[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [Vedic Mythology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897) › c9.s3.4 # Vedic Mythology c9.s3.4 Vedic Mythology c9.s3.4 - **Language:** English ### [c9.s3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3.4) Heaven is a glorified world of material joys as pictured by the imagination not of warriors but of priests⁴. It is the world of the righteous (10, 16⁴), where righteous and godly men, familiar with rites (\*ṛta\*) dwell in bliss⁵. There they are united with what they have sacrificed and given (\*iṣṭāpūrta\*)⁶, especially reaping the reward of their pious gifts to priests (10, 154³ &c.)⁷. In the Brāhmaṇas it is said that those who sacrifice properly above all attain union and identity of abode with the sun (\*āditya\*) and with Agni, but also with Vāyu, Indra, Varuṇa, Bṛhaspati, Prajāpati and Brahmā (ŚB. 2, 6, 4⁸; 11, 4, 4²¹. 6, 2²·³; TB. 3, 10, 11⁶). A certain sage is described as having through his knowledge become a golden swan, gone to heaven, and obtained union with the sun TB. (3, 10, 9¹¹). In the TS. (6, 6, 9²) the notion occurs that a man by the performance of certain rites can reach heaven without dying (\*jīvan\*)⁸. - [Previous: c9.s3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3.3) - [Next: c9.s3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3.5) - [Up: c9.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3) ## Linked texts (4) - [Taittirīyasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.krsnayajur*taittiriya.6.6.9.2) — Sanskrit - [Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.taittiriya.3.10.11.6) — Sanskrit - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg.10.16.4) — Sanskrit - [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.satapatha.2.6.4.8) — Yājñavalkya & Śāṇḍilya (Vedic teacher), Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.macdonell-1897.c9.s3.4) · Pramāṇa