Details of Pitrus present and the Deities of Sraddha.
1 Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan
Pururav-Aardrav and Dhurilochan are deities of ancestors’ souls. They are referenced in the ritual of Shraddha.
1.2. Vasu-Rudra-Aditya
1.‘Shraddha is associated with the benevolent deities Vasu, Rudra and Aditya of the ancestors’ souls. The mantras chanted during the Shraddha and the rites performed enables one to connect to these deities.’ (6)
2. The deceased person for whom the ritual of Shraddha is being performed, is considered as a follower of Vasu, his parents are considered as followers of Rudra and his grand parents are considered as followers of Aditya. Therefore during Shraddha, the names of father, grandfather and great grandfather (or mother, grandmother and great grandmother) are pronounced as representatives of Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively.
Presiding Deity of
the departed ancestors
Associated mission
Vasu
Desire
Rudra
Dissolution
Aditya
Action
During the ritual of Shraddha the Vishvedevs called Pururav-Ardrav and Dhurilochan are also invoked. Vishvedev means the ‘group of Deities which represents the Deities during a sacrificial fire’.
Pitrus, Ancestoes present during Mahalaya Sraddha.
. Father, grandfather, great grandfather (Pitrutrayi)
10. Maternal uncle
2. Mother, grandmother and great grandmother (matrutrayi)
11. Brother
3. Step mother
12. Father’s sisters
4. Mother’s father, grandfather and great grandmother (matamahatrayi)
13. Mother’s sisters
5. Mother’s mother, grandmother and great grandmother
14. Sisters
6. Wife
15. Father-in-law
7. Sons
16. Other relatives
8. Daughters
17. Guru (if the Guru-disciple relationship exists)
9. Paternal cousins
18. Disciple (if the Guru-disciple relationship exists)
Of this lot, Purusha, the Cosmic Male, Narayana, the Cosmic Prospector,Vishnu, Cosmic Sustainer,Sri, Of Wealth and Durga, of valour occur in the worship as Para Brahman , Saguna, with Attribute.
in common language they are of a Higher order, though technically this description is incorrect.
Adityas.
Mitra, the patron god of oaths and of friendship,
Varuṇa, the patron god of water and the oceans,
Śakra, also called Indra, the king of gods, and the god of rains
Dakṣa,
Aṃśa,
Aryaman,
Bhaga, god of wealth Vivasvat, also called Ravi or Savitṛ,
Tvāṣṭṛ, the smith among the gods,
Pūṣan, patron god of travellers and herdsmen, god of roads,
,
Dhātṛ, god of health and magic, also called Dhūti,
Yama, god of Dharma (moral ethics), of death and of justice. Vasus,
Assistants of Indra and of Vishnu,
Agni the “Fire” god, also called Anala or “living”,
Vāyu the “Wind”, the air god, also called Anila (“wind”)
Dyauṣ the “Sky” god, also called Dyeus and Prabhāsa or the “shining dawn”
Pṛthivī the “Earth” god, also called Dharā or “support”
Sūrya the “Sun” god, also called Pratyūsha, (“break of dawn”, but often used to mean simply “light”), the Saura sectary worshipped Sūrya as their chief deity.
Soma the “Moon” god, also called Chandra
Aha (“pervading”) or Āpa (‘water’ or ether), also called Antarikṣa the “Atmosphere” or “Space” god,
Dhruva (“motionless”) the Polestar, also called Nakṣatra the god of the “Stars”, Rudras
They are the 11 personifications of god Rudra and have various names.
Ashvins
The Ashvins (also called the Nāsatyas) were twin gods. Nasatya is also the name of one twin, while the other is called Dasra.
There is a general perception among other religions that Hindus believe in 330 million Devas and Devis so Hinduism is essentially a pluralistic religion based on Dharma. This is a wrong perception because the 330 million figure refers to “Deities” which are the manifestations of One Supreme Being-Ishwar of Parambrahamn.
In the Vedas, Thirty-three Deities are listed.
Another view contends that 330 million is a figure symbolizing infinity, indicating infinite forms of God.
Shatpatha Brahmana states,
“Yasya Trayastrinshad Devaa Ange Sarve Samaahitaa, Skamma Tam Bruhi Katamah Swideva Sah”. ~(Atharva Veda 10-7-13)
With God’s influence, these thirty-three (supporting devta) sustain the world.”
Yajnavalkya says that there are three hundred and three and three thousand and three gods. When the question is repeated?
He says, thirty three.
When the question is again repeated he says, six. Finally, after several repetitions he says ONE. (Chapter I, hymn 9, verse 1)
Bruhataranyaka Upanishad.
The number 33 comes from the number of Vedic gods explained by Yajnavalkya in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad – the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the
twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati.
They are: 8-Vasu, 11-Rudra, and 12-Aaditya, 1-Indra and 1-Prajaapati.
8. Vasus are: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Moon, Sun, and Star. They are called Vasus, because they are abode of all that lives, moves or exists. (also mentioned in Mahabharat, 1/66/18)
11. Rudras: The ten Pranas (Praana, Apaana, Vyaana, Samaana, Udaana, Naag, Kurma, Krikal, Devadutta and Dhananjaya) i.e. nervauric forces which
live in the human body. The eleventh is the human soul. These are called ‘Rudras’ because when they desert the body, it becomes dead and the
relations of the deceased, consequently, begin to weep. Rudra means one who makes a person to weep. { also mentioned in Harivansha 13/51-52})
12. Adityaas —the twelve months of a year called Adityaas, they cause the lapse of the term of existence of each object or being. { also mentioned in
Mahabharat 1/65/15-16})
1. Indra which is also known as the (all-pervading) electricity, as it is productive of great force.
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