RELIGION

RELIGION

The Aryans personified the natural forces and looked upon them as living beings. The most important divinity was Indra who played the role of a warlord, leading the Aryan soldiers to victory against the demons. Two hundred and fifty hymns are devoted to him. He was regarded as the rain-god. The second position was held by Agni (fire-god) to whom 200 hymns are devoted. The oblations offered to Agni were supposed to be carried in the form of smoke to the sky, and thus transmitted to the gods. Varuna personified water and was supposed to uphold the natural order. Soma was considered to be the god of plants. The Maruts personified the storm. We also find some female divinities, though not very important, such as Aditi, and Ushas who represented the appearance of the dawn.

Gods were mainly worshipped through .the recitation of prayers and offering of sacrifices. Every tribe or clan had a special god to worship. Vegetables, cereals, etc. were offered in sacrifices, but without any ritual or sacrificial formulae. No particular words were assigned any magical power. Worship of gods was not meant for spiritual uplift or moksha, but for praja (children), pashu (cattle), food, wealth, health, etc., i.e. for material prosperity.

The early Vedic religion is also known as henotheism or kathenotheism-a belief in single gods, each in turn standing out as the highest. It has also been described as the worship of Nature. Another important feature was the tendency towards monotheism and even monism. The use of material objects as symbols of deities was perhaps not altogether unknown. Regarding life after death, the Rigvedic hymns have no consistent theory.