Vedic Religion

So what do we mean by Vedic?

Either:• Religious ideas that

are found in the Vedas;

• Fire sacrifice,• Many Gods,• Varna & social

structure.• Acceptance of the

vedas is a commonly held mark of “authenticity”

Or:• Because it is a mark

of Authenticity, many groups whose ideas are not inherently “Vedic”, use the term to describe what they do, in order to buy into “authenticity”.

What are the Vedas?

• Sanskrit texts, composed by rishis (seers).

• Referred to as Shruti (that which is heard)

• Impart the knowledge that enables people to contact the divine.

Rig Veda, Veda of Mantras

Artha Veda, Veda of incantations,

Samaveda, Veda of Melodies,

Yajurveda, Veda of Rituals.

Early Vedic religion:

• Was portable;• Using temporary

fire altars• No God images• Mystical and

direct through soma intoxication.

• Centered on the worship of personified natural phenomena; 3 categories of devas :

SkyAtmosphere

Earth

Atmosphere & SkyDevas

Varuna

Guardian of cosmic order, and overseer of correct action. He created the world and ruled it by the standard of rita; the proper course of things. This was the standard for cosmic, moral, liturgical order; the basis for what is true and proper, for speech and movement.

Later his activities were taken over by Vishnu, who in the vedic period was a

subordinate deity.

Indra

Indra is the thunder god of the Aryans, and was very popular, probably because he reflects a great deal about the self-image of the Aryan warrior caste. Indra not only defeated the

spiritual enemies of mankind, but is also said to have subdued the human enemies of the

Aryans. He is tawny in colour, intoxicated on soma, beard agitated, brandishing his

thunderbolt, boasting of previous martial success, and eager to join battle.

RudraRudra was another atmospheric deva, of comparatively little importance in the

early Vedas, who was generally feared for his control of primal

powers of nature, and called upon with the

epithet Shiva; auspicious.

Fire Sacrifice: YajñaThe sacrificer would pay a Brahmana to

perform the sacrifice to gain boons from the Gods. The relevant

deities would be invited to attend, and then offered gifts, which

were seen to be consumed in the fire.

They would be seen to be attending by the soma-intoxicated.

Earth Devas of the Fire sacrifice

Agni was the deified fire; the god who transported the sacrificial gifts

to the others.Brihaspati was the divine cultic priest, with the knowledge of the correct words.

Soma was the principal offering; the libation that enabled the gods to be

seen by their worshippers.

Changes in understanding of the fire sacrifice

• Originally:An attempt to gain the favour of the divine through offering gifts.

• Then:Powerful in it’s own right: earth

devas are more important• Eventually:The driving force of the universe.

Earth devas become more important

You, O Agni, are Indra, the bull (strongest) of all that exists; you are the wide-striding Vishnu, worthy of reverence; you, O lord of the Holy

Word, are the chief priest who finds riches (for the sacrificer); you, O distributor are associated

with munificence. You, O Agni, are King Varuna, whose laws are firm; you are Mitra, the

wonder-worker to be revered; you are Arayaman, the reliable lord, of whom I would get enjoyment….. You, O Agni, are Rudra, the Asura of lofty heaven you control sustenance.

(Rig Veda. II.1.3,4,6)

Layout of the fire sacrifice.

Garhapatya Vedi Ahavaniya

Dakshina

N

Suitable offerings.

Man horse ox goat

grains, fruit, ghee & milk.

All contain(ed) Medha – sacrificial substance.

Mantras

Brihaspati’s power came through the knowledge of the words of the

sacrifice; thus the idea of Mantra; a powerful utterance. Saying a

mantra is a magically \ spiritually powerful act. Just knowing the

(sanskrit) words is significant. Thus the prominence of the goddess Vac

(utterance).

VacHoly utterance (Vac) is measured as four quarters; wise brahmanas know these. The three that are set down in

secret they do not bring into movement. The fourth is what men

speak. They call in Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni….that which is One

(Neuter gender) the seers speak of in various terms; they call it Agni, Yama,

Matarishvan. Rig Veda 1.164