Indra and Other Vedic Deities: A Euhmeristic Study

by Uma Chakravarti

THIS STUDY DEALS WITH THE EVOLUTION OF EUHEMERISTIC DEITIES OF THE VEDIC PERIOD, EXPLAINING HOW THESE MORTALS-TURNED-GODS CAME TO HAVE DEIFIC POSITIONS IN THE VEDIC PANTHEON.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book really pertains specifically to 5 deities (or pairs of deities).The Rbhus, the Ashvins, the Maruts, and Indra. The basic prmise is that at least these 3 particular classes of deities may have originated as mortals, and eventually became deified for different reasons. Either they were famous artist artisans, famous war leaders, etc. Or, in some cases, a real potential person has been overlaid with a deity archtype, like the divine twins of light. Anyways, its an interesting take on things, particularly the Indra section which is the largest and most informative. He is posited to be an ancient war leader of the Aryans who destroyed various forts and cities of the Dasyas. His prime enemy, Vritra is primarily an abstraction though is also a sort of snake or dragon. Possibly because the inhabitants of those cities worshipped snakes, or possibly not. Then, once the Aryans settled into agrarian civilization he took on the role of an agricultural god. Instead of leading troops into battle he led the Maruts through the sky to bring storms. Vritra stops being a military foe and starts being the clouds. Indra's Viraj weapon became a lightening bolt etc. And as he became less popular with the rise of different deities his Soma drinking seems to look more like alcoholism and is treated as such by the Yajur Veda.