See* Aryaman Ajātaçatru, 219, 227 Akbar, Emperor, 52 *ff.* À Kempis, Thomas, 281 Alexander the Great, 18, 282 Altar, three altars, 161 Amesha Spentas, "Holy Immortals," 133 *ff.* Ança, 130 Andra, 176. *See* Indra Angiras, semi-divine priests, 144, 163 Anquetil du Perron, 54 Antiope of Bœotia, mother of Dioscuri, 116 *Āprī-hymns*, 78, 79 Apsaras (nymphs), 46, 191 Āraṇyaka Texts, 49, 50, 209 Arāti, "Demon of Grudge," 191 Arrested anthropomorphism, 85, 93, 165 Arta. *See* Ṛta Ārtabhāga, a theosopher, 260 Aryaman, 129, 134, 153 Aryan. *See* Indo-Iranian Aryans, Indian, geographical provenience of, 23 Ārya Samāj, a reform association, 9 Asceticism, criticised by Buddha, 282; by Professor Huxley, 283 Ascetic wanderer, 288 *Asha*. *See* Ṛta Asura = Ahura, 133 Atharvāngirasaḥ, "blessings and curses," 26, 29 Atharva-Veda, 17, 25 *ff.*, 39, 40 *ff.*, 77; its theosophy, 209