[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908) › c8.12 # The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c8.12 The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c8.12 - **Language:** English ### [c8.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8.12) The universal Indo-European word for "god" was \*deivos\*, gone over into archaic Latin as \*deivos\* (\*deus\*), Celtic \*devos\* in the Gallic proper name \*Devognata\*, Old Scandinavian \*tivar\*, "gods," Lithuanian \*dëvas\*, and Sanskrit \*devas\*. The irreproachable etymology which connects this word with the verb \*div\*, \*dyu\*, "shine," shows that the word came from the luminous manifestations of nature by day and night, and determines authoritatively the source from which the Indo-Europeans derived their first and most pervasive conception of divine power. On more limited Indo-European territory appears another general term, Slavic \*bogŭ\*, Old Persian \*baga\* Avestan \*bagha\* "god," Sanskrit \*bhaga\* "god of fortune."¹ The word is again of clear origin: it means "spender of goods, or blessings." It contains the abstract conception of a good god, embodying an eternal and never slumbering wish of mankind. The same eastern region of the Indo-European territory has in common another sacred word, used as an attribute of divinity, namely, Avestan (Persian) \*spenta\*, Lithuanian \*szventas\*, Old Slavic \*svętŭ\* "pure" or "holy." This secures for prehistoric religion an important spiritual concept. Two important conceptions expressing sentiment towards the gods, that of reverence (Sanskrit \*yaj\*, Avestan \*yaz\*, Greek ἁγ in ἅζομαι, "revere"), and that of belief (Sanskrit \*çraddhā\*, Latin \*credo\*, Celtic \*cretim\*, "believe") come from old times, though they need not necessarily have been in vogue in every part of the territory occupied by the Indo-Europeans prior to historic times. - [Previous: c8.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8.11) - [Next: c8.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8.13) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c8.12) · Pramāṇa