Vedic Mythology c5.s7.1

c5.s7.1

§ 45. The mythology of the Veda recognised a certain number of more or less definite groups of divine beings, generally associated with some particular god. The largest and most important of these, the Maruts, whose number in the RV. is variously stated to be 21 or 180 (p. 78), is, as has been shown, constantly described as attending Indra in his warlike exploits (p. 57). The same group under the name of Rudras is occasionally associated with their father Rudra (7, 10⁴. 35⁶). The number of the Rudras, treated as a separate class in the Brāhmaṇas, is stated to be eleven in the AB. and ŚB. (p. 19) but is thirty-three in the TS. (1, 4, 11¹). The smaller group of the Ādityas, whose number in two passages of the RV. is seven or eight (p. 43) and in the Brāhmaṇas becomes twelve, is in the RV. constantly associated either with their mother Aditi (7, 10⁴ &c.) or with their chief Varuṇa (7, 35⁶ &c.). This group is more definite than that of the Maruts inasmuch as its members have separate names. A third group frequently mentioned in the RV. is more vague than the other two, for they are neither characterized nor is their number mentioned. That they were conceived as specially connected with Indra, is shown by two passages in which Varuṇa or Aditi with the Ādityas, Rudra with the Rudras, and Indra with the Vasus, are invoked (7, 10⁴. 35⁶). But in later Vedic texts Agni is the leader of the Vasus¹. They are regarded as eight in number in the AB. and ŚB. (p. 19), but in the TS. (5, 5, 2⁵) become 333. The three groups of the Ādityas, Rudras and Vasus are invoked together in a few passages of the RV. (2, 31¹; 10, 66¹² cp. 7, 10⁴. 35⁶)². The Brāhmaṇas distinguish, as three kinds of gods, the Vasus of earth, the Rudras of air, and the Ādityas of heaven (ŚB. 1, 3, 4¹²; 4, 3, 5¹). In the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (3, 6–10) five groups are mentioned, the Vasus being connected with Agni, the Rudras with Indra, the Ādityas with Varuṇa, the Maruts with Soma, and the Sādhyas with Brahmā (cp. RV. 10, 97. 16)³. There is besides the group of the semi-divine Aṅgirases who are chiefly connected with Bṛhaspati (§§ 36, 54) and the small one of the three Ṛbhus who are nearly always associated with Indra (§ 46). Finally, a comprehensive group is formed of the Viśvedevāḥ or All-gods, who occupy an important position in the sacrifice, for at least forty entire hymns of the RV. are devoted to their praise. It is a factitious sacrificial group meant to represent all the gods in order that none should be excluded in laudations intended to be addressed to all. But the All-gods are sometimes conceived as a narrower group, being invoked with other groups, such as the Vasus and Ādityas (2, 3⁴)⁴.