Concept of God in Vedic Literature

Concept of God in Vedic Literature

God, in general is translated as Deva (one who gives), from old literature is not exactly used or meant to be God as used in modern terms. In old literature’s it is used in following references :

1. In certain parts of Vedas(very ancient literature of Sanatana Dharma and sacred for Hindus) Deva is used for natural forces. There are Varundeva(god of rains), Pawandeva(god of wind) etc. Vedas have hymns which pray to these gods for better rains and fields, glory, less destruction.

2.There are Devas referred in Purans(Storied about Gods and Goddesses) who are stronger than Humans. They might be considered as angels or Gods in Greek mythology. They were just a stronger race but their bodies wear out. There are stories that Devas die in Samudramanthana(vishnupurana) so they are not immoral. They fight with Danavas(deamons or cruel people). It is considered that they achieve their strength from good deeds or virtues. There is a story that Devas and Danavas went to Creator and asked what is good for them. He said the word ‘da’. Devas took it as dana (donation, helping others) and danavas took it as daya (mercy). Even though Devas are not free from human weaknesses of flesh and greed. Indra the king of Devas once went on to cheat on the wife (Ahilya) of a Sage and was cursed and hid out in the lake out of shame and embarrassment. That’s the reason they are not prayed to in the temples. Some ignorant people without studying say ‘look at the Hindu Gods’ while referring these Devas.

3. Then there are Devas and Devis(Goddesses) who are heavily prayed to and respected. These are Vishnu and Shiva, and there incarnations, Krishna, Rama, Hanaman, Narayana, Nataraj and their Divine Feminine counterparts, like Lakshmi, Radha, Parvarti, Durga, Mother Kali etc. It is believed that they have realized truth and have the power to give Self realization to others(moksha). They are kind and help anyone who asks for their help sincerely. Since they know God and Higher reality, they are the deities for the devotees. Even Buddha and Christ were considered as incarnations of Vishnu – the Preserver God.

4. Then there is Supreme power. This is the one and only one. Upanishads (mystic teachings) are filled with This account. He is that ONLY God in terms of Christianity, Allah for Islam. Sri Shankara(who spread advaita vadanta) calls him Brahma. He is eternal and all powerful and truth. Rig-Veda(the oldest literature of Sanatana Dharma) says, ‘Ekam eshwaram viprha bahudha vedanti’(there is only one God, learned people may express him in different ways). The term to uniquely identify him was used as ‘Parameshwar’(supreme God). But this supreme power has been referred to simply as Deva(one who gives) sometimes too. All the saints of all religions knew about this power. They have called him though with different names.

One of my favorites of the Hindu Pantheon is the merger of Shiva and Shakti as ONE called Ardhanarishvara.

Ardhanarishvara: (Sanskrit) “Half-female Lord.” Lord Shiva in androgynous form, male on the right side and female on the left, indicating that

: 1) Shiva (like all Mahadevas) is genderless;

2) Shiva is All, inseparable from His energy, Shakti

3) in Shiva the ida (feminine) and the pingala (masculine) nadis (psychic nerve currents) are balanced so that sushumna is ever active. The meditator who balances these through sadhana and yoga becomes like Shiva. In the unity of Ardhanarishvara all opposites are reconciled; duality vanishes back into the one source. This icon especially represents Shiva’s second perfection: Pure Consciousness (Satchidananda or Parashakti).

Each ray is created from I AM Being that Being I AM with one half of the ray from I AM Being and the other half from Being I AM forming a Divine whole.

Within each Twin Flame is the ray of I AM Being and Being I AM comprising the wholeness of Alpha and Omega. Each Twin Flame that makes up one of the twelve individual rays is a balance between I AM Being and Being I AM with each half Being I AM. Within the heart of each is the I AM as a threefold flame. It is this flame that is the creative force within each half and is comprised of the ray of Being I AM with one of the twelve attributes of God Being