PDA

View Full Version : God(s)



satay
25 June 2006, 12:22 AM
It is explained in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, III. ix, I.

Then Vidhagdha, the son of sakala, asked him (Gargi): ‘How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?’
Yajnavalkya ascertained the number through (the group of mantras known as) the Nivid, and said, “As many as are mentioned in the Nivid of the Visve-devas- three hundred and three, and three thousand and three.”

“very good,” said saklya and asked again: how many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

Thirty-three

“very good,” said saklya and asked again: how many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

Three

“very good,” said saklya and asked again: how many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

Two

“very good,” said saklya and asked again: how many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

One and a half

“very good,” said saklya and asked again: how many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

One

“very good”, said sakalya, and asked: ‘which are those three hundred and three, and those three thousand and three?’

Yajnavalkya said: “There are only thirty-three gods. These others are but manifestations of them.”

“Which are these thirty-three?”

“the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, and the tweleve Adityas – these are thrity-one. And Indra and Prajapati make up the thirty-three.

satay
25 June 2006, 09:29 PM
Sakalya continues:

"Which are the Vasus?" asked Sakalya

"Fire, the earth, the air, the sky, the sun, heaven, the moon, and the stars - these are the Vasus; for in them al this (universe) is placed (vasavah). Therefore, they are called Vasus."

Which are the Rudras? asked Sakalya.

"The ten organs in the human body, with the mind as the eleventh. When they depart from this mortal body, they make (one's relatives) weep. Because they make them weep (rud), therefore, they are called Rudras.

Which are the Adityas? asked Sakalya.

"There are twelve months in the year. These are the Adityas, because they move along carrying (adadanah) all this with them; therefore, they are called Adityas."

Which is Indra and which is Prajapati? asked Sakalya.

The thunderclap is Indra and the sacrifice is Prajapati.

Which is thunderclap?
The thunderbold.

Which is sacrifice?
The animals.

Which are the six god? asked sakalya.
"fire, the earth, the air, the sky, the sun, and heaven; for these six comprise all those"

Which are the three gods? asked sakalya.
"These three worlds, because all those gods are comprised in these three."

Which are the two gods?
"Matter and the vital breath (prana).

Which are the one and a half?
"This air that blows"

Which is the one God?
The vital breath (Hiranyagarbha); it is Brahman which is called That.


source: "The Principal Upanishads" by swami Nikhilananda