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{{About|Devas in Hindu scriptures and culture|other uses|Deva (disambiguation)}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
{{Infobox Hindu term
| title = ''Deva''
| en = Heavenly, divine, shiny, exalted, anything of excellence, donor of knowledge or resources.
| sa = देव
| sa-Latn = deva
| ban = ᬤᬾᬯ
| ban-Latn= déwa
| hi = देवता
| hi-Latn = devatā
| bn = দেবতা
| bn-Latn = debota
| jv = ꦢꦺꦮ
| jv-Latn = déwa
| kn = ದೇವ
| kn-Latn = deva
| km = ទេវ
| km-Latn = tév
| ml = ദേവൻ
| ml-Latn = devan
| mr = देव
| mr-Latn = dev
| ne = देवता
| ne-Latn = devatā
| ta = தேவர்கள்
| ta-Latn = tevarkal̤
| te = దేవుడు
| te-Latn = dēvuḍu
| ma = dev
| ma-Latn = देव|or=ଦେବତା|or-Latn=debôta
|as = দেৱতা
|as-Latn = dewatā}}
'''''Deva''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|eɪ|v|ə}}; [[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|देव}}) means "shiny", "exalted", "heavenly being", "divine being", "anything of excellence",<ref name="Klostermaier 2007"/> and is also one of the Sanskrit terms used to indicate a [[deity]] in [[Hinduism]].<ref name=monier>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 492</ref> ''Deva'' is a masculine term; the feminine equivalent is ''[[Devi]]''.
In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], all [[supernatural being]]s are called ''Devas''<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/deva-religious-being Encyclopaedia Britannica - Deva]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&dq=deva+in+vedic+india&pg=PA147 Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities by Charles Russell Coulter, Patricia Turner. Pg.147]</ref><ref name="George Williams 2008">George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195332612}}, pages 90, 112</ref> and ''[[Asura]]s''.<ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, pages 5-11, 22, 99-102</ref><ref>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 121</ref> The concepts and legends evolved in [[Indian literature#In archaic Indian languages|ancient Indian literature]], and by the late [[Vedic period]], benevolent supernatural beings are referred to as ''Deva-Asuras''. In post-Vedic [[Hindu texts]], such as the [[Puranas]] and the [[Itihasas]] of Hinduism, the ''Devas'' represent the good, and the ''Asuras'' the bad.<ref name=nickgier/><ref name=fowlergita/> In some [[List of historic Indian texts|medieval works of Indian literature]], ''Devas'' are also referred to as '''''Suras''''' and contrasted with their equally powerful but malevolent [[half-brother]]s, referred to as the ''Asuras''.<ref name=ang>[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40167/asura/40167rellinks/Related-Links Encyclopædia Britannica]</ref>
''Devas'', along with ''Asuras'', ''[[Yaksha]]s'' (nature spirits), and ''[[Rakshasa]]s'' (ghoulish ogres/[[demons]]), are part of Indian mythology, and ''Devas'' feature in many cosmological theories in [[Hinduism]].<ref>Don Handelman (2013), One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology, Brill Academic, {{ISBN|978-9004256156}}, pages 23-29</ref><ref>Wendy Doniger (1988), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|978-0719018664}}, page 67</ref>
==Etymology==
''Deva'' is a [[Sanskrit]] word found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE. [[Monier Monier-Williams|Sir Monier Monier-Williams]] translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".<ref name=monier/><ref name=klausklos>Klaus Klostermaier (2010), A Survey of Hinduism, 3rd Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791470824}}, pages 101-102</ref> The concept also is used to refer to deity.<ref name=monier/>
The Sanskrit ''deva-'' derives from [[Proto-Indo-Iranian language|Indo-Iranian]] ''*daiv-'' which in turn descends from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] word, ''*[[deiwo-]]'', originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", which is a (not synchronic Sanskrit) [[vrddhi]] derivative from ''*diw'', zero-grade of the root ''*dyew-'' meaning "to shine", especially as the day-lit sky.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/indoeurop.html|title=Appendix I - Indo-European Roots}}</ref> The feminine form of ''*deiwos'' is ''*deiwih<sub>2</sub>'', which descends into Indic languages as ''[[devi]]'', in that context meaning "female deity". Also deriving from ''*deiwos'', and thus cognates of ''deva'', are "Zeys/''Ζεύς''" - "Dias/''Δίας''", the Greek father of the gods, Lithuanian [[Dievas]] (Latvian [[Dievs]], Prussian [[Deiwas]]), Germanic [[Tiwaz]] (seen in English "''Tue''sday") and the related Old Norse Tivar (gods), and Latin [[Deus]] "god" and ''divus'' "divine", from which the English words "divine" and "deity" are derived. It is related to ''*[[Dyeus]]'' which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the "heavenly shining father", and hence to "Father Sky", the chief God of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit [[Dyaus]]. The abode of the Devas is [[Dyuloka]].<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0500/mw__0533.html Dyuloka], Monier Monier-Williams, English Sanskrit Dictionary with Etymology, Oxford University Press, page 500</ref>
According to Douglas Harper, the etymological roots of ''Deva'' mean "a shining one," from *div- "to shine," and it is cognate with Greek dios "divine" and [[Zeus]], and Latin deus "god" (Old Latin deivos).<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=deva&searchmode=none Deva] Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper (2015)</ref> The word "Deva" shares similarities with Persian [[Daeva]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krishnan |first1=K. S. |title=Origin of Vedas |date=2019-08-12 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64587-981-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6SoDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PT322 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Boyce |first1=Mary |title=Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices |date=2001 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-23902-8 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA11 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Essays on the History of Religions |date=2018 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-37792-9 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BN-mDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA6 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
Deva is masculine; the related feminine equivalent is [[devi]].<ref name=monierdevi>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 496</ref> Etymologically, ''Devi'' is cognate with Latin ''dea''.<ref>John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814912}}, page 2</ref> When capitalized, ''Devi'' or ''Mata'' refers to a divine mother goddess in Hinduism.<ref>John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814912}}, pages 18-21</ref> ''Deva'' is also referred to as ''Devatā'',<ref name=klausklos/> and ''Devi'' as ''Devika''.<ref name=monierdevi/>
The word ''Deva'' is also a proper name or part of a name in Indian culture, where it refers to "one who wishes to excel, overcome" or the "seeker of, master of or a best among".<ref name=monier/>
==Vedic literature==
{{Main|Rigvedic deities}}
[[File:A havan ceremony on the banks of Ganges, Muni ki Reti, Rishikesh.jpg|thumb|Shiva/Rudra has been a major Deva in Hinduism since the Vedic times.<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 110-114</ref> Above is a meditating statue of him in the [[Himalayas]] with Hindus offering prayers.]]
===Samhitas and Brahmanas===
[[File:Tani Bunchō - Jyūroku Zenshin no Zu.jpg|thumb|The 12 Devas protecting Buddha, by [[Tani Bunchō]]. The Hindu Devas were adopted by Japanese Buddhists in the first millennium as ''[[:ja:十二天|Jūni-ten]]''<ref>[http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201634/http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en |date=2016-03-04 }} Nara National Museum, Japan</ref>]]
The [[Samhita]]s, which are the oldest layer of text in [[Vedas]] enumerate 33 devas,{{refn|group=note|The list of Vedic Devas somewhat varies across the manuscripts found in different parts of South Asia, particularly in terms of guides (Aswins) and personified Devas. One list based on Book 2 of Aitereya Brahmana is:<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 23-50</ref><ref>AA MacDonell, {{Google books|KCQ_AQAAMAAJ|Vedic mythology|page=PA19}}, Oxford University Press, pages 19-21</ref><br>
* Devas personified: [[Indra]] ({{IAST|Śakra}}), [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]], [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], [[Aryaman]], [[Bhaga]], [[Ansa (Hinduism)|{{IAST|Aṃśa}}]], Vidhatr ('''Brahma'''),<ref>Francis X Clooney (2010), Divine Mother, Blessed Mother, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199738731}}, page 242</ref> [[Tvashtri|{{IAST|Tvāṣṭṛ}}]], [[Pushan|{{IAST|Pūṣan}}]], [[Vivasvan|Vivasvat]], [[Savitr|{{IAST|Savitṛ}}]] (Dhatr), '''Vishnu'''.
* Devas as abstractions or inner principles: Ānanda (bliss, inner contentment), Vijñāna (knowledge), Manas (mind, thought), Prāṇa (life-force), Vāc (speech), [[Atman (Hinduism)|Ātmā]] (soul, self within each person), and five manifestations of '''Rudra/Shiva''' – [[Ishana|Īśāna]], Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta
* Devas as forces or principles of nature – [[Prithvi|{{IAST|Pṛthivī}}]] (earth), [[Agni]] (fire), Antarikṣa (atmosphere, space), Jal (water), [[Vayu|Vāyu]] (wind), [[Dyaus Pita|{{IAST|Dyauṣ}}]] (aether or sky), [[Surya|Sūrya]] (sun), {{IAST|Nakṣatra}} (stars), Soma (moon)
* Devas as guide or creative energy – Vasatkara, [[Prajapati|Prajāpati]]}} either 11 each for the three worlds, or as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus and 2 Asvins in the [[Brahmanas]] layer of Vedic texts.<ref name=monier/><ref name="George Williams 2008"/> The Rigveda states in hymn 1.139.11,
{{Blockquote|
<poem>
ये '''देवा'''सो दिव्येकादश स्थ पृथिव्यामध्येकादश स्थ <nowiki>।
अप्सुक्षितो महिनैकादश स्थ ते देवासो यज्ञमिमं जुषध्वम् ॥११॥</nowiki><ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_१.१३९ ऋग्वेद: सूक्तं १.१३९] Sanskrit, Wikisource</ref>
O ye eleven deities whose home is heaven, O ye eleven who make earth your dwelling,
Ye who with might, eleven, live in waters, accept this sacrifice, O deities, with pleasure.
– Translated by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]]<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/rigvedasanhitc02wils#page/62/mode/2up The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139] Verse 11, Ralph T. H. Griffith, Wikisource</ref>
Deities who are eleven in heaven; who are eleven on earth;
and who are eleven dwelling with glory in mid-air; may ye be pleased with this our sacrifice.
– Translated by HH Wilson<ref>[[Wikisource:The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139|The Rig Veda Samhita]] Verse 11, HH Wilson (Translator), Royal Asiatic Society, WH Allen & Co, London</ref>
</poem>
|[[Rigveda]] 1.139.11||source=}}
Some devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values (such as the [[Ādityas|Aditya]]s, [[Varuna]], and [[Mitra]]), each symbolizing the epitome of a specialized knowledge, creative energy, exalted and magical powers (''Siddhis'').<ref>George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195332612}}, pages 24-33</ref><ref name=binagupta>Bina Gupta (2011), An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415800037}}, pages 21-25</ref> The most referred to Devas in the [[Rig Veda]] are [[Indra]], [[Agni]] (fire) and [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], with "fire deity" called the friend of all humanity, it and Soma being the two celebrated in a [[yajna]] fire ritual that marks major Hindu ceremonies. [[Savitr]], [[Vishnu]], [[Rudra]] (later given the exclusive epithet of [[Shiva]]), and [[Prajapati]] (later [[Brahma]]) are gods and hence Devas. [[Parvati]] (power and love) and [[Durga]] (victory) are some [[Devi]]s or goddesses. Many of the deities taken together are worshiped as the [[Vishvedevas]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2015}}
===Important Devas===
*[[Brahma]] the deity of creation
*[[Vishnu]] the deity of preservation
*[[Shiva]] the deity of destruction and [[Kāla|time]]; associated with fertility and regeneration
*[[Ganesha]] the deity of new beginnings, wisdom, and luck
*[[Hanuman]] the deity associateded to courage, reverence and strength/avatar of [[Shiva]]
*[[Kartikeya]] the deity of victory and [[war]]
*[[Vishwakarma]] the deity of architecture
*[[Dhanvantari]] the deity of doctors and Ayurveda/avatar of [[Vishnu]]
*[[Dyaus]] the deity of the [[aether (classical element) | aether]] (or [[sky]])
*[[Vayu]] the deity of [[air]], [[wind]] and [[breath]]
*[[Varuna]] the deity of [[water]] and [[rain]]
*[[Agni]] the deity of [[fire]]
*[[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]] the deity of [[death]] and [[justice]]
*[[Samudra]] the deity of the [[seas]]/form of [[Varuna]]
*[[Kubera]] the deity of opulence and wealth
*[[Kamadeva]] the deity of [[love]]
*[[Indra]] the king of deities and deity of [[weather]], [[storms]] and [[sky]]
*[[Ashvins|Ashwini Kumara]] the deity of health and medicine
*[[Surya]] the deity of the [[sun]], [[light]] and [[day]]
*[[Chandra]] the deity of the [[moon]] and [[night]]
*[[Mangala]] the deity of [[Mars]] and Aggression
*[[Budha]] the deity of [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] and [[Nature]]
*[[Brihaspati]] the deity of [[Jupiter]] and teacher of the [[Devas (Hinduism)| Devas]]
*[[Shukra]] the deity of [[Venus]] and worship (bhakti) and teacher of the [[Asuras]]
*[[Shani]] the deity of [[Saturn]] and deeds (karma)
===Henotheism===
In Vedic literature, ''Deva'' is not a monotheistic God; rather a "supernatural, divine" concept manifesting in various ideas and knowledge, in a form that combines excellence in some aspects, wrestling with weakness and questions in other aspects, heroic in their outlook and actions, yet tied up with emotions and desires.<ref name=binagupta/><ref>John Bowker (2014), God: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198708957}}, pages 88-96</ref>
[[Max Muller]] states that the Vedic hymns are remarkable in calling every one of the different devas as "the only one, the supreme, the greatest".<ref name=klausklos/> Muller concluded that the Vedic ideas about ''devas'' are best understood neither as [[polytheism]] nor as [[monotheism]], but as [[henotheism]] where gods are equivalent, different perspectives, different aspects of reverence and spirituality, unified by principles of [[Ṛta]] and [[Dharma]].<ref name=klausklos/><ref>Ivan Strenski (2015), Understanding Theories of Religion: An Introduction, 2nd Edition, Wiley, {{ISBN|978-1444330847}}, page 42</ref>
===Characteristics of Devas in the Vedic literature===
[[Ananda Coomaraswamy]] states that Devas and Asuras in the Vedic lore are similar to the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] and [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]] of Greek mythology. Both are powerful but have different orientations and inclinations, with the Devas representing the powers of Light and the Asuras representing the powers of Darkness in Hindu mythology.<ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, page 20</ref><ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</ref> According to Coomaraswamy's interpretation of Devas and Asuras, both these natures exist in each human being, both the tyrant and the angel. The best and the worst within each person struggles before choices and one's own nature, and the Hindu formulation of Devas and Asuras is an eternal dance between these within each person.<ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-418</ref><ref name=Gier>Nicholas Gier (1995), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510 Hindu Titanism], Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76, see also 73-96</ref>
{{Blockquote|
The Devas and Asuras, Angels and Titans, powers of Light and powers of Darkness in Rigveda, although distinct and opposite in operation, are in essence consubstantial, their distinction being a matter not of essence but of orientation, revolution or transformation. In this case, the Titan is potentially an Angel, the Angel still by nature a Titan; the Darkness in ''actu'' is Light, the Light in ''potentia'' Darkness; whence the designations Asura and Deva may be applied to one and the same Person according to the mode of operation, as in Rigveda 1.163.3, "Trita art thou (Agni) by interior operation".
|Ananda Coomaraswamy|Journal of the American Oriental Society<ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/594758 Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology], Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</ref>}}
All-powerful beings, good or evil, are called Devas<ref name="monier"/><ref name="George Williams 2008"/> and Asuras in the oldest layer of Vedic texts. A much-studied hymn of the Rigveda states ''Devav asura'' (Asuras who have become Devas), and contrasts it with ''Asura adevah'' (Asuras who are not Devas).<ref name=kuiper>FBJ Kuiper (1975), The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion, History of Religion, volume 15, pages 108-112</ref><ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, pages 1-2; Note: Hale translates this to "Asuras without the Asura-Devas" in his book, see page 3 for example.;<br>For original Sanskrit, see Rigveda hymns 8.25.4 and 8.96.9 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेदः_मण्डल_८ Rigveda - Wikisource]</ref> They are born from the same father, Prajapati, the primordial progenitor; his sons are envisioned as the Asuras and Devas.<ref>Mircea Eliade (1981), History of Religious Ideas, Volume 1, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226204017}}, page 204, 199-202, 434-435</ref> They all share the same residence (''Loka''), eat together the same food and drinks (''Soma''), and have innate potential, knowledge and special powers in Hindu mythology; the only thing that distinguishes "Asuras who become Devas" from "Asuras who remain Asuras" is intent, action and choices they make in their mythic lives.<ref name=Gier/><ref name=yves>Yves Bonnefoy and Wendy Doniger (1993), Asian Mythologies, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226064567}}, pages 52-53</ref>
==Upanishads==
[[File:Vishnu seated on Ananda. Cave3Badami.jpg|thumb|[[Vishnu]] (above) is one of the Vedic Devas.<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 116-117</ref> The third Valli of the [[Katha Upanishad]] discusses ethical duties of man through the parable of the chariot as a means to realize the state of Vishnu, one with Self-knowledge.<ref>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 287-289</ref><ref>Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0520207783}}, pages 175-176</ref>]]
The oldest Upanishads mention ''Devas'', and their struggle with the ''Asuras''. The [[Kaushitaki Upanishad]], for example, in Book 4 states that "[[Indra]] was weaker than the Asuras when he did not know his own [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul, self).<ref name=deussenku/> Once Indra had self-knowledge, he became independent, sovereign and victorious over the Asuras"; similarly, states Kaushitaki Upanishad, "the man who knows his inner self gains independence, sovereignty and is unaffected by all evil".<ref name=deussenku>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, page 58</ref>
[[Chandogya Upanishad]], in chapter 1.2, describes the battle between Devas and Asuras on various sensory powers.<ref name=deussencu/> This battle between good and evil fails to produce a victor and simply manifests itself in the perceived universe, as good or evil sights witnessed by beings, as good or evil words shared between people, as good or evil smells of nature, as good or evil feelings experienced, as good or evil thoughts within each person. Finally, the Deva-Asura battle targets the soul, where Asuras fail and Devas succeed, because soul-force is serene and inherently good, asserts Chandogya Upanishad.<ref name=deussencu>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 70-71</ref>
Chapter 3.5.2 of the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] describes Devas, Men, and Asuras as sons of Prajapati, the primordial father.<ref name=deussenbu/> Each asks for a lesson on ethics. Prajapati tells the Devas to observe the virtue of temperance (self-restraint, ''Dama''), the Men to observe the virtue of charity (''Dana''), and Asuras to observe the virtue of compassion (''Daya''). At the end of the chapter, the Upanishad declares that these are three cardinal virtues that should always be observed by all Devas, Men and Asuras.<ref name=deussenbu>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 508-509</ref>
Medieval era Indian scholars, in their ''Bhasya'' (review and commentaries) on the Upanishads, stated that the discussion of Devas and Asuras in the Upanishads is symbolic, and it represents the good and evil that resides and struggles within each human being. [[Adi Shankara]], for example, in his commentary on [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] asserted that Devas represent the human seeking for the sacred and spiritual, while the Asuras represent the human seeking for the worldly excesses.<ref>[[Max Muller]], [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads02ml#page/78/mode/2up Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.1] Oxford University Press, page 78 with footnote 2</ref> Edelmann and other modern era scholars also state that the Devas versus Asuras discussion in Upanishads is a form of symbolism.<ref>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 427-466</ref><ref>Doris Srinivasan (1997), Many Heads, Arms and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art, Brill Academic, {{ISBN|978-9004107588}}, pages 130-131</ref>
In the later primary [[Upanishad]]ic texts, Devas and Asuras discuss and act to seek knowledge, for different purposes. In one case, for example, they go to Prajāpati, their father, to understand what is Self (Atman, soul) and how to realize it. The first answer that Prajāpati gives is simplistic, which the Asuras accept and leave with, but the Devas led by Indra do not accept and question because Indra finds that he hasn't grasped its full significance and the given answer has inconsistencies.<ref name=edelmann14/> Edelmann states that this symbolism embedded in the Upanishads is a reminder that one must struggle with presented ideas, learning is a process, and Deva nature emerges with effort.<ref name=edelmann14/>
==Puranas and Itihasas==
In the [[Puranas]] and the [[Itihasas]] with the embedded Bhagavad Gita, the Devas represent the good, and the Asuras the bad.<ref name=nickgier>Nicholas Gier (2000), Spiritual Titanism: Indian, Chinese, and Western Perspectives, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791445280}}, pages 59-76</ref><ref name=fowlergita/> According to the [[Bhagavad Gita]] (16.6-16.7), all beings in the universe have both the divine qualities (''daivi sampad'') and the demonic qualities (''asuri sampad'') within each.<ref name=fowlergita/><ref name=chrischapple/> The sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita states that pure god-like saints are rare and pure demon-like evil are rare among human beings, and the bulk of humanity is multi-charactered with a few or many faults.<ref name=fowlergita/> According to Jeaneane Fowler, the Gita states that desires, aversions, greed, needs, emotions in various forms "are facets of ordinary lives", and it is only when they turn to lust, hate, cravings, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, hypocrisy, violence, cruelty and such negativity- and destruction-inclined that natural human inclinations metamorphose into something demonic (Asura).<ref name=fowlergita>Jeaneane D Fowler (2012), The Bhagavad Gita, Sussex Academic Press, {{ISBN|978-1845193461}}, pages 253-262</ref><ref name=chrischapple>Christopher K Chapple (2010), The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth–Anniversary Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-1438428420}}, pages 610-629</ref>
Everyone starts as an Asura in Hindu mythology, born of the same father. "Asuras who remain Asura" share the character of powerful beings obsessed with their craving for more power, more wealth, ego, anger, unprincipled nature, force and violence.<ref name=gierasurach/><ref name=stellaray/> The "Asuras who become Devas" in contrast are driven by an inner voice, seek understanding and meaning, prefer moderation, principled behavior, morals, knowledge, and harmony.<ref name=gierasurach>Nicholas Gier (1995), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510 Hindu Titanism], Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76-80</ref><ref name=stellaray>Stella Kramrisch and Raymond Burnier (1986), The Hindu Temple, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120802230}}, pages 75-78</ref> The hostility between the two is the source of extensive legends and tales in the Puranic and the Epic literature of Hinduism; however, many texts discuss their hostility in neutral terms and without explicit condemnation.<ref name=yves/> Some of these tales are the basis for myths behind major Hindu festivals, such as the story of Asura Ravana and Deva Rama in the [[Ramayana]] and the legend of Asura [[Hiranyakashipu]] and Deva Vishnu as [[Narasimha]],<ref name=yves/> the latter celebrated with the Hindu spring festival of [[Holika]] and [[Holi]].<ref>Wendy Doniger (2000), Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, Merriam-Webster, {{ISBN|978-0877790440}}, page 455</ref>
===Bhagavata Purana===
In [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Brahma]] had ten sons: [[Marichi]], [[Atri]], [[Angiras (sage)|Angira]], [[Pulastya]], [[Pulaha]], [[Kratu]], [[Vasistha]], [[Daksha|Daksa]], [[Narada]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 3.12.21-22</ref> Marici had a son called [[Kasyapa]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 4.1.13</ref> Kasyapa had thirteen wives: [[Aditi]], [[Diti]], [[Danu (Asura)|Danu]], [[Kadru]] etc.<ref>Bhagavata Purana 6.6.24-26</ref> The sons of Aditi are called [[Adityas]],<ref>Bhagavata Purana 8.13.6</ref> the sons of Diti are called [[Daityas]],<ref>Bhagavata Purana 6.18.11</ref> and the sons of Danu are called [[Danavas]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 5.24.30</ref> [[Bṛhaspati]] ([[Jupiter]], son of Angiras) is a [[guru]] of devas (vedic gods). [[Shukra]]charya ([[Venus]], son of [[Bhrigu]]) is a guru of [[asura]]s (vedic [[demon]]s) or/and [[Danavas]].
===Symbolism===
Edelmann states that the dichotomies present in the [[Purana]]s literature of Hinduism are symbolism for spiritual concepts. For example, god Indra (a Deva) and the antigod Virocana (an Asura) question a sage for insights into the knowledge of the self.<ref name=edelmann14/> Virocana leaves with the first given answer, believing now he can use the knowledge as a weapon. In contrast, Indra keeps pressing the sage, churning the ideas, and learning about means to inner happiness and power. Edelmann suggests that the Deva-Asura dichotomies in Hindu mythology may be seen as "narrative depictions of tendencies within our selves".<ref name=edelmann14>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 439-441</ref>
The god (Deva) and antigod (Asura), states Edelmann, are also symbolically the contradictory forces that motivate each individual and people, and thus Deva-Asura dichotomy is a spiritual concept rather than mere genealogical category or species of being.<ref name=edelmann13/> In the Bhāgavata Purana, saints and gods are born in families of Asuras, such as [[Mahabali]] and [[Prahlada]], conveying the symbolism that motivations, beliefs, and actions rather than one's birth and family circumstances define whether one is Deva-like or Asura-like.<ref name=edelmann13>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 440-442</ref> wait what what help me HELP ME
==Classical Hinduism==
{{expand section|date=July 2015}}
[[Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf met Lokapala op de aan Shiva gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016205.jpg|thumb|250px|The male [[Lokapala]] devas, the [[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|guardians of the directions]], on the wall of [[Shiva]] temple, [[Prambanan]] (Java, Indonesia).]]
In [[Hinduism]], Devas are celestial beings associated with various aspects of the cosmos.
Devas such as [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva]], form the [[Trimurti|Hindu trinity]] known as the Trimurthi and preside over the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation.
Lesser devas may control the forces of nature, such as [[Vayu]], the Lord of the wind, [[Varuna]] the Lord of water, and [[Agni]], the lord of fire.
Hinduism also has many other lesser celestial beings, such as the married [[Gandharvas]] (male celestial musicians) and [[Apsaras]] (female celestial dancers).
==Sangam literature==
{{expand section|date=July 2015}}
[[Sangam literature]] of Tamil (300BC-300CE) describes the offerings for devas. In [[Silapathikaram]] one of the five epics of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] by [[Ilango Adigal]] saying the offering for Four kind of devas.<ref>{{cite book|title=Silappadikaram By S. Krishnamoorthy|page=35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STbMzFKaxcQC&q=Religious+Festivals+in+silappadikaram&pg=PA56|last1=Krishnamoorthy|first1=S.|year=1964}}</ref>
{{wide image|Les 9 devas.jpg|900px|The nine Devas, [[Khleangs]] artwork from Cambodia (~1000 CE). From left to right: ''Surya'' (Sun) on chariot, ''Chandra'' (Moon) on pedestal, ''Shiva'' on bull, ''Varuna'' on crocodile, ''Indra'' on elephant, ''Kubera'' on horse, ''Agni'' on ram, ''Rahu'' on clouds and ''Ketu'' on lion.}}
==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Vishvadevas]]
* [[Ishvara]]
* [[Bhagavan]]
* [[God and gender in Hinduism]]
* [[Hindu deities]]
* [[Deva (Buddhism)]]
* [[Jangam]]
* [[Divinity]]
* [[Devata]]
* [[Daeva]]
* [[Anito|Diwata]]
{{div col end}}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
==References==
{{reflist|25em}}
== Further reading ==
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1061926 The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion] FBJ Kuiper (1975), History of Religions, Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 107–120 (on roots of Devas and Asuras)
* [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5686828&fileId=S0035869X00130837 The Proto-Indoaryans] T Burrow (1973), Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. 105, Issue 2, pages 123–140 (on roots of Devas and Asuras in Indo-Iranian versus Indo-European history)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060323/http://w.omilosmeleton.gr/pdf/en/indology/IDR.pdf Indo-European Deities and the Rigveda] ND Kazanas (2001), The Journal of Indo-European Studies, Vol. 29, No. 3 & 4
* [http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/VedicJapan.pdf The Vedic Gods of Japan] S Kak (2004), Brahmavidyā: The Adyar Library Bulletin (on the spread of Vedic Devas such as Indra, Agni, Vayu outside India)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/225187 On Translation: Māyā, Deva, Tapas] Ananda Coomaraswamy, Isis, Vol. 19, No. 1, pages 74–91 (on alternate meanings of Devas)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3270127 Ritual, Knowledge, and Being: Initiation and Veda Study in Ancient India] Brian K. Smith (1986), Numen, Vol. 33, Fasc. 1, pages 65–89 (on the role of knowledge in empowering the Deva nature in man)
{{Hindudharma}}
{{Hindu deities and texts}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Non-human races in Hindu mythology]]' |
New page wikitext, after the edit (new_wikitext) | '{{Short description|Male celestial being in Hinduism}}
{{About|Devas in Hindu scriptures and culture|other uses|Deva (disambiguation)}}
{{Italic title}}
[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means "god", “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
{{Infobox Hindu term
| title = ''Deva''
| en = Heavenly, divine, shiny, exalted, anything of excellence, donor of knowledge or resources.
| sa = देव
| sa-Latn = deva
| ban = ᬤᬾᬯ
| ban-Latn= déwa
| hi = देवता
| hi-Latn = devatā
| bn = দেবতা
| bn-Latn = debota
| jv = ꦢꦺꦮ
| jv-Latn = déwa
| kn = ದೇವ
| kn-Latn = deva
| km = ទេវ
| km-Latn = tév
| ml = ദേവൻ
| ml-Latn = devan
| mr = देव
| mr-Latn = dev
| ne = देवता
| ne-Latn = devatā
| ta = தேவர்கள்
| ta-Latn = tevarkal̤
| te = దేవుడు
| te-Latn = dēvuḍu
| ma = dev
| ma-Latn = देव|or=ଦେବତା|or-Latn=debôta
|as = দেৱতা
|as-Latn = dewatā}}
'''''Deva''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|eɪ|v|ə}}; [[Sanskrit]]: {{lang|sa|देव}}) means "shiny", "exalted", "heavenly being", "divine being", "anything of excellence",<ref name="Klostermaier 2007"/> and is also one of the Sanskrit terms used to indicate a [[deity]] in [[Hinduism]].<ref name=monier>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 492</ref> ''Deva'' is a masculine term; the feminine equivalent is ''[[Devi]]''.
In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], all [[supernatural being]]s are called ''Devas''<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/deva-religious-being Encyclopaedia Britannica - Deva]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&dq=deva+in+vedic+india&pg=PA147 Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities by Charles Russell Coulter, Patricia Turner. Pg.147]</ref><ref name="George Williams 2008">George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195332612}}, pages 90, 112</ref> and ''[[Asura]]s''.<ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, pages 5-11, 22, 99-102</ref><ref>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 121</ref> The concepts and legends evolved in [[Indian literature#In archaic Indian languages|ancient Indian literature]], and by the late [[Vedic period]], benevolent supernatural beings are referred to as ''Deva-Asuras''. In post-Vedic [[Hindu texts]], such as the [[Puranas]] and the [[Itihasas]] of Hinduism, the ''Devas'' represent the good, and the ''Asuras'' the bad.<ref name=nickgier/><ref name=fowlergita/> In some [[List of historic Indian texts|medieval works of Indian literature]], ''Devas'' are also referred to as '''''Suras''''' and contrasted with their equally powerful but malevolent [[half-brother]]s, referred to as the ''Asuras''.<ref name=ang>[https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40167/asura/40167rellinks/Related-Links Encyclopædia Britannica]</ref>
''Devas'', along with ''Asuras'', ''[[Yaksha]]s'' (nature spirits), and ''[[Rakshasa]]s'' (ghoulish ogres/[[demons]]), are part of Indian mythology, and ''Devas'' feature in many cosmological theories in [[Hinduism]].<ref>Don Handelman (2013), One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology, Brill Academic, {{ISBN|978-9004256156}}, pages 23-29</ref><ref>Wendy Doniger (1988), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|978-0719018664}}, page 67</ref>
==Etymology==
''Deva'' is a [[Sanskrit]] word found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE. [[Monier Monier-Williams|Sir Monier Monier-Williams]] translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".<ref name=monier/><ref name=klausklos>Klaus Klostermaier (2010), A Survey of Hinduism, 3rd Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791470824}}, pages 101-102</ref> The concept also is used to refer to deity.<ref name=monier/>
The Sanskrit ''deva-'' derives from [[Proto-Indo-Iranian language|Indo-Iranian]] ''*daiv-'' which in turn descends from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] word, ''*[[deiwo-]]'', originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", which is a (not synchronic Sanskrit) [[vrddhi]] derivative from ''*diw'', zero-grade of the root ''*dyew-'' meaning "to shine", especially as the day-lit sky.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/indoeurop.html|title=Appendix I - Indo-European Roots}}</ref> The feminine form of ''*deiwos'' is ''*deiwih<sub>2</sub>'', which descends into Indic languages as ''[[devi]]'', in that context meaning "female deity". Also deriving from ''*deiwos'', and thus cognates of ''deva'', are "Zeys/''Ζεύς''" - "Dias/''Δίας''", the Greek father of the gods, Lithuanian [[Dievas]] (Latvian [[Dievs]], Prussian [[Deiwas]]), Germanic [[Tiwaz]] (seen in English "''Tue''sday") and the related Old Norse Tivar (gods), and Latin [[Deus]] "god" and ''divus'' "divine", from which the English words "divine" and "deity" are derived. It is related to ''*[[Dyeus]]'' which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the "heavenly shining father", and hence to "Father Sky", the chief God of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit [[Dyaus]]. The abode of the Devas is [[Dyuloka]].<ref>[http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0500/mw__0533.html Dyuloka], Monier Monier-Williams, English Sanskrit Dictionary with Etymology, Oxford University Press, page 500</ref>
According to Douglas Harper, the etymological roots of ''Deva'' mean "a shining one," from *div- "to shine," and it is cognate with Greek dios "divine" and [[Zeus]], and Latin deus "god" (Old Latin deivos).<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=deva&searchmode=none Deva] Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper (2015)</ref> The word "Deva" shares similarities with Persian [[Daeva]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krishnan |first1=K. S. |title=Origin of Vedas |date=2019-08-12 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64587-981-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6SoDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PT322 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Boyce |first1=Mary |title=Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices |date=2001 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-415-23902-8 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA11 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Essays on the History of Religions |date=2018 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-37792-9 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BN-mDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA6 |access-date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
Deva is masculine; the related feminine equivalent is [[devi]].<ref name=monierdevi>Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 496</ref> Etymologically, ''Devi'' is cognate with Latin ''dea''.<ref>John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814912}}, page 2</ref> When capitalized, ''Devi'' or ''Mata'' refers to a divine mother goddess in Hinduism.<ref>John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814912}}, pages 18-21</ref> ''Deva'' is also referred to as ''Devatā'',<ref name=klausklos/> and ''Devi'' as ''Devika''.<ref name=monierdevi/>
The word ''Deva'' is also a proper name or part of a name in Indian culture, where it refers to "one who wishes to excel, overcome" or the "seeker of, master of or a best among".<ref name=monier/>
==Vedic literature==
{{Main|Rigvedic deities}}
[[File:A havan ceremony on the banks of Ganges, Muni ki Reti, Rishikesh.jpg|thumb|Shiva/Rudra has been a major Deva in Hinduism since the Vedic times.<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 110-114</ref> Above is a meditating statue of him in the [[Himalayas]] with Hindus offering prayers.]]
===Samhitas and Brahmanas===
[[File:Tani Bunchō - Jyūroku Zenshin no Zu.jpg|thumb|The 12 Devas protecting Buddha, by [[Tani Bunchō]]. The Hindu Devas were adopted by Japanese Buddhists in the first millennium as ''[[:ja:十二天|Jūni-ten]]''<ref>[http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201634/http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en |date=2016-03-04 }} Nara National Museum, Japan</ref>]]
The [[Samhita]]s, which are the oldest layer of text in [[Vedas]] enumerate 33 devas,{{refn|group=note|The list of Vedic Devas somewhat varies across the manuscripts found in different parts of South Asia, particularly in terms of guides (Aswins) and personified Devas. One list based on Book 2 of Aitereya Brahmana is:<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 23-50</ref><ref>AA MacDonell, {{Google books|KCQ_AQAAMAAJ|Vedic mythology|page=PA19}}, Oxford University Press, pages 19-21</ref><br>
* Devas personified: [[Indra]] ({{IAST|Śakra}}), [[Varuna|{{IAST|Varuṇa}}]], [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]], [[Aryaman]], [[Bhaga]], [[Ansa (Hinduism)|{{IAST|Aṃśa}}]], Vidhatr ('''Brahma'''),<ref>Francis X Clooney (2010), Divine Mother, Blessed Mother, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199738731}}, page 242</ref> [[Tvashtri|{{IAST|Tvāṣṭṛ}}]], [[Pushan|{{IAST|Pūṣan}}]], [[Vivasvan|Vivasvat]], [[Savitr|{{IAST|Savitṛ}}]] (Dhatr), '''Vishnu'''.
* Devas as abstractions or inner principles: Ānanda (bliss, inner contentment), Vijñāna (knowledge), Manas (mind, thought), Prāṇa (life-force), Vāc (speech), [[Atman (Hinduism)|Ātmā]] (soul, self within each person), and five manifestations of '''Rudra/Shiva''' – [[Ishana|Īśāna]], Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta
* Devas as forces or principles of nature – [[Prithvi|{{IAST|Pṛthivī}}]] (earth), [[Agni]] (fire), Antarikṣa (atmosphere, space), Jal (water), [[Vayu|Vāyu]] (wind), [[Dyaus Pita|{{IAST|Dyauṣ}}]] (aether or sky), [[Surya|Sūrya]] (sun), {{IAST|Nakṣatra}} (stars), Soma (moon)
* Devas as guide or creative energy – Vasatkara, [[Prajapati|Prajāpati]]}} either 11 each for the three worlds, or as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus and 2 Asvins in the [[Brahmanas]] layer of Vedic texts.<ref name=monier/><ref name="George Williams 2008"/> The Rigveda states in hymn 1.139.11,
{{Blockquote|
<poem>
ये '''देवा'''सो दिव्येकादश स्थ पृथिव्यामध्येकादश स्थ <nowiki>।
अप्सुक्षितो महिनैकादश स्थ ते देवासो यज्ञमिमं जुषध्वम् ॥११॥</nowiki><ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_१.१३९ ऋग्वेद: सूक्तं १.१३९] Sanskrit, Wikisource</ref>
O ye eleven deities whose home is heaven, O ye eleven who make earth your dwelling,
Ye who with might, eleven, live in waters, accept this sacrifice, O deities, with pleasure.
– Translated by [[Ralph T. H. Griffith]]<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/rigvedasanhitc02wils#page/62/mode/2up The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139] Verse 11, Ralph T. H. Griffith, Wikisource</ref>
Deities who are eleven in heaven; who are eleven on earth;
and who are eleven dwelling with glory in mid-air; may ye be pleased with this our sacrifice.
– Translated by HH Wilson<ref>[[Wikisource:The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139|The Rig Veda Samhita]] Verse 11, HH Wilson (Translator), Royal Asiatic Society, WH Allen & Co, London</ref>
</poem>
|[[Rigveda]] 1.139.11||source=}}
Some devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values (such as the [[Ādityas|Aditya]]s, [[Varuna]], and [[Mitra]]), each symbolizing the epitome of a specialized knowledge, creative energy, exalted and magical powers (''Siddhis'').<ref>George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195332612}}, pages 24-33</ref><ref name=binagupta>Bina Gupta (2011), An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0415800037}}, pages 21-25</ref> The most referred to Devas in the [[Rig Veda]] are [[Indra]], [[Agni]] (fire) and [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], with "fire deity" called the friend of all humanity, it and Soma being the two celebrated in a [[yajna]] fire ritual that marks major Hindu ceremonies. [[Savitr]], [[Vishnu]], [[Rudra]] (later given the exclusive epithet of [[Shiva]]), and [[Prajapati]] (later [[Brahma]]) are gods and hence Devas. [[Parvati]] (power and love) and [[Durga]] (victory) are some [[Devi]]s or goddesses. Many of the deities taken together are worshiped as the [[Vishvedevas]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2015}}
===Important Devas===
*[[Brahma]] the deity of creation
*[[Vishnu]] the deity of preservation
*[[Shiva]] the deity of destruction and [[Kāla|time]]; associated with fertility and regeneration
*[[Ganesha]] the deity of new beginnings, wisdom, and luck
*[[Hanuman]] the deity associateded to courage, reverence and strength/avatar of [[Shiva]]
*[[Kartikeya]] the deity of victory and [[war]]
*[[Vishwakarma]] the deity of architecture
*[[Dhanvantari]] the deity of doctors and Ayurveda/avatar of [[Vishnu]]
*[[Dyaus]] the deity of the [[aether (classical element) | aether]] (or [[sky]])
*[[Vayu]] the deity of [[air]], [[wind]] and [[breath]]
*[[Varuna]] the deity of [[water]] and [[rain]]
*[[Agni]] the deity of [[fire]]
*[[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]] the deity of [[death]] and [[justice]]
*[[Samudra]] the deity of the [[seas]]/form of [[Varuna]]
*[[Kubera]] the deity of opulence and wealth
*[[Kamadeva]] the deity of [[love]]
*[[Indra]] the king of deities and deity of [[weather]], [[storms]] and [[sky]]
*[[Ashvins|Ashwini Kumara]] the deity of health and medicine
*[[Surya]] the deity of the [[sun]], [[light]] and [[day]]
*[[Chandra]] the deity of the [[moon]] and [[night]]
*[[Mangala]] the deity of [[Mars]] and Aggression
*[[Budha]] the deity of [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] and [[Nature]]
*[[Brihaspati]] the deity of [[Jupiter]] and teacher of the [[Devas (Hinduism)| Devas]]
*[[Shukra]] the deity of [[Venus]] and worship (bhakti) and teacher of the [[Asuras]]
*[[Shani]] the deity of [[Saturn]] and deeds (karma)
===Henotheism===
In Vedic literature, ''Deva'' is not a monotheistic God; rather a "supernatural, divine" concept manifesting in various ideas and knowledge, in a form that combines excellence in some aspects, wrestling with weakness and questions in other aspects, heroic in their outlook and actions, yet tied up with emotions and desires.<ref name=binagupta/><ref>John Bowker (2014), God: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198708957}}, pages 88-96</ref>
[[Max Muller]] states that the Vedic hymns are remarkable in calling every one of the different devas as "the only one, the supreme, the greatest".<ref name=klausklos/> Muller concluded that the Vedic ideas about ''devas'' are best understood neither as [[polytheism]] nor as [[monotheism]], but as [[henotheism]] where gods are equivalent, different perspectives, different aspects of reverence and spirituality, unified by principles of [[Ṛta]] and [[Dharma]].<ref name=klausklos/><ref>Ivan Strenski (2015), Understanding Theories of Religion: An Introduction, 2nd Edition, Wiley, {{ISBN|978-1444330847}}, page 42</ref>
===Characteristics of Devas in the Vedic literature===
[[Ananda Coomaraswamy]] states that Devas and Asuras in the Vedic lore are similar to the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]] and [[Titan (mythology)|Titans]] of Greek mythology. Both are powerful but have different orientations and inclinations, with the Devas representing the powers of Light and the Asuras representing the powers of Darkness in Hindu mythology.<ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, page 20</ref><ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</ref> According to Coomaraswamy's interpretation of Devas and Asuras, both these natures exist in each human being, both the tyrant and the angel. The best and the worst within each person struggles before choices and one's own nature, and the Hindu formulation of Devas and Asuras is an eternal dance between these within each person.<ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-418</ref><ref name=Gier>Nicholas Gier (1995), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510 Hindu Titanism], Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76, see also 73-96</ref>
{{Blockquote|
The Devas and Asuras, Angels and Titans, powers of Light and powers of Darkness in Rigveda, although distinct and opposite in operation, are in essence consubstantial, their distinction being a matter not of essence but of orientation, revolution or transformation. In this case, the Titan is potentially an Angel, the Angel still by nature a Titan; the Darkness in ''actu'' is Light, the Light in ''potentia'' Darkness; whence the designations Asura and Deva may be applied to one and the same Person according to the mode of operation, as in Rigveda 1.163.3, "Trita art thou (Agni) by interior operation".
|Ananda Coomaraswamy|Journal of the American Oriental Society<ref>Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/594758 Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology], Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</ref>}}
All-powerful beings, good or evil, are called Devas<ref name="monier"/><ref name="George Williams 2008"/> and Asuras in the oldest layer of Vedic texts. A much-studied hymn of the Rigveda states ''Devav asura'' (Asuras who have become Devas), and contrasts it with ''Asura adevah'' (Asuras who are not Devas).<ref name=kuiper>FBJ Kuiper (1975), The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion, History of Religion, volume 15, pages 108-112</ref><ref>Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120800618}}, pages 1-2; Note: Hale translates this to "Asuras without the Asura-Devas" in his book, see page 3 for example.;<br>For original Sanskrit, see Rigveda hymns 8.25.4 and 8.96.9 [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेदः_मण्डल_८ Rigveda - Wikisource]</ref> They are born from the same father, Prajapati, the primordial progenitor; his sons are envisioned as the Asuras and Devas.<ref>Mircea Eliade (1981), History of Religious Ideas, Volume 1, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226204017}}, page 204, 199-202, 434-435</ref> They all share the same residence (''Loka''), eat together the same food and drinks (''Soma''), and have innate potential, knowledge and special powers in Hindu mythology; the only thing that distinguishes "Asuras who become Devas" from "Asuras who remain Asuras" is intent, action and choices they make in their mythic lives.<ref name=Gier/><ref name=yves>Yves Bonnefoy and Wendy Doniger (1993), Asian Mythologies, University of Chicago Press, {{ISBN|978-0226064567}}, pages 52-53</ref>
==Upanishads==
[[File:Vishnu seated on Ananda. Cave3Badami.jpg|thumb|[[Vishnu]] (above) is one of the Vedic Devas.<ref>Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120803923}}, pages 116-117</ref> The third Valli of the [[Katha Upanishad]] discusses ethical duties of man through the parable of the chariot as a means to realize the state of Vishnu, one with Self-knowledge.<ref>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 287-289</ref><ref>Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0520207783}}, pages 175-176</ref>]]
The oldest Upanishads mention ''Devas'', and their struggle with the ''Asuras''. The [[Kaushitaki Upanishad]], for example, in Book 4 states that "[[Indra]] was weaker than the Asuras when he did not know his own [[Atman (Hinduism)|Atman]] (soul, self).<ref name=deussenku/> Once Indra had self-knowledge, he became independent, sovereign and victorious over the Asuras"; similarly, states Kaushitaki Upanishad, "the man who knows his inner self gains independence, sovereignty and is unaffected by all evil".<ref name=deussenku>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, page 58</ref>
[[Chandogya Upanishad]], in chapter 1.2, describes the battle between Devas and Asuras on various sensory powers.<ref name=deussencu/> This battle between good and evil fails to produce a victor and simply manifests itself in the perceived universe, as good or evil sights witnessed by beings, as good or evil words shared between people, as good or evil smells of nature, as good or evil feelings experienced, as good or evil thoughts within each person. Finally, the Deva-Asura battle targets the soul, where Asuras fail and Devas succeed, because soul-force is serene and inherently good, asserts Chandogya Upanishad.<ref name=deussencu>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 70-71</ref>
Chapter 3.5.2 of the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] describes Devas, Men, and Asuras as sons of Prajapati, the primordial father.<ref name=deussenbu/> Each asks for a lesson on ethics. Prajapati tells the Devas to observe the virtue of temperance (self-restraint, ''Dama''), the Men to observe the virtue of charity (''Dana''), and Asuras to observe the virtue of compassion (''Daya''). At the end of the chapter, the Upanishad declares that these are three cardinal virtues that should always be observed by all Devas, Men and Asuras.<ref name=deussenbu>[[Paul Deussen]], Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 508-509</ref>
Medieval era Indian scholars, in their ''Bhasya'' (review and commentaries) on the Upanishads, stated that the discussion of Devas and Asuras in the Upanishads is symbolic, and it represents the good and evil that resides and struggles within each human being. [[Adi Shankara]], for example, in his commentary on [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] asserted that Devas represent the human seeking for the sacred and spiritual, while the Asuras represent the human seeking for the worldly excesses.<ref>[[Max Muller]], [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads02ml#page/78/mode/2up Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.1] Oxford University Press, page 78 with footnote 2</ref> Edelmann and other modern era scholars also state that the Devas versus Asuras discussion in Upanishads is a form of symbolism.<ref>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 427-466</ref><ref>Doris Srinivasan (1997), Many Heads, Arms and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art, Brill Academic, {{ISBN|978-9004107588}}, pages 130-131</ref>
In the later primary [[Upanishad]]ic texts, Devas and Asuras discuss and act to seek knowledge, for different purposes. In one case, for example, they go to Prajāpati, their father, to understand what is Self (Atman, soul) and how to realize it. The first answer that Prajāpati gives is simplistic, which the Asuras accept and leave with, but the Devas led by Indra do not accept and question because Indra finds that he hasn't grasped its full significance and the given answer has inconsistencies.<ref name=edelmann14/> Edelmann states that this symbolism embedded in the Upanishads is a reminder that one must struggle with presented ideas, learning is a process, and Deva nature emerges with effort.<ref name=edelmann14/>
==Puranas and Itihasas==
In the [[Puranas]] and the [[Itihasas]] with the embedded Bhagavad Gita, the Devas represent the good, and the Asuras the bad.<ref name=nickgier>Nicholas Gier (2000), Spiritual Titanism: Indian, Chinese, and Western Perspectives, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791445280}}, pages 59-76</ref><ref name=fowlergita/> According to the [[Bhagavad Gita]] (16.6-16.7), all beings in the universe have both the divine qualities (''daivi sampad'') and the demonic qualities (''asuri sampad'') within each.<ref name=fowlergita/><ref name=chrischapple/> The sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita states that pure god-like saints are rare and pure demon-like evil are rare among human beings, and the bulk of humanity is multi-charactered with a few or many faults.<ref name=fowlergita/> According to Jeaneane Fowler, the Gita states that desires, aversions, greed, needs, emotions in various forms "are facets of ordinary lives", and it is only when they turn to lust, hate, cravings, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, hypocrisy, violence, cruelty and such negativity- and destruction-inclined that natural human inclinations metamorphose into something demonic (Asura).<ref name=fowlergita>Jeaneane D Fowler (2012), The Bhagavad Gita, Sussex Academic Press, {{ISBN|978-1845193461}}, pages 253-262</ref><ref name=chrischapple>Christopher K Chapple (2010), The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth–Anniversary Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-1438428420}}, pages 610-629</ref>
Everyone starts as an Asura in Hindu mythology, born of the same father. "Asuras who remain Asura" share the character of powerful beings obsessed with their craving for more power, more wealth, ego, anger, unprincipled nature, force and violence.<ref name=gierasurach/><ref name=stellaray/> The "Asuras who become Devas" in contrast are driven by an inner voice, seek understanding and meaning, prefer moderation, principled behavior, morals, knowledge, and harmony.<ref name=gierasurach>Nicholas Gier (1995), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510 Hindu Titanism], Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76-80</ref><ref name=stellaray>Stella Kramrisch and Raymond Burnier (1986), The Hindu Temple, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120802230}}, pages 75-78</ref> The hostility between the two is the source of extensive legends and tales in the Puranic and the Epic literature of Hinduism; however, many texts discuss their hostility in neutral terms and without explicit condemnation.<ref name=yves/> Some of these tales are the basis for myths behind major Hindu festivals, such as the story of Asura Ravana and Deva Rama in the [[Ramayana]] and the legend of Asura [[Hiranyakashipu]] and Deva Vishnu as [[Narasimha]],<ref name=yves/> the latter celebrated with the Hindu spring festival of [[Holika]] and [[Holi]].<ref>Wendy Doniger (2000), Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, Merriam-Webster, {{ISBN|978-0877790440}}, page 455</ref>
===Bhagavata Purana===
In [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Brahma]] had ten sons: [[Marichi]], [[Atri]], [[Angiras (sage)|Angira]], [[Pulastya]], [[Pulaha]], [[Kratu]], [[Vasistha]], [[Daksha|Daksa]], [[Narada]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 3.12.21-22</ref> Marici had a son called [[Kasyapa]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 4.1.13</ref> Kasyapa had thirteen wives: [[Aditi]], [[Diti]], [[Danu (Asura)|Danu]], [[Kadru]] etc.<ref>Bhagavata Purana 6.6.24-26</ref> The sons of Aditi are called [[Adityas]],<ref>Bhagavata Purana 8.13.6</ref> the sons of Diti are called [[Daityas]],<ref>Bhagavata Purana 6.18.11</ref> and the sons of Danu are called [[Danavas]].<ref>Bhagavata Purana 5.24.30</ref> [[Bṛhaspati]] ([[Jupiter]], son of Angiras) is a [[guru]] of devas (vedic gods). [[Shukra]]charya ([[Venus]], son of [[Bhrigu]]) is a guru of [[asura]]s (vedic [[demon]]s) or/and [[Danavas]].
===Symbolism===
Edelmann states that the dichotomies present in the [[Purana]]s literature of Hinduism are symbolism for spiritual concepts. For example, god Indra (a Deva) and the antigod Virocana (an Asura) question a sage for insights into the knowledge of the self.<ref name=edelmann14/> Virocana leaves with the first given answer, believing now he can use the knowledge as a weapon. In contrast, Indra keeps pressing the sage, churning the ideas, and learning about means to inner happiness and power. Edelmann suggests that the Deva-Asura dichotomies in Hindu mythology may be seen as "narrative depictions of tendencies within our selves".<ref name=edelmann14>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 439-441</ref>
The god (Deva) and antigod (Asura), states Edelmann, are also symbolically the contradictory forces that motivate each individual and people, and thus Deva-Asura dichotomy is a spiritual concept rather than mere genealogical category or species of being.<ref name=edelmann13/> In the Bhāgavata Purana, saints and gods are born in families of Asuras, such as [[Mahabali]] and [[Prahlada]], conveying the symbolism that motivations, beliefs, and actions rather than one's birth and family circumstances define whether one is Deva-like or Asura-like.<ref name=edelmann13>Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 440-442</ref> wait what what help me HELP ME
==Classical Hinduism==
{{expand section|date=July 2015}}
[[Image:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Reliëf met Lokapala op de aan Shiva gewijde tempel op de Candi Lara Jonggrang oftewel het Prambanan tempelcomplex TMnr 10016205.jpg|thumb|250px|The male [[Lokapala]] devas, the [[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|guardians of the directions]], on the wall of [[Shiva]] temple, [[Prambanan]] (Java, Indonesia).]]
In [[Hinduism]], Devas are celestial beings associated with various aspects of the cosmos.
Devas such as [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], and [[Shiva]], form the [[Trimurti|Hindu trinity]] known as the Trimurthi and preside over the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation.
Lesser devas may control the forces of nature, such as [[Vayu]], the Lord of the wind, [[Varuna]] the Lord of water, and [[Agni]], the lord of fire.
Hinduism also has many other lesser celestial beings, such as the married [[Gandharvas]] (male celestial musicians) and [[Apsaras]] (female celestial dancers).
==Sangam literature==
{{expand section|date=July 2015}}
[[Sangam literature]] of Tamil (300BC-300CE) describes the offerings for devas. In [[Silapathikaram]] one of the five epics of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] by [[Ilango Adigal]] saying the offering for Four kind of devas.<ref>{{cite book|title=Silappadikaram By S. Krishnamoorthy|page=35|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STbMzFKaxcQC&q=Religious+Festivals+in+silappadikaram&pg=PA56|last1=Krishnamoorthy|first1=S.|year=1964}}</ref>
{{wide image|Les 9 devas.jpg|900px|The nine Devas, [[Khleangs]] artwork from Cambodia (~1000 CE). From left to right: ''Surya'' (Sun) on chariot, ''Chandra'' (Moon) on pedestal, ''Shiva'' on bull, ''Varuna'' on crocodile, ''Indra'' on elephant, ''Kubera'' on horse, ''Agni'' on ram, ''Rahu'' on clouds and ''Ketu'' on lion.}}
==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Vishvadevas]]
* [[Ishvara]]
* [[Bhagavan]]
* [[God and gender in Hinduism]]
* [[Hindu deities]]
* [[Deva (Buddhism)]]
* [[Jangam]]
* [[Divinity]]
* [[Devata]]
* [[Daeva]]
* [[Anito|Diwata]]
{{div col end}}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
==References==
{{reflist|25em}}
== Further reading ==
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1061926 The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion] FBJ Kuiper (1975), History of Religions, Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 107–120 (on roots of Devas and Asuras)
* [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5686828&fileId=S0035869X00130837 The Proto-Indoaryans] T Burrow (1973), Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. 105, Issue 2, pages 123–140 (on roots of Devas and Asuras in Indo-Iranian versus Indo-European history)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060323/http://w.omilosmeleton.gr/pdf/en/indology/IDR.pdf Indo-European Deities and the Rigveda] ND Kazanas (2001), The Journal of Indo-European Studies, Vol. 29, No. 3 & 4
* [http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/VedicJapan.pdf The Vedic Gods of Japan] S Kak (2004), Brahmavidyā: The Adyar Library Bulletin (on the spread of Vedic Devas such as Indra, Agni, Vayu outside India)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/225187 On Translation: Māyā, Deva, Tapas] Ananda Coomaraswamy, Isis, Vol. 19, No. 1, pages 74–91 (on alternate meanings of Devas)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3270127 Ritual, Knowledge, and Being: Initiation and Veda Study in Ancient India] Brian K. Smith (1986), Numen, Vol. 33, Fasc. 1, pages 65–89 (on the role of knowledge in empowering the Deva nature in man)
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[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]
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{{About|Devas in Hindu scriptures and culture|other uses|Deva (disambiguation)}}
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-[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]
+[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means "god", “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]
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0 => '[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means "god", “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]'
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0 => '[[File:Indra, Chief of the Gods LACMA M.69.13.4 (1 of 5).jpg|thumb|In the earliest [[Vedas|Vedic literature]], ''Devas'' are benevolent [[supernatural being]]s;<ref name="Klostermaier 2007">{{cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |author-link=Klaus Klostermaier |year=2007 |chapter=Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |location=[[Albany, New York]] |publisher=[[SUNY Press]] |edition=3rd |series=India and South Asian Studies |pages=101–102 |isbn=9780791470824 |lccn=2006021542 |quote=The Hindu ''deva'' is not [[God in Hinduism|God]]—at the most ''deva'' could be loosely translated as a “divine being.” Etymologically it means “shiny,” “exalted”; and thus we find that the term ''deva'' covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called ''devas'' or ''devatā''. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as ''deva''. In [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with ''god'', but rather with ''supernatural powers'' in general.}}</ref> above, a gilt-copper statue of [[Indra]], "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century [[Nepal]].]]'
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Parsed HTML source of the new revision (new_html) | '<div class="mw-parser-output"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Male celestial being in Hinduism</div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1033289096">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about Devas in Hindu scriptures and culture. For other uses, see <a href="/wiki/Deva_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Deva (disambiguation)">Deva (disambiguation)</a>.</div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Indra,_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_(1_of_5).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg/220px-Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg/330px-Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg/440px-Indra%2C_Chief_of_the_Gods_LACMA_M.69.13.4_%281_of_5%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1573" data-file-height="2100" /></a><figcaption>In the earliest <a href="/wiki/Vedas" title="Vedas">Vedic literature</a>, <i>Devas</i> are benevolent <a href="/wiki/Supernatural_being" class="mw-redirect" title="Supernatural being">supernatural beings</a>;<sup id="cite_ref-Klostermaier_2007_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Klostermaier_2007-1">[1]</a></sup> above, a gilt-copper statue of <a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a>, "Chief of the Gods", from 16th-century <a href="/wiki/Nepal" title="Nepal">Nepal</a>.</figcaption></figure>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1134653256">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:#f9f9f9;display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1092331828">@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .contains-special-characters{width:22em}}</style><div class="side-box metadata side-box-right contains-special-characters noprint selfref"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style>
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<div class="side-box-text plainlist"><b>This article contains <a href="/wiki/Brahmic_scripts" title="Brahmic scripts">Indic text</a>.</b> Without proper <a href="/wiki/Help:Multilingual_support_(Indic)" title="Help:Multilingual support (Indic)">rendering support</a>, you may see <a href="/wiki/Mojibake" title="Mojibake">question marks or boxes</a>, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.</div></div>
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<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1066479718">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}</style><table class="infobox"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="background-color:#FFC569">Translations of<br /><i>Deva</i></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">English</th><td class="infobox-data">Heavenly, divine, shiny, exalted, anything of excellence, donor of knowledge or resources.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Sanskrit-language text"><span lang="sa">देव</span></span> <br />(<a href="/wiki/International_Alphabet_of_Sanskrit_Transliteration" title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration">IAST</a>: <span title="Sanskrit-language text"><i lang="sa-Latn">deva</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Assamese_language" title="Assamese language">Assamese</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Assamese-language text"><span lang="as">দেৱতা</span></span> <br />(<span title="Assamese-language text"><i lang="as-Latn">dewatā</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Balinese_language" title="Balinese language">Balinese</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Balinese-language text"><span lang="ban">ᬤᬾᬯ</span></span> <br />(<span title="Balinese-language text"><i lang="ban-Latn">déwa</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Bengali_language" title="Bengali language">Bengali</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Bengali-language text"><span lang="bn">দেবতা</span></span> <br />(<span title="Bengali-language text"><i lang="bn-Latn">debota</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Hindi" title="Hindi">Hindi</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Hindi-language text"><span lang="hi">देवता</span></span> <br />(<span title="Hindi-language text"><i lang="hi-Latn">devatā</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Javanese_language" title="Javanese language">Javanese</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Javanese-language text"><span lang="jv">ꦢꦺꦮ</span></span> <br />(<span title="Javanese-language text"><i lang="jv-Latn">déwa</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Kannada" title="Kannada">Kannada</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Kannada-language text"><span lang="kn">ದೇವ</span></span> <br />(<span title="Kannada-language text"><i lang="kn-Latn">deva</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Malayalam" title="Malayalam">Malayalam</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Malayalam-language text"><span lang="ml">ദേവൻ</span></span> <br />(<span title="Malayalam-language text"><i lang="ml-Latn">devan</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Marathi_language" title="Marathi language">Marathi</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Marathi-language text"><span lang="mr">देव</span></span> <br />(<span title="Marathi-language text"><i lang="mr-Latn">dev</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Nepali_language" title="Nepali language">Nepali</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Nepali (macrolanguage)-language text"><span lang="ne">देवता</span></span> <br />(<span title="Nepali (macrolanguage)-language text"><i lang="ne-Latn">devatā</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Odia_language" title="Odia language">Odia</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Odia-language text"><span lang="or">ଦେବତା</span></span> <br />(<span title="Odia-language text"><i lang="or-Latn">debôta</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Tamil-language text"><span lang="ta">தேவர்கள்</span></span> <br />(<span title="Tamil-language text"><i lang="ta-Latn">tevarkal̤</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Telugu_language" title="Telugu language">Telugu</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span title="Telugu-language text"><span lang="te">దేవుడు</span></span> <br />(<span title="Telugu-language text"><i lang="te-Latn">dēvuḍu</i></span>)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below" style="background-color:#EBEBEB; font-size:small"><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_Hinduism_terms" title="Glossary of Hinduism terms">Glossary of Hinduism terms</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>Deva</b></i> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'d' in 'dye'">d</span><span title="/eɪ/: 'a' in 'face'">eɪ</span><span title="'v' in 'vie'">v</span><span title="/ə/: 'a' in 'about'">ə</span></span>/</a></span></span>; <a href="/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a>: <span title="Sanskrit-language text"><span lang="sa">देव</span></span>) means "shiny", "exalted", "heavenly being", "divine being", "anything of excellence",<sup id="cite_ref-Klostermaier_2007_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Klostermaier_2007-1">[1]</a></sup> and is also one of the Sanskrit terms used to indicate a <a href="/wiki/Deity" title="Deity">deity</a> in <a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup> <i>Deva</i> is a masculine term; the feminine equivalent is <i><a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">Devi</a></i>.
</p><p>In the earliest <a href="/wiki/Vedas" title="Vedas">Vedic literature</a>, all <a href="/wiki/Supernatural_being" class="mw-redirect" title="Supernatural being">supernatural beings</a> are called <i>Devas</i><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-George_Williams_2008-5">[5]</a></sup> and <i><a href="/wiki/Asura" title="Asura">Asuras</a></i>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> The concepts and legends evolved in <a href="/wiki/Indian_literature#In_archaic_Indian_languages" title="Indian literature">ancient Indian literature</a>, and by the late <a href="/wiki/Vedic_period" title="Vedic period">Vedic period</a>, benevolent supernatural beings are referred to as <i>Deva-Asuras</i>. In post-Vedic <a href="/wiki/Hindu_texts" title="Hindu texts">Hindu texts</a>, such as the <a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Itihasas" class="mw-redirect" title="Itihasas">Itihasas</a> of Hinduism, the <i>Devas</i> represent the good, and the <i>Asuras</i> the bad.<sup id="cite_ref-nickgier_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nickgier-8">[8]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-fowlergita_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fowlergita-9">[9]</a></sup> In some <a href="/wiki/List_of_historic_Indian_texts" title="List of historic Indian texts">medieval works of Indian literature</a>, <i>Devas</i> are also referred to as <i><b>Suras</b></i> and contrasted with their equally powerful but malevolent <a href="/wiki/Half-brother" class="mw-redirect" title="Half-brother">half-brothers</a>, referred to as the <i>Asuras</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-ang_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-ang-10">[10]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>Devas</i>, along with <i>Asuras</i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Yaksha" title="Yaksha">Yakshas</a></i> (nature spirits), and <i><a href="/wiki/Rakshasa" title="Rakshasa">Rakshasas</a></i> (ghoulish ogres/<a href="/wiki/Demons" class="mw-redirect" title="Demons">demons</a>), are part of Indian mythology, and <i>Devas</i> feature in many cosmological theories in <a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup>
</p>
<div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="display:none" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr"><h2 id="mw-toc-heading">Contents</h2><span class="toctogglespan"><label class="toctogglelabel" for="toctogglecheckbox"></label></span></div>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Etymology"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Etymology</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#Vedic_literature"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Vedic literature</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Samhitas_and_Brahmanas"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Samhitas and Brahmanas</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Important_Devas"><span class="tocnumber">2.2</span> <span class="toctext">Important Devas</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#Henotheism"><span class="tocnumber">2.3</span> <span class="toctext">Henotheism</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Characteristics_of_Devas_in_the_Vedic_literature"><span class="tocnumber">2.4</span> <span class="toctext">Characteristics of Devas in the Vedic literature</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="#Upanishads"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Upanishads</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#Puranas_and_Itihasas"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Puranas and Itihasas</span></a>
<ul>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="#Bhagavata_Purana"><span class="tocnumber">4.1</span> <span class="toctext">Bhagavata Purana</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="#Symbolism"><span class="tocnumber">4.2</span> <span class="toctext">Symbolism</span></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><a href="#Classical_Hinduism"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Classical Hinduism</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Sangam_literature"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Sangam literature</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-13"><a href="#See_also"><span class="tocnumber">7</span> <span class="toctext">See also</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-14"><a href="#Notes"><span class="tocnumber">8</span> <span class="toctext">Notes</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-15"><a href="#References"><span class="tocnumber">9</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>
<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="#Further_reading"><span class="tocnumber">10</span> <span class="toctext">Further reading</span></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Etymology">Etymology</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Etymology">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p><i>Deva</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a> word found in Vedic literature of 2nd millennium BCE. <a href="/wiki/Monier_Monier-Williams" title="Monier Monier-Williams">Sir Monier Monier-Williams</a> translates it as "heavenly, divine, terrestrial things of high excellence, exalted, shining ones".<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-klausklos_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-klausklos-13">[13]</a></sup> The concept also is used to refer to deity.<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup>
</p><p>The Sanskrit <i>deva-</i> derives from <a href="/wiki/Proto-Indo-Iranian_language" title="Proto-Indo-Iranian language">Indo-Iranian</a> <i>*daiv-</i> which in turn descends from the <a href="/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_language" title="Proto-Indo-European language">Proto-Indo-European</a> word, <i>*<a href="/w/index.php?title=Deiwo-&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Deiwo- (page does not exist)">deiwo-</a></i>, originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", which is a (not synchronic Sanskrit) <a href="/wiki/Vrddhi" class="mw-redirect" title="Vrddhi">vrddhi</a> derivative from <i>*diw</i>, zero-grade of the root <i>*dyew-</i> meaning "to shine", especially as the day-lit sky.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> The feminine form of <i>*deiwos</i> is <i>*deiwih<sub>2</sub></i>, which descends into Indic languages as <i><a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">devi</a></i>, in that context meaning "female deity". Also deriving from <i>*deiwos</i>, and thus cognates of <i>deva</i>, are "Zeys/<i>Ζεύς</i>" - "Dias/<i>Δίας</i>", the Greek father of the gods, Lithuanian <a href="/wiki/Dievas" title="Dievas">Dievas</a> (Latvian <a href="/wiki/Dievs" class="mw-redirect" title="Dievs">Dievs</a>, Prussian <a href="/wiki/Deiwas" class="mw-redirect" title="Deiwas">Deiwas</a>), Germanic <a href="/wiki/Tiwaz" class="mw-redirect" title="Tiwaz">Tiwaz</a> (seen in English "<i>Tue</i>sday") and the related Old Norse Tivar (gods), and Latin <a href="/wiki/Deus" title="Deus">Deus</a> "god" and <i>divus</i> "divine", from which the English words "divine" and "deity" are derived. It is related to <i>*<a href="/wiki/Dyeus" class="mw-redirect" title="Dyeus">Dyeus</a></i> which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the "heavenly shining father", and hence to "Father Sky", the chief God of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit <a href="/wiki/Dyaus" title="Dyaus">Dyaus</a>. The abode of the Devas is <a href="/wiki/Dyuloka" title="Dyuloka">Dyuloka</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a></sup>
</p><p>According to Douglas Harper, the etymological roots of <i>Deva</i> mean "a shining one," from *div- "to shine," and it is cognate with Greek dios "divine" and <a href="/wiki/Zeus" title="Zeus">Zeus</a>, and Latin deus "god" (Old Latin deivos).<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup> The word "Deva" shares similarities with Persian <a href="/wiki/Daeva" title="Daeva">Daeva</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup>
</p><p>Deva is masculine; the related feminine equivalent is <a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">devi</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-monierdevi_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monierdevi-20">[20]</a></sup> Etymologically, <i>Devi</i> is cognate with Latin <i>dea</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup> When capitalized, <i>Devi</i> or <i>Mata</i> refers to a divine mother goddess in Hinduism.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22">[22]</a></sup> <i>Deva</i> is also referred to as <i>Devatā</i>,<sup id="cite_ref-klausklos_13-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-klausklos-13">[13]</a></sup> and <i>Devi</i> as <i>Devika</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-monierdevi_20-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monierdevi-20">[20]</a></sup>
</p><p>The word <i>Deva</i> is also a proper name or part of a name in Indian culture, where it refers to "one who wishes to excel, overcome" or the "seeker of, master of or a best among".<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Vedic_literature">Vedic literature</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Vedic literature">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Rigvedic_deities" title="Rigvedic deities">Rigvedic deities</a></div>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges,_Muni_ki_Reti,_Rishikesh.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg/220px-A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg/330px-A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg/440px-A_havan_ceremony_on_the_banks_of_Ganges%2C_Muni_ki_Reti%2C_Rishikesh.jpg 2x" data-file-width="768" data-file-height="1024" /></a><figcaption>Shiva/Rudra has been a major Deva in Hinduism since the Vedic times.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup> Above is a meditating statue of him in the <a href="/wiki/Himalayas" title="Himalayas">Himalayas</a> with Hindus offering prayers.</figcaption></figure>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Samhitas_and_Brahmanas">Samhitas and Brahmanas</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Samhitas and Brahmanas">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg/220px-Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="378" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg/330px-Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg/440px-Tani_Bunch%C5%8D_-_Jy%C5%ABroku_Zenshin_no_Zu.jpg 2x" data-file-width="443" data-file-height="761" /></a><figcaption>The 12 Devas protecting Buddha, by <a href="/wiki/Tani_Bunch%C5%8D" title="Tani Bunchō">Tani Bunchō</a>. The Hindu Devas were adopted by Japanese Buddhists in the first millennium as <i><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E5%A4%A9" class="extiw" title="ja:十二天">Jūni-ten</a></i><sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a></sup></figcaption></figure>
<p>The <a href="/wiki/Samhita" title="Samhita">Samhitas</a>, which are the oldest layer of text in <a href="/wiki/Vedas" title="Vedas">Vedas</a> enumerate 33 devas,<sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-28">[note 1]</a></sup> either 11 each for the three worlds, or as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus and 2 Asvins in the <a href="/wiki/Brahmanas" class="mw-redirect" title="Brahmanas">Brahmanas</a> layer of Vedic texts.<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-George_Williams_2008-5">[5]</a></sup> The Rigveda states in hymn 1.139.11,
</p>
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<div class="poem">
<p>ये <b>देवा</b>सो दिव्येकादश स्थ पृथिव्यामध्येकादश स्थ ।<br />
अप्सुक्षितो महिनैकादश स्थ ते देवासो यज्ञमिमं जुषध्वम् ॥११॥<sup id="cite_ref-29" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-29">[28]</a></sup><br />
<br />
O ye eleven deities whose home is heaven, O ye eleven who make earth your dwelling,<br />
Ye who with might, eleven, live in waters, accept this sacrifice, O deities, with pleasure.<br />
– Translated by <a href="/wiki/Ralph_T._H._Griffith" title="Ralph T. H. Griffith">Ralph T. H. Griffith</a><sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-30">[29]</a></sup><br />
<br />
Deities who are eleven in heaven; who are eleven on earth;<br />
and who are eleven dwelling with glory in mid-air; may ye be pleased with this our sacrifice.<br />
– Translated by HH Wilson<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31">[30]</a></sup>
</p>
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<div class="templatequotecite">— <cite><a href="/wiki/Rigveda" title="Rigveda">Rigveda</a> 1.139.11</cite></div></blockquote>
<p>Some devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values (such as the <a href="/wiki/%C4%80dityas" class="mw-redirect" title="Ādityas">Adityas</a>, <a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Mitra" title="Mitra">Mitra</a>), each symbolizing the epitome of a specialized knowledge, creative energy, exalted and magical powers (<i>Siddhis</i>).<sup id="cite_ref-32" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-32">[31]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-binagupta_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-binagupta-33">[32]</a></sup> The most referred to Devas in the <a href="/wiki/Rig_Veda" class="mw-redirect" title="Rig Veda">Rig Veda</a> are <a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a>, <a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a> (fire) and <a href="/wiki/Soma_(deity)" class="mw-redirect" title="Soma (deity)">Soma</a>, with "fire deity" called the friend of all humanity, it and Soma being the two celebrated in a <a href="/wiki/Yajna" title="Yajna">yajna</a> fire ritual that marks major Hindu ceremonies. <a href="/wiki/Savitr" title="Savitr">Savitr</a>, <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rudra" title="Rudra">Rudra</a> (later given the exclusive epithet of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a>), and <a href="/wiki/Prajapati" title="Prajapati">Prajapati</a> (later <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a>) are gods and hence Devas. <a href="/wiki/Parvati" title="Parvati">Parvati</a> (power and love) and <a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Durga</a> (victory) are some <a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">Devis</a> or goddesses. Many of the deities taken together are worshiped as the <a href="/wiki/Vishvedevas" class="mw-redirect" title="Vishvedevas">Vishvedevas</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (July 2015)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup>
</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Important_Devas">Important Devas</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Important Devas">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a> the deity of creation</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a> the deity of preservation</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> the deity of destruction and <a href="/wiki/K%C4%81la" title="Kāla">time</a>; associated with fertility and regeneration</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ganesha" title="Ganesha">Ganesha</a> the deity of new beginnings, wisdom, and luck</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a> the deity associateded to courage, reverence and strength/avatar of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kartikeya" title="Kartikeya">Kartikeya</a> the deity of victory and <a href="/wiki/War" title="War">war</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishwakarma" class="mw-redirect" title="Vishwakarma">Vishwakarma</a> the deity of architecture</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dhanvantari" title="Dhanvantari">Dhanvantari</a> the deity of doctors and Ayurveda/avatar of <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dyaus" title="Dyaus">Dyaus</a> the deity of the <a href="/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)" title="Aether (classical element)"> aether</a> (or <a href="/wiki/Sky" title="Sky">sky</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vayu" title="Vayu">Vayu</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Air" class="mw-redirect" title="Air">air</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wind" title="Wind">wind</a> and <a href="/wiki/Breath" class="mw-redirect" title="Breath">breath</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Water" title="Water">water</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rain" title="Rain">rain</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Fire" title="Fire">fire</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yama_(Hinduism)" title="Yama (Hinduism)">Yama</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Death" title="Death">death</a> and <a href="/wiki/Justice" title="Justice">justice</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Samudra" title="Samudra">Samudra</a> the deity of the <a href="/wiki/Seas" class="mw-redirect" title="Seas">seas</a>/form of <a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kubera" title="Kubera">Kubera</a> the deity of opulence and wealth</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kamadeva" title="Kamadeva">Kamadeva</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Love" title="Love">love</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a> the king of deities and deity of <a href="/wiki/Weather" title="Weather">weather</a>, <a href="/wiki/Storms" class="mw-redirect" title="Storms">storms</a> and <a href="/wiki/Sky" title="Sky">sky</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ashvins" title="Ashvins">Ashwini Kumara</a> the deity of health and medicine</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Surya" title="Surya">Surya</a> the deity of the <a href="/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">sun</a>, <a href="/wiki/Light" title="Light">light</a> and <a href="/wiki/Day" title="Day">day</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chandra" title="Chandra">Chandra</a> the deity of the <a href="/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">moon</a> and <a href="/wiki/Night" title="Night">night</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mangala" title="Mangala">Mangala</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Mars" title="Mars">Mars</a> and Aggression</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Budha" title="Budha">Budha</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Mercury_(planet)" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a> and <a href="/wiki/Nature" title="Nature">Nature</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Brihaspati" title="Brihaspati">Brihaspati</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Jupiter" title="Jupiter">Jupiter</a> and teacher of the <a href="/wiki/Devas_(Hinduism)" class="mw-redirect" title="Devas (Hinduism)"> Devas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shukra" title="Shukra">Shukra</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a> and worship (bhakti) and teacher of the <a href="/wiki/Asuras" class="mw-redirect" title="Asuras">Asuras</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shani" title="Shani">Shani</a> the deity of <a href="/wiki/Saturn" title="Saturn">Saturn</a> and deeds (karma)</li></ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Henotheism">Henotheism</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Henotheism">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<p>In Vedic literature, <i>Deva</i> is not a monotheistic God; rather a "supernatural, divine" concept manifesting in various ideas and knowledge, in a form that combines excellence in some aspects, wrestling with weakness and questions in other aspects, heroic in their outlook and actions, yet tied up with emotions and desires.<sup id="cite_ref-binagupta_33-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-binagupta-33">[32]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-34" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-34">[33]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/wiki/Max_Muller" class="mw-redirect" title="Max Muller">Max Muller</a> states that the Vedic hymns are remarkable in calling every one of the different devas as "the only one, the supreme, the greatest".<sup id="cite_ref-klausklos_13-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-klausklos-13">[13]</a></sup> Muller concluded that the Vedic ideas about <i>devas</i> are best understood neither as <a href="/wiki/Polytheism" title="Polytheism">polytheism</a> nor as <a href="/wiki/Monotheism" title="Monotheism">monotheism</a>, but as <a href="/wiki/Henotheism" title="Henotheism">henotheism</a> where gods are equivalent, different perspectives, different aspects of reverence and spirituality, unified by principles of <a href="/wiki/%E1%B9%9Ata" title="Ṛta">Ṛta</a> and <a href="/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma">Dharma</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-klausklos_13-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-klausklos-13">[13]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-35" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-35">[34]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Characteristics_of_Devas_in_the_Vedic_literature">Characteristics of Devas in the Vedic literature</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Characteristics of Devas in the Vedic literature">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<p><a href="/wiki/Ananda_Coomaraswamy" title="Ananda Coomaraswamy">Ananda Coomaraswamy</a> states that Devas and Asuras in the Vedic lore are similar to the <a href="/wiki/Twelve_Olympians" title="Twelve Olympians">Olympian gods</a> and <a href="/wiki/Titan_(mythology)" class="mw-redirect" title="Titan (mythology)">Titans</a> of Greek mythology. Both are powerful but have different orientations and inclinations, with the Devas representing the powers of Light and the Asuras representing the powers of Darkness in Hindu mythology.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36">[35]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-37" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-37">[36]</a></sup> According to Coomaraswamy's interpretation of Devas and Asuras, both these natures exist in each human being, both the tyrant and the angel. The best and the worst within each person struggles before choices and one's own nature, and the Hindu formulation of Devas and Asuras is an eternal dance between these within each person.<sup id="cite_ref-38" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-38">[37]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Gier_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gier-39">[38]</a></sup>
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<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r996844942"><blockquote class="templatequote">
<p>The Devas and Asuras, Angels and Titans, powers of Light and powers of Darkness in Rigveda, although distinct and opposite in operation, are in essence consubstantial, their distinction being a matter not of essence but of orientation, revolution or transformation. In this case, the Titan is potentially an Angel, the Angel still by nature a Titan; the Darkness in <i>actu</i> is Light, the Light in <i>potentia</i> Darkness; whence the designations Asura and Deva may be applied to one and the same Person according to the mode of operation, as in Rigveda 1.163.3, "Trita art thou (Agni) by interior operation".
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<div class="templatequotecite">— <cite>Ananda Coomaraswamy, Journal of the American Oriental Society<sup id="cite_ref-40" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-40">[39]</a></sup></cite></div></blockquote>
<p>All-powerful beings, good or evil, are called Devas<sup id="cite_ref-monier_2-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-monier-2">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-George_Williams_2008-5">[5]</a></sup> and Asuras in the oldest layer of Vedic texts. A much-studied hymn of the Rigveda states <i>Devav asura</i> (Asuras who have become Devas), and contrasts it with <i>Asura adevah</i> (Asuras who are not Devas).<sup id="cite_ref-kuiper_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-kuiper-41">[40]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-42" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-42">[41]</a></sup> They are born from the same father, Prajapati, the primordial progenitor; his sons are envisioned as the Asuras and Devas.<sup id="cite_ref-43" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-43">[42]</a></sup> They all share the same residence (<i>Loka</i>), eat together the same food and drinks (<i>Soma</i>), and have innate potential, knowledge and special powers in Hindu mythology; the only thing that distinguishes "Asuras who become Devas" from "Asuras who remain Asuras" is intent, action and choices they make in their mythic lives.<sup id="cite_ref-Gier_39-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gier-39">[38]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-yves_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-yves-44">[43]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Upanishads">Upanishads</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Upanishads">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg/220px-Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg/330px-Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg/440px-Vishnu_seated_on_Ananda._Cave3Badami.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2736" data-file-height="3648" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a> (above) is one of the Vedic Devas.<sup id="cite_ref-45" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-45">[44]</a></sup> The third Valli of the <a href="/wiki/Katha_Upanishad" title="Katha Upanishad">Katha Upanishad</a> discusses ethical duties of man through the parable of the chariot as a means to realize the state of Vishnu, one with Self-knowledge.<sup id="cite_ref-46" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-46">[45]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47">[46]</a></sup></figcaption></figure>
<p>The oldest Upanishads mention <i>Devas</i>, and their struggle with the <i>Asuras</i>. The <a href="/wiki/Kaushitaki_Upanishad" title="Kaushitaki Upanishad">Kaushitaki Upanishad</a>, for example, in Book 4 states that "<a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a> was weaker than the Asuras when he did not know his own <a href="/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)" class="mw-redirect" title="Atman (Hinduism)">Atman</a> (soul, self).<sup id="cite_ref-deussenku_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussenku-48">[47]</a></sup> Once Indra had self-knowledge, he became independent, sovereign and victorious over the Asuras"; similarly, states Kaushitaki Upanishad, "the man who knows his inner self gains independence, sovereignty and is unaffected by all evil".<sup id="cite_ref-deussenku_48-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussenku-48">[47]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/wiki/Chandogya_Upanishad" title="Chandogya Upanishad">Chandogya Upanishad</a>, in chapter 1.2, describes the battle between Devas and Asuras on various sensory powers.<sup id="cite_ref-deussencu_49-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussencu-49">[48]</a></sup> This battle between good and evil fails to produce a victor and simply manifests itself in the perceived universe, as good or evil sights witnessed by beings, as good or evil words shared between people, as good or evil smells of nature, as good or evil feelings experienced, as good or evil thoughts within each person. Finally, the Deva-Asura battle targets the soul, where Asuras fail and Devas succeed, because soul-force is serene and inherently good, asserts Chandogya Upanishad.<sup id="cite_ref-deussencu_49-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussencu-49">[48]</a></sup>
</p><p>Chapter 3.5.2 of the <a href="/wiki/Brihadaranyaka_Upanishad" title="Brihadaranyaka Upanishad">Brihadaranyaka Upanishad</a> describes Devas, Men, and Asuras as sons of Prajapati, the primordial father.<sup id="cite_ref-deussenbu_50-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussenbu-50">[49]</a></sup> Each asks for a lesson on ethics. Prajapati tells the Devas to observe the virtue of temperance (self-restraint, <i>Dama</i>), the Men to observe the virtue of charity (<i>Dana</i>), and Asuras to observe the virtue of compassion (<i>Daya</i>). At the end of the chapter, the Upanishad declares that these are three cardinal virtues that should always be observed by all Devas, Men and Asuras.<sup id="cite_ref-deussenbu_50-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-deussenbu-50">[49]</a></sup>
</p><p>Medieval era Indian scholars, in their <i>Bhasya</i> (review and commentaries) on the Upanishads, stated that the discussion of Devas and Asuras in the Upanishads is symbolic, and it represents the good and evil that resides and struggles within each human being. <a href="/wiki/Adi_Shankara" title="Adi Shankara">Adi Shankara</a>, for example, in his commentary on <a href="/wiki/Brihadaranyaka_Upanishad" title="Brihadaranyaka Upanishad">Brihadaranyaka Upanishad</a> asserted that Devas represent the human seeking for the sacred and spiritual, while the Asuras represent the human seeking for the worldly excesses.<sup id="cite_ref-51" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-51">[50]</a></sup> Edelmann and other modern era scholars also state that the Devas versus Asuras discussion in Upanishads is a form of symbolism.<sup id="cite_ref-52" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-52">[51]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53">[52]</a></sup>
</p><p>In the later primary <a href="/wiki/Upanishad" class="mw-redirect" title="Upanishad">Upanishadic</a> texts, Devas and Asuras discuss and act to seek knowledge, for different purposes. In one case, for example, they go to Prajāpati, their father, to understand what is Self (Atman, soul) and how to realize it. The first answer that Prajāpati gives is simplistic, which the Asuras accept and leave with, but the Devas led by Indra do not accept and question because Indra finds that he hasn't grasped its full significance and the given answer has inconsistencies.<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann14_54-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann14-54">[53]</a></sup> Edelmann states that this symbolism embedded in the Upanishads is a reminder that one must struggle with presented ideas, learning is a process, and Deva nature emerges with effort.<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann14_54-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann14-54">[53]</a></sup>
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Puranas_and_Itihasas">Puranas and Itihasas</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Puranas and Itihasas">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<p>In the <a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a> and the <a href="/wiki/Itihasas" class="mw-redirect" title="Itihasas">Itihasas</a> with the embedded Bhagavad Gita, the Devas represent the good, and the Asuras the bad.<sup id="cite_ref-nickgier_8-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nickgier-8">[8]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-fowlergita_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fowlergita-9">[9]</a></sup> According to the <a href="/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita" title="Bhagavad Gita">Bhagavad Gita</a> (16.6-16.7), all beings in the universe have both the divine qualities (<i>daivi sampad</i>) and the demonic qualities (<i>asuri sampad</i>) within each.<sup id="cite_ref-fowlergita_9-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fowlergita-9">[9]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-chrischapple_55-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-chrischapple-55">[54]</a></sup> The sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita states that pure god-like saints are rare and pure demon-like evil are rare among human beings, and the bulk of humanity is multi-charactered with a few or many faults.<sup id="cite_ref-fowlergita_9-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fowlergita-9">[9]</a></sup> According to Jeaneane Fowler, the Gita states that desires, aversions, greed, needs, emotions in various forms "are facets of ordinary lives", and it is only when they turn to lust, hate, cravings, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, hypocrisy, violence, cruelty and such negativity- and destruction-inclined that natural human inclinations metamorphose into something demonic (Asura).<sup id="cite_ref-fowlergita_9-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-fowlergita-9">[9]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-chrischapple_55-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-chrischapple-55">[54]</a></sup>
</p><p>Everyone starts as an Asura in Hindu mythology, born of the same father. "Asuras who remain Asura" share the character of powerful beings obsessed with their craving for more power, more wealth, ego, anger, unprincipled nature, force and violence.<sup id="cite_ref-gierasurach_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-gierasurach-56">[55]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-stellaray_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stellaray-57">[56]</a></sup> The "Asuras who become Devas" in contrast are driven by an inner voice, seek understanding and meaning, prefer moderation, principled behavior, morals, knowledge, and harmony.<sup id="cite_ref-gierasurach_56-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-gierasurach-56">[55]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-stellaray_57-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-stellaray-57">[56]</a></sup> The hostility between the two is the source of extensive legends and tales in the Puranic and the Epic literature of Hinduism; however, many texts discuss their hostility in neutral terms and without explicit condemnation.<sup id="cite_ref-yves_44-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-yves-44">[43]</a></sup> Some of these tales are the basis for myths behind major Hindu festivals, such as the story of Asura Ravana and Deva Rama in the <a href="/wiki/Ramayana" title="Ramayana">Ramayana</a> and the legend of Asura <a href="/wiki/Hiranyakashipu" title="Hiranyakashipu">Hiranyakashipu</a> and Deva Vishnu as <a href="/wiki/Narasimha" title="Narasimha">Narasimha</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-yves_44-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-yves-44">[43]</a></sup> the latter celebrated with the Hindu spring festival of <a href="/wiki/Holika" title="Holika">Holika</a> and <a href="/wiki/Holi" title="Holi">Holi</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-58">[57]</a></sup>
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Bhagavata_Purana">Bhagavata Purana</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Bhagavata Purana">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<p>In <a href="/wiki/Bhagavata_Purana" title="Bhagavata Purana">Bhagavata Purana</a>, <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a> had ten sons: <a href="/wiki/Marichi" title="Marichi">Marichi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Atri" title="Atri">Atri</a>, <a href="/wiki/Angiras_(sage)" class="mw-redirect" title="Angiras (sage)">Angira</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pulastya" title="Pulastya">Pulastya</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pulaha" title="Pulaha">Pulaha</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kratu" title="Kratu">Kratu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Vasistha" class="mw-redirect" title="Vasistha">Vasistha</a>, <a href="/wiki/Daksha" title="Daksha">Daksa</a>, <a href="/wiki/Narada" title="Narada">Narada</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-59" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-59">[58]</a></sup> Marici had a son called <a href="/wiki/Kasyapa" class="mw-redirect" title="Kasyapa">Kasyapa</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-60" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-60">[59]</a></sup> Kasyapa had thirteen wives: <a href="/wiki/Aditi" title="Aditi">Aditi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Diti" title="Diti">Diti</a>, <a href="/wiki/Danu_(Asura)" class="mw-redirect" title="Danu (Asura)">Danu</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kadru" title="Kadru">Kadru</a> etc.<sup id="cite_ref-61" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-61">[60]</a></sup> The sons of Aditi are called <a href="/wiki/Adityas" title="Adityas">Adityas</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62">[61]</a></sup> the sons of Diti are called <a href="/wiki/Daityas" class="mw-redirect" title="Daityas">Daityas</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63">[62]</a></sup> and the sons of Danu are called <a href="/wiki/Danavas" class="mw-redirect" title="Danavas">Danavas</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64">[63]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/B%E1%B9%9Bhaspati" class="mw-redirect" title="Bṛhaspati">Bṛhaspati</a> (<a href="/wiki/Jupiter" title="Jupiter">Jupiter</a>, son of Angiras) is a <a href="/wiki/Guru" title="Guru">guru</a> of devas (vedic gods). <a href="/wiki/Shukra" title="Shukra">Shukracharya</a> (<a href="/wiki/Venus" title="Venus">Venus</a>, son of <a href="/wiki/Bhrigu" title="Bhrigu">Bhrigu</a>) is a guru of <a href="/wiki/Asura" title="Asura">asuras</a> (vedic <a href="/wiki/Demon" title="Demon">demons</a>) or/and <a href="/wiki/Danavas" class="mw-redirect" title="Danavas">Danavas</a>.
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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Symbolism">Symbolism</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Symbolism">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h3>
<p>Edelmann states that the dichotomies present in the <a href="/wiki/Purana" class="mw-redirect" title="Purana">Puranas</a> literature of Hinduism are symbolism for spiritual concepts. For example, god Indra (a Deva) and the antigod Virocana (an Asura) question a sage for insights into the knowledge of the self.<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann14_54-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann14-54">[53]</a></sup> Virocana leaves with the first given answer, believing now he can use the knowledge as a weapon. In contrast, Indra keeps pressing the sage, churning the ideas, and learning about means to inner happiness and power. Edelmann suggests that the Deva-Asura dichotomies in Hindu mythology may be seen as "narrative depictions of tendencies within our selves".<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann14_54-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann14-54">[53]</a></sup>
</p><p>The god (Deva) and antigod (Asura), states Edelmann, are also symbolically the contradictory forces that motivate each individual and people, and thus Deva-Asura dichotomy is a spiritual concept rather than mere genealogical category or species of being.<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann13_65-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann13-65">[64]</a></sup> In the Bhāgavata Purana, saints and gods are born in families of Asuras, such as <a href="/wiki/Mahabali" title="Mahabali">Mahabali</a> and <a href="/wiki/Prahlada" title="Prahlada">Prahlada</a>, conveying the symbolism that motivations, beliefs, and actions rather than one's birth and family circumstances define whether one is Deva-like or Asura-like.<sup id="cite_ref-edelmann13_65-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-edelmann13-65">[64]</a></sup> wait what what help me HELP ME
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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Classical_Hinduism">Classical Hinduism</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Classical Hinduism">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1097763485">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}html.client-js body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .mbox-text-span{margin-left:23px!important}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}</style><table class="box-Expand_section plainlinks metadata ambox mbox-small-left ambox-content" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="[icon]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png" decoding="async" width="20" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/30px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/40px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="44" data-file-height="31" /></a></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs expansion</b>. You can help by <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=">adding to it</a>. <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">July 2015</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg/250px-COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="170" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg/375px-COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg/500px-COLLECTIE_TROPENMUSEUM_Reli%C3%ABf_met_Lokapala_op_de_aan_Shiva_gewijde_tempel_op_de_Candi_Lara_Jonggrang_oftewel_het_Prambanan_tempelcomplex_TMnr_10016205.jpg 2x" data-file-width="700" data-file-height="476" /></a><figcaption>The male <a href="/wiki/Lokapala" title="Lokapala">Lokapala</a> devas, the <a href="/wiki/Guardians_of_the_directions#Lokapālas" title="Guardians of the directions">guardians of the directions</a>, on the wall of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> temple, <a href="/wiki/Prambanan" title="Prambanan">Prambanan</a> (Java, Indonesia).</figcaption></figure>
<p>In <a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a>, Devas are celestial beings associated with various aspects of the cosmos.
Devas such as <a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a>, <a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a>, form the <a href="/wiki/Trimurti" title="Trimurti">Hindu trinity</a> known as the Trimurthi and preside over the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation.
</p><p>Lesser devas may control the forces of nature, such as <a href="/wiki/Vayu" title="Vayu">Vayu</a>, the Lord of the wind, <a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a> the Lord of water, and <a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a>, the lord of fire.
</p><p>Hinduism also has many other lesser celestial beings, such as the married <a href="/wiki/Gandharvas" class="mw-redirect" title="Gandharvas">Gandharvas</a> (male celestial musicians) and <a href="/wiki/Apsaras" class="mw-redirect" title="Apsaras">Apsaras</a> (female celestial dancers).
</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Sangam_literature">Sangam literature</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Sangam literature">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1097763485"><table class="box-Expand_section plainlinks metadata ambox mbox-small-left ambox-content" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="[icon]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png" decoding="async" width="20" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/30px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/40px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="44" data-file-height="31" /></a></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs expansion</b>. You can help by <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=">adding to it</a>. <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">July 2015</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><a href="/wiki/Sangam_literature" title="Sangam literature">Sangam literature</a> of Tamil (300BC-300CE) describes the offerings for devas. In <a href="/wiki/Silapathikaram" class="mw-redirect" title="Silapathikaram">Silapathikaram</a> one of the five epics of <a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a> by <a href="/wiki/Ilango_Adigal" title="Ilango Adigal">Ilango Adigal</a> saying the offering for Four kind of devas.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66">[65]</a></sup>
</p>
<div class="thumb tnone" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;overflow:hidden;width:auto;max-width:908px"><div class="thumbinner"><div class="noresize" style="overflow:auto"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Les_9_devas.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The nine Devas, Khleangs artwork from Cambodia (~1000 CE). From left to right: Surya (Sun) on chariot, Chandra (Moon) on pedestal, Shiva on bull, Varuna on crocodile, Indra on elephant, Kubera on horse, Agni on ram, Rahu on clouds and Ketu on lion."><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Les_9_devas.jpg/900px-Les_9_devas.jpg" decoding="async" width="900" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Les_9_devas.jpg/1350px-Les_9_devas.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Les_9_devas.jpg/1800px-Les_9_devas.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3667" data-file-height="1199" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Les_9_devas.jpg" title="File:Les 9 devas.jpg"> </a></div>The nine Devas, <a href="/wiki/Khleangs" title="Khleangs">Khleangs</a> artwork from Cambodia (~1000 CE). From left to right: <i>Surya</i> (Sun) on chariot, <i>Chandra</i> (Moon) on pedestal, <i>Shiva</i> on bull, <i>Varuna</i> on crocodile, <i>Indra</i> on elephant, <i>Kubera</i> on horse, <i>Agni</i> on ram, <i>Rahu</i> on clouds and <i>Ketu</i> on lion.</div></div></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
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<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vishvadevas" class="mw-redirect" title="Vishvadevas">Vishvadevas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ishvara" title="Ishvara">Ishvara</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bhagavan" title="Bhagavan">Bhagavan</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/God_and_gender_in_Hinduism" title="God and gender in Hinduism">God and gender in Hinduism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_deities" title="Hindu deities">Hindu deities</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Deva_(Buddhism)" title="Deva (Buddhism)">Deva (Buddhism)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jangam" title="Jangam">Jangam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Divinity" title="Divinity">Divinity</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Devata" title="Devata">Devata</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Daeva" title="Daeva">Daeva</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Anito" title="Anito">Diwata</a></li></ul>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notes">Notes</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Notes">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
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<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-28"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The list of Vedic Devas somewhat varies across the manuscripts found in different parts of South Asia, particularly in terms of guides (Aswins) and personified Devas. One list based on Book 2 of Aitereya Brahmana is:<sup id="cite_ref-25" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup><br />
<ul><li>Devas personified: <a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a> (<span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Śakra</i></span>), <a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Varuṇa</i></span></a>, <a href="/wiki/Mitra_(Vedic)" class="mw-redirect" title="Mitra (Vedic)">Mitra</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aryaman" title="Aryaman">Aryaman</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bhaga" title="Bhaga">Bhaga</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ansa_(Hinduism)" class="mw-redirect" title="Ansa (Hinduism)"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Aṃśa</i></span></a>, Vidhatr (<b>Brahma</b>),<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Tvashtri" class="mw-redirect" title="Tvashtri"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Tvāṣṭṛ</i></span></a>, <a href="/wiki/Pushan" title="Pushan"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Pūṣan</i></span></a>, <a href="/wiki/Vivasvan" class="mw-redirect" title="Vivasvan">Vivasvat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Savitr" title="Savitr"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Savitṛ</i></span></a> (Dhatr), <b>Vishnu</b>.</li>
<li>Devas as abstractions or inner principles: Ānanda (bliss, inner contentment), Vijñāna (knowledge), Manas (mind, thought), Prāṇa (life-force), Vāc (speech), <a href="/wiki/Atman_(Hinduism)" class="mw-redirect" title="Atman (Hinduism)">Ātmā</a> (soul, self within each person), and five manifestations of <b>Rudra/Shiva</b> – <a href="/wiki/Ishana" title="Ishana">Īśāna</a>, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta</li>
<li>Devas as forces or principles of nature – <a href="/wiki/Prithvi" title="Prithvi"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Pṛthivī</i></span></a> (earth), <a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a> (fire), Antarikṣa (atmosphere, space), Jal (water), <a href="/wiki/Vayu" title="Vayu">Vāyu</a> (wind), <a href="/wiki/Dyaus_Pita" class="mw-redirect" title="Dyaus Pita"><span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Dyauṣ</i></span></a> (aether or sky), <a href="/wiki/Surya" title="Surya">Sūrya</a> (sun), <span title="International Alphabet of Sanskrit transliteration"><i lang="sa-Latn">Nakṣatra</i></span> (stars), Soma (moon)</li>
<li>Devas as guide or creative energy – Vasatkara, <a href="/wiki/Prajapati" title="Prajapati">Prajāpati</a></li></ul>
</span></li>
</ol></div></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: References">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1011085734"><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 25em;">
<ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-Klostermaier_2007-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Klostermaier_2007_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Klostermaier_2007_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1133582631">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}</style><cite id="CITEREFKlostermaier2007" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Klaus_Klostermaier" title="Klaus Klostermaier">Klostermaier, Klaus K.</a> (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8CVviRghVtIC&pg=PA101">"Part I. Hinduism: Sources and Worldview – The Many Gods and the One God of Hinduism"</a>. <i>A Survey of Hinduism</i>. India and South Asian Studies (3rd ed.). <a href="/wiki/Albany,_New_York" title="Albany, New York">Albany, New York</a>: <a href="/wiki/SUNY_Press" title="SUNY Press">SUNY Press</a>. pp. 101–102. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780791470824" title="Special:BookSources/9780791470824"><bdi>9780791470824</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/LCCN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="LCCN (identifier)">LCCN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://lccn.loc.gov/2006021542">2006021542</a>. <q>The Hindu <i>deva</i> is not <a href="/wiki/God_in_Hinduism" title="God in Hinduism">God</a>—at the most <i>deva</i> could be loosely translated as a "divine being." Etymologically it means "god", "shiny," "exalted"; and thus we find that the term <i>deva</i> covers everything that has to do with the supernatural: all figures, forms, processes and emotions, melodies, books, and verse meters—whatever needs the explanation of a transcendent origin or status—are called <i>devas</i> or <i>devatā</i>. The functions of different parts of the body, symbols, and syllabes are explained as <i>deva</i>. In <a href="/wiki/Historical_Vedic_religion" title="Historical Vedic religion">Vedic religion</a> we find the term used in a relatively restricted way; but even there we are not entitled to equate it with <i>god</i>, but rather with <i>supernatural powers</i> in general.</q></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Part+I.+Hinduism%3A+Sources+and+Worldview+%E2%80%93+The+Many+Gods+and+the+One+God+of+Hinduism&rft.btitle=A+Survey+of+Hinduism&rft.place=Albany%2C+New+York&rft.series=India+and+South+Asian+Studies&rft.pages=101-102&rft.edition=3rd&rft.pub=SUNY+Press&rft.date=2007&rft_id=info%3Alccn%2F2006021542&rft.isbn=9780791470824&rft.aulast=Klostermaier&rft.aufirst=Klaus+K.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D8CVviRghVtIC%26pg%3DPA101&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-monier-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monier_2-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 492</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/deva-religious-being">Encyclopaedia Britannica - Deva</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=sEIngqiKOugC&dq=deva+in+vedic+india&pg=PA147">Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities by Charles Russell Coulter, Patricia Turner. Pg.147</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-George_Williams_2008-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-George_Williams_2008_5-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195332612" title="Special:BookSources/978-0195332612">978-0195332612</a>, pages 90, 112</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120800618" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120800618">978-8120800618</a>, pages 5-11, 22, 99-102</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 121</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-nickgier-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-nickgier_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-nickgier_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Nicholas Gier (2000), Spiritual Titanism: Indian, Chinese, and Western Perspectives, State University of New York Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0791445280" title="Special:BookSources/978-0791445280">978-0791445280</a>, pages 59-76</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-fowlergita-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-fowlergita_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fowlergita_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fowlergita_9-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fowlergita_9-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-fowlergita_9-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Jeaneane D Fowler (2012), The Bhagavad Gita, Sussex Academic Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1845193461" title="Special:BookSources/978-1845193461">978-1845193461</a>, pages 253-262</span>
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<li id="cite_note-ang-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-ang_10-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40167/asura/40167rellinks/Related-Links">Encyclopædia Britannica</a></span>
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<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Don Handelman (2013), One God, Two Goddesses, Three Studies of South Indian Cosmology, Brill Academic, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004256156" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004256156">978-9004256156</a>, pages 23-29</span>
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<li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wendy Doniger (1988), Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism, Manchester University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0719018664" title="Special:BookSources/978-0719018664">978-0719018664</a>, page 67</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-klausklos-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-klausklos_13-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-klausklos_13-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-klausklos_13-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-klausklos_13-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Klaus Klostermaier (2010), A Survey of Hinduism, 3rd Edition, State University of New York Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0791470824" title="Special:BookSources/978-0791470824">978-0791470824</a>, pages 101-102</span>
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<li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/indoeurop.html">"Appendix I - Indo-European Roots"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Appendix+I+-+Indo-European+Roots&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ahdictionary.com%2Fword%2Findoeurop.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0500/mw__0533.html">Dyuloka</a>, Monier Monier-Williams, English Sanskrit Dictionary with Etymology, Oxford University Press, page 500</span>
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<li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=deva&searchmode=none">Deva</a> Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper (2015)</span>
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<li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFKrishnan2019" class="citation book cs1">Krishnan, K. S. (2019-08-12). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=O6SoDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PT322"><i>Origin of Vedas</i></a>. Notion Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-64587-981-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-64587-981-7"><bdi>978-1-64587-981-7</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 January</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Origin+of+Vedas&rft.pub=Notion+Press&rft.date=2019-08-12&rft.isbn=978-1-64587-981-7&rft.aulast=Krishnan&rft.aufirst=K.+S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DO6SoDwAAQBAJ%26q%3Dvedic%2Bdeva%2Bavestan%2Bdaeva%26pg%3DPT322&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
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<li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFBoyce2001" class="citation book cs1">Boyce, Mary (2001). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA11"><i>Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices</i></a>. Psychology Press. p. 11. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-415-23902-8" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-415-23902-8"><bdi>978-0-415-23902-8</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 January</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Zoroastrians%3A+Their+Religious+Beliefs+and+Practices&rft.pages=11&rft.pub=Psychology+Press&rft.date=2001&rft.isbn=978-0-415-23902-8&rft.aulast=Boyce&rft.aufirst=Mary&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Da6gbxVfjtUEC%26q%3Dvedic%2Bdeva%2Bavestan%2Bdaeva%26pg%3DPA11&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=BN-mDwAAQBAJ&q=vedic+deva+avestan+daeva&pg=PA6"><i>Essays on the History of Religions</i></a>. BRILL. 2018. p. 6. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-37792-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-90-04-37792-9"><bdi>978-90-04-37792-9</bdi></a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 January</span> 2021</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Essays+on+the+History+of+Religions&rft.pages=6&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2018&rft.isbn=978-90-04-37792-9&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DBN-mDwAAQBAJ%26q%3Dvedic%2Bdeva%2Bavestan%2Bdaeva%26pg%3DPA6&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-monierdevi-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-monierdevi_20-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-monierdevi_20-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Monier Monier-Williams, A Sanskrit-English Dictionary” Etymologically and Philologically Arranged to cognate Indo-European Languages, Motilal Banarsidass, page 496</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814912" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814912">978-8120814912</a>, page 2</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">John Stratton Hawley and Donna Marie Wulff (1998), Devi: Goddesses of India, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814912" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814912">978-8120814912</a>, pages 18-21</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-23"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120803923" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120803923">978-8120803923</a>, pages 110-114</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-24">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en">Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201634/http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en">Archived</a> 2016-03-04 at the <a href="/wiki/Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a> Nara National Museum, Japan</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-25">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120803923" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120803923">978-8120803923</a>, pages 23-50</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-26"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">AA MacDonell, <i><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=KCQ_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PAPA19">Vedic mythology</a></i>, p. PA19, at <a href="/wiki/Google_Books" title="Google Books">Google Books</a>, Oxford University Press, pages 19-21</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-27"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Francis X Clooney (2010), Divine Mother, Blessed Mother, Oxford University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0199738731" title="Special:BookSources/978-0199738731">978-0199738731</a>, page 242</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-29"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a class="external text" href="https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_१.१३९">ऋग्वेद: सूक्तं १.१३९</a> Sanskrit, Wikisource</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-30"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/stream/rigvedasanhitc02wils#page/62/mode/2up">The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139</a> Verse 11, Ralph T. H. Griffith, Wikisource</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-31"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_1/Hymn_139" class="extiw" title="wikisource:The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 139">The Rig Veda Samhita</a> Verse 11, HH Wilson (Translator), Royal Asiatic Society, WH Allen & Co, London</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-32"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">George Williams (2008), A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Oxford University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0195332612" title="Special:BookSources/978-0195332612">978-0195332612</a>, pages 24-33</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-binagupta-33"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-binagupta_33-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-binagupta_33-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Bina Gupta (2011), An Introduction to Indian Philosophy, Routledge, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0415800037" title="Special:BookSources/978-0415800037">978-0415800037</a>, pages 21-25</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-34"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-34">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">John Bowker (2014), God: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0198708957" title="Special:BookSources/978-0198708957">978-0198708957</a>, pages 88-96</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-35"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ivan Strenski (2015), Understanding Theories of Religion: An Introduction, 2nd Edition, Wiley, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1444330847" title="Special:BookSources/978-1444330847">978-1444330847</a>, page 42</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-36"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-36">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120800618" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120800618">978-8120800618</a>, page 20</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-37"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-38"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-38">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-418</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Gier-39"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Gier_39-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Gier_39-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Nicholas Gier (1995), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510">Hindu Titanism</a>, Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76, see also 73-96</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-40"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Ananda Coomaraswamy (1935), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/594758">Angel and Titan: An Essay in Vedic Ontology</a>, Journal of the American Oriental Society, volume 55, pages 373-374</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-kuiper-41"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-kuiper_41-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">FBJ Kuiper (1975), The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion, History of Religion, volume 15, pages 108-112</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-42"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wash Edward Hale (1999), Ásura in Early Vedic Religion, Motilal Barnarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120800618" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120800618">978-8120800618</a>, pages 1-2; Note: Hale translates this to "Asuras without the Asura-Devas" in his book, see page 3 for example.;<br />For original Sanskrit, see Rigveda hymns 8.25.4 and 8.96.9 <a class="external text" href="https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेदः_मण्डल_८">Rigveda - Wikisource</a></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-43"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Mircea Eliade (1981), History of Religious Ideas, Volume 1, University of Chicago Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0226204017" title="Special:BookSources/978-0226204017">978-0226204017</a>, page 204, 199-202, 434-435</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-yves-44"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-yves_44-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-yves_44-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-yves_44-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Yves Bonnefoy and Wendy Doniger (1993), Asian Mythologies, University of Chicago Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0226064567" title="Special:BookSources/978-0226064567">978-0226064567</a>, pages 52-53</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-45"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Hermann Oldenberg (1988), The Religion of the Veda, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120803923" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120803923">978-8120803923</a>, pages 116-117</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-46"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-46">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Paul_Deussen" title="Paul Deussen">Paul Deussen</a>, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814684" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814684">978-8120814684</a>, pages 287-289</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Dominic Goodall (1996), Hindu Scriptures, University of California Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0520207783" title="Special:BookSources/978-0520207783">978-0520207783</a>, pages 175-176</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-deussenku-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-deussenku_48-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-deussenku_48-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Paul_Deussen" title="Paul Deussen">Paul Deussen</a>, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814684" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814684">978-8120814684</a>, page 58</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-deussencu-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-deussencu_49-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-deussencu_49-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Paul_Deussen" title="Paul Deussen">Paul Deussen</a>, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814684" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814684">978-8120814684</a>, pages 70-71</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-deussenbu-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-deussenbu_50-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-deussenbu_50-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Paul_Deussen" title="Paul Deussen">Paul Deussen</a>, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120814684" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120814684">978-8120814684</a>, pages 508-509</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/Max_Muller" class="mw-redirect" title="Max Muller">Max Muller</a>, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/stream/upanishads02ml#page/78/mode/2up">Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.1</a> Oxford University Press, page 78 with footnote 2</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 427-466</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Doris Srinivasan (1997), Many Heads, Arms and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art, Brill Academic, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9004107588" title="Special:BookSources/978-9004107588">978-9004107588</a>, pages 130-131</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-edelmann14-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann14_54-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann14_54-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann14_54-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann14_54-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 439-441</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-chrischapple-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-chrischapple_55-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-chrischapple_55-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Christopher K Chapple (2010), The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth–Anniversary Edition, State University of New York Press, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1438428420" title="Special:BookSources/978-1438428420">978-1438428420</a>, pages 610-629</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-gierasurach-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-gierasurach_56-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-gierasurach_56-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Nicholas Gier (1995), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1399510">Hindu Titanism</a>, Philosophy East and West, Volume 45, Number 1, pages 76-80</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-stellaray-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-stellaray_57-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-stellaray_57-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Stella Kramrisch and Raymond Burnier (1986), The Hindu Temple, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8120802230" title="Special:BookSources/978-8120802230">978-8120802230</a>, pages 75-78</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Wendy Doniger (2000), Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions, Merriam-Webster, <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0877790440" title="Special:BookSources/978-0877790440">978-0877790440</a>, page 455</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-59">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 3.12.21-22</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-60">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 4.1.13</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-61">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 6.6.24-26</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-62">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 8.13.6</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-63">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 6.18.11</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bhagavata Purana 5.24.30</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-edelmann13-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann13_65-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-edelmann13_65-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Jonathan Edelmann (2013), Hindu Theology as Churning the Latent, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume 81, Issue 2, pages 440-442</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631"><cite id="CITEREFKrishnamoorthy1964" class="citation book cs1">Krishnamoorthy, S. (1964). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=STbMzFKaxcQC&q=Religious+Festivals+in+silappadikaram&pg=PA56"><i>Silappadikaram By S. Krishnamoorthy</i></a>. p. 35.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Silappadikaram+By+S.+Krishnamoorthy&rft.pages=35&rft.date=1964&rft.aulast=Krishnamoorthy&rft.aufirst=S.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DSTbMzFKaxcQC%26q%3DReligious%2BFestivals%2Bin%2Bsilappadikaram%26pg%3DPA56&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ADeva+%28Hinduism%29" class="Z3988"></span></span>
</li>
</ol></div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Further_reading">Further reading</span><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Deva_(Hinduism)&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Further reading">edit</a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></h2>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1061926">The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion</a> FBJ Kuiper (1975), History of Religions, Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 107–120 (on roots of Devas and Asuras)</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=5686828&fileId=S0035869X00130837">The Proto-Indoaryans</a> T Burrow (1973), Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. 105, Issue 2, pages 123–140 (on roots of Devas and Asuras in Indo-Iranian versus Indo-European history)</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060323/http://w.omilosmeleton.gr/pdf/en/indology/IDR.pdf">Indo-European Deities and the Rigveda</a> ND Kazanas (2001), The Journal of Indo-European Studies, Vol. 29, No. 3 & 4</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/VedicJapan.pdf">The Vedic Gods of Japan</a> S Kak (2004), Brahmavidyā: The Adyar Library Bulletin (on the spread of Vedic Devas such as Indra, Agni, Vayu outside India)</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/225187">On Translation: Māyā, Deva, Tapas</a> Ananda Coomaraswamy, Isis, Vol. 19, No. 1, pages 74–91 (on alternate meanings of Devas)</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3270127">Ritual, Knowledge, and Being: Initiation and Veda Study in Ancient India</a> Brian K. Smith (1986), Numen, Vol. 33, Fasc. 1, pages 65–89 (on the role of knowledge in empowering the Deva nature in man)</li></ul>
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<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahman" title="Brahman">Brahman</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Om" title="Om">Om</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ishvara" title="Ishvara">Ishvara</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/%C4%80tman_(Hinduism)" title="Ātman (Hinduism)">Atman</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Maya_(religion)" title="Maya (religion)">Maya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Karma" title="Karma">Karma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra" title="Saṃsāra">Saṃsāra</a></li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Puru%E1%B9%A3%C4%81rtha" title="Puruṣārtha">Puruṣārthas</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dharma" title="Dharma">Dharma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Artha" title="Artha">Artha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kama" title="Kama">Kama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Moksha" title="Moksha">Moksha</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ethics_in_religion#Hindu_ethics" title="Ethics in religion">Niti</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ahimsa" title="Ahimsa">Ahimsa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Achourya" title="Achourya">Asteya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aparigraha" class="mw-redirect" title="Aparigraha">Aparigraha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Brahmacarya" class="mw-redirect" title="Brahmacarya">Brahmacharya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Satya" title="Satya">Satya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/D%C4%81na" title="Dāna">Dāna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Temperance_(virtue)#Hinduism" title="Temperance (virtue)">Damah</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Compassion#Hinduism" title="Compassion">Dayā</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Akrodha" title="Akrodha">Akrodha</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Hindu_philosophy" title="Hindu philosophy">Schools</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/%C4%80stika_and_n%C4%81stika" title="Āstika and nāstika">Āstika</a>: <a href="/wiki/Samkhya" title="Samkhya">Samkhya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yoga" title="Yoga">Yoga</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Nyaya" title="Nyaya">Nyaya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vaisheshika" title="Vaisheshika">Vaisheshika</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/M%C4%ABm%C4%81%E1%B9%83s%C4%81" title="Mīmāṃsā">Mīmāṃsā</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vedanta" title="Vedanta">Vedanta</a>
<ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Dvaita_Vedanta" title="Dvaita Vedanta">Dvaita</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Advaita_Vedanta" title="Advaita Vedanta">Advaita</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Vishishtadvaita" title="Vishishtadvaita">Vishishtadvaita</a></i></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/%C4%80stika_and_n%C4%81stika" title="Āstika and nāstika">Nāstika</a>: <a href="/wiki/Charvaka" title="Charvaka">Charvaka</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="5" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><span title="Hindu "Om" symbol"><img alt="Hindu "Om" symbol" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg/100px-Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="99" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg/150px-Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg/200px-Aum_Om_navy_blue_circle_hollow_coral.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="507" /></span></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Hindu_texts" title="Hindu texts">Texts</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:transparent;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;">Classification</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/%C5%9Aruti" title="Śruti">Śruti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Smriti" title="Smriti">Smriti</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Vedas" title="Vedas">Vedas</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rigveda" title="Rigveda">Rigveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yajurveda" title="Yajurveda">Yajurveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Samaveda" title="Samaveda">Samaveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Atharvaveda" title="Atharvaveda">Atharvaveda</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;">Divisions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vedic_chant" title="Vedic chant">Samhita</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Brahmana" title="Brahmana">Brahmana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aranyaka" title="Aranyaka">Aranyaka</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Upanishads" title="Upanishads">Upanishads</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aitareya_Upanishad" title="Aitareya Upanishad">Aitareya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kaushitaki_Upanishad" title="Kaushitaki Upanishad">Kaushitaki</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Brihadaranyaka_Upanishad" title="Brihadaranyaka Upanishad">Brihadaranyaka</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Isha_Upanishad" title="Isha Upanishad">Isha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Taittiriya_Upanishad" title="Taittiriya Upanishad">Taittiriya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Katha_Upanishad" title="Katha Upanishad">Katha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Maitrayaniya_Upanishad" title="Maitrayaniya Upanishad">Maitrayaniya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shvetashvatara_Upanishad" title="Shvetashvatara Upanishad">Shvetashvatara</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chandogya_Upanishad" title="Chandogya Upanishad">Chandogya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kena_Upanishad" title="Kena Upanishad">Kena</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mundaka_Upanishad" title="Mundaka Upanishad">Mundaka</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mandukya_Upanishad" title="Mandukya Upanishad">Mandukya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Prashna_Upanishad" title="Prashna Upanishad">Prashna</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Upaveda" class="mw-redirect" title="Upaveda">Upavedas</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ayurveda" title="Ayurveda">Ayurveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Indian_martial_arts" title="Indian martial arts">Dhanurveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Natya_Shastra" title="Natya Shastra">Natyaveda</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture" title="Hindu temple architecture">Sthapatyaveda</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Vedanga" title="Vedanga">Vedanga</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Shiksha" title="Shiksha">Shiksha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sanskrit_prosody" title="Sanskrit prosody">Chandas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vy%C4%81kara%E1%B9%87a" title="Vyākaraṇa">Vyākaraṇa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Nirukta" title="Nirukta">Nirukta</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kalpa_(Vedanga)" title="Kalpa (Vedanga)">Kalpa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jyotisha" class="mw-redirect" title="Jyotisha">Jyotisha</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hindu_texts" title="List of Hindu texts">Other</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita" title="Bhagavad Gita">Bhagavad Gita</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Agama_(Hinduism)" title="Agama (Hinduism)">Agamas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Itihasa" title="Itihasa">Itihasas</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ramayana" title="Ramayana">Ramayana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mahabharata" title="Mahabharata">Mahabharata</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Upanishads#Classification" title="Upanishads">Minor Upanishads</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Arthashastra" title="Arthashastra">Arthashastra</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Nitisara" title="Nitisara">Nitisara</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dharma%C5%9B%C4%81stra" title="Dharmaśāstra">Dharmaśāstra</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Manusmriti" title="Manusmriti">Manusmriti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/N%C4%81radasm%E1%B9%9Bti" title="Nāradasmṛti">Nāradasmṛti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Y%C4%81j%C3%B1avalkya_Sm%E1%B9%9Bti" title="Yājñavalkya Smṛti">Yājñavalkya Smṛti</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sutra" title="Sutra">Sutras</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Stotra" title="Stotra">Stotras</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Subhashita" title="Subhashita">Subhashita</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tantras_(Hinduism)" title="Tantras (Hinduism)">Tantras</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yoga_Vasistha" title="Yoga Vasistha">Yoga Vasistha</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali" title="Yoga Sutras of Patanjali">Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</a></i></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Sangam_Literature" class="mw-redirect" title="Sangam Literature">Sangam Literature</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tirumurai" title="Tirumurai">Tirumurai</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Divya_Prabandham" class="mw-redirect" title="Divya Prabandham">Divya Prabandham</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tirumuruk%C4%81%E1%B9%9F%E1%B9%9Fuppa%E1%B9%ADai" title="Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai">Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thiruppugal" title="Thiruppugal">Thiruppugal</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thirukkural" class="mw-redirect" title="Thirukkural">Thirukkural</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kamba_Ramayanam" class="mw-redirect" title="Kamba Ramayanam">Kamba Ramayanam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Five_Great_Epics" title="Five Great Epics">Five Great Epics</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Eighteen_Greater_Texts" title="Eighteen Greater Texts">Eighteen Greater Texts</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Eighteen_Lesser_Texts" title="Eighteen Lesser Texts">Eighteen Lesser Texts</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Athichudi" title="Athichudi">Athichudi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Iraiyanar_Akapporul" title="Iraiyanar Akapporul">Iraiyanar Akapporul</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Abhirami_Antati" class="mw-redirect" title="Abhirami Antati">Abhirami Antati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thiruvilaiyadal_Puranam" title="Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam">Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vinayagar_Agaval" title="Vinayagar Agaval">Vinayagar Agaval</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vedarthasamgraha" title="Vedarthasamgraha">Vedarthasamgraha</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Hindu_deities" title="Hindu deities">Deities</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:transparent;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Gods</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trimurti" title="Trimurti">Trimurti</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dattatreya" title="Dattatreya">Dattatreya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ganesha" title="Ganesha">Ganesha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kartikeya" title="Kartikeya">Kartikeya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Krishna" title="Krishna">Krishna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Surya" title="Surya">Surya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vayu" title="Vayu">Vayu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_gods" title="Category:Hindu gods"><i>more</i></a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">Goddesses</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tridevi" title="Tridevi">Tridevi</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Saraswati" title="Saraswati">Saraswati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lakshmi" title="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Parvati" title="Parvati">Parvati</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bhumi_(goddess)" title="Bhumi (goddess)">Bhumi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Durga</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kali" title="Kali">Kali</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mahavidya" title="Mahavidya">Mahavidya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Matrika" class="mw-redirect" title="Matrika">Matrika</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Radha" title="Radha">Radha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rukmini" title="Rukmini">Rukmini</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sati_(Hindu_goddess)" title="Sati (Hindu goddess)">Sati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shakti" title="Shakti">Shakti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shashthi" title="Shashthi">Shashthi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_goddesses" title="Category:Hindu goddesses"><i>more</i></a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%">Practices</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:transparent;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Worship_in_Hinduism" title="Worship in Hinduism">Worship</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_temple" title="Hindu temple">Temple</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Murti" title="Murti">Murti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Puja_(Hinduism)" title="Puja (Hinduism)">Puja</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bhakti" title="Bhakti">Bhakti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Japa" title="Japa">Japa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bhajan" title="Bhajan">Bhajan</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Naivedhya" class="mw-redirect" title="Naivedhya">Naivedhya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yajna" title="Yajna">Yajna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Homa_(ritual)" title="Homa (ritual)">Homa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tapas_(Indian_religions)" title="Tapas (Indian religions)">Tapas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Hinduism" class="mw-redirect" title="Dhyāna in Hinduism">Dhyāna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_pilgrimage_sites_in_India" title="Hindu pilgrimage sites in India">Tirthatana</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/Sanskara_(rite_of_passage)" class="mw-redirect" title="Sanskara (rite of passage)">Sanskaras</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Garbhadhana" title="Garbhadhana">Garbhadhana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pumsavana" title="Pumsavana">Pumsavana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pumsavana_Simantonayana" title="Pumsavana Simantonayana">Simantonayana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jatakarma" title="Jatakarma">Jatakarma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/N%C4%81makara%E1%B9%87a" title="Nāmakaraṇa">Namakarana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Nishkramana" title="Nishkramana">Nishkramana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Annaprashana" title="Annaprashana">Annaprashana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chudakarana" title="Chudakarana">Chudakarana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Karnavedha" title="Karnavedha">Karnavedha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vidy%C4%81ra%E1%B9%83bha%E1%B9%83" title="Vidyāraṃbhaṃ">Vidyarambha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Upanayana" title="Upanayana">Upanayana</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Keshanta" title="Keshanta">Keshanta</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ritu_Kala_Samskaram" title="Ritu Kala Samskaram">Ritushuddhi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Samavartanam" title="Samavartanam">Samavartanam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vivaah" class="mw-redirect" title="Vivaah">Vivaha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Antyesti" title="Antyesti">Antyeshti</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;">Varnashrama</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Varna_(Hinduism)" title="Varna (Hinduism)">Varna</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahmin" title="Brahmin">Brahmin</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kshatriya" title="Kshatriya">Kshatriya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vaishya" title="Vaishya">Vaishya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shudra" title="Shudra">Shudra</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ashrama_(stage)" class="mw-redirect" title="Ashrama (stage)">Ashrama</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahmacarya" class="mw-redirect" title="Brahmacarya">Brahmacharya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Grihastha" class="mw-redirect" title="Grihastha">Grihastha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vanaprastha" class="mw-redirect" title="Vanaprastha">Vanaprastha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sannyasa" title="Sannyasa">Sannyasa</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hindu_festivals" title="List of Hindu festivals">Festivals</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Diwali" title="Diwali">Diwali</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Holi" title="Holi">Holi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri" title="Maha Shivaratri">Shivaratri</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan" title="Raksha Bandhan">Raksha Bandhan</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Navaratri" title="Navaratri">Navaratri</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Durga_Puja" title="Durga Puja">Durga Puja</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ramlila" title="Ramlila">Ramlila</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vijayadashami" title="Vijayadashami">Vijayadashami</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ganesh_Chaturthi" title="Ganesh Chaturthi">Ganesh Chaturthi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rama_Navami" title="Rama Navami">Rama Navami</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Krishna_Janmashtami" title="Krishna Janmashtami">Janmashtami</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Onam" title="Onam">Onam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pongal_(festival)" title="Pongal (festival)">Pongal</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Makar_Sankranti" title="Makar Sankranti">Makar Sankranti</a></li>
<li>New Year
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bihu" title="Bihu">Bihu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gudi_Padwa" title="Gudi Padwa">Gudi Padwa</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pahela_Baishakh" class="mw-redirect" title="Pahela Baishakh">Pahela Baishakh</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Puthandu" title="Puthandu">Puthandu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vaisakhi" title="Vaisakhi">Vaisakhi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishu" title="Vishu">Vishu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ugadi" title="Ugadi">Ugadi</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kumbh_Mela" title="Kumbh Mela">Kumbh Mela</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Haridwar_Kumbh_Mela" title="Haridwar Kumbh Mela">Haridwar</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Nashik-Trimbakeshwar_Simhastha" title="Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha">Nashik</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Prayag_Kumbh_Mela" title="Prayag Kumbh Mela">Prayag</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ujjain_Simhastha" title="Ujjain Simhastha">Ujjain</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ratha_Yatra_(Puri)" title="Ratha Yatra (Puri)">Ratha Yatra</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Teej" title="Teej">Teej</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vasant_Panchami" title="Vasant Panchami">Vasant Panchami</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Template:Hindu_festivals" title="Template:Hindu festivals">Others</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background:#FFC569;font-weight:normal;">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Sv%C4%81dhy%C4%81ya" title="Svādhyāya">Svādhyāya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Namaste" title="Namaste">Namaste</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)" title="Bindi (decoration)">Bindi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tilaka" title="Tilaka">Tilaka</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Hinduism" title="Portal:Hinduism">Related</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0;background:transparent;"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindus" title="Hindus">Hindus</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindus#Etymology" title="Hindus">Etymology</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_Hindus" title="Lists of Hindus">List</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_denominations" title="Hindu denominations">Denominations</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_law" title="Hindu law">Law</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_calendar" title="Hindu calendar">Calendar</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Anti-Hindu_sentiment" title="Anti-Hindu sentiment">Anti-Hindu sentiment</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_Hinduism" title="Criticism of Hinduism">Criticism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hindu_gurus_and_sants" title="List of Hindu gurus and sants">Hindu gurus and sants</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_studies" title="Hindu studies">Hindu studies</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_iconography" title="Hindu iconography">Iconography</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_mythology" title="Hindu mythology">Mythology</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_nationalism" title="Hindu nationalism">Nationalism</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindutva" title="Hindutva">Hindutva</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Persecution_of_Hindus" title="Persecution of Hindus">Persecution</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_pilgrimage_sites" title="Hindu pilgrimage sites">Pilgrimage sites</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_pilgrimage_sites_in_India" title="Hindu pilgrimage sites in India">India</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_and_other_religions" title="Hinduism and other religions">Relations with other religions</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%CA%BC%C3%AD_Faith_and_Hinduism" title="Baháʼí Faith and Hinduism">Baháʼí</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Buddhism_and_Hinduism" title="Buddhism and Hinduism">Buddhism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu%E2%80%93Islamic_relations" title="Hindu–Islamic relations">Islam</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jainism_and_Hinduism" class="mw-redirect" title="Jainism and Hinduism">Jainism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_and_Judaism" title="Hinduism and Judaism">Judaism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_and_Sikhism" title="Hinduism and Sikhism">Sikhism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_and_Theosophy" title="Hinduism and Theosophy">Theosophy</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Glossary_of_Hinduism_terms" title="Glossary of Hinduism terms">Glossary</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism_by_country" title="Hinduism by country">Hinduism by country</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_temples" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindu temples">Hindu temples</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hindu_temples" title="List of Hindu temples">List</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture" title="Hindu temple architecture">Architecture</a></li></ul></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3" style="background:#FFC569;;font-weight:bold;"><div><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Outline"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/10px-Global_thinking.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/15px-Global_thinking.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Global_thinking.svg/21px-Global_thinking.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="130" data-file-height="200" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Outline_of_Hinduism" title="Outline of Hinduism">Outline</a><br />
<ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Hinduism" title="Category:Hinduism">Category</a></li>
<li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Symbol_portal_class.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Portal"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/16px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/23px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e2/Symbol_portal_class.svg/31px-Symbol_portal_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></a></span> <a href="/wiki/Portal:Hinduism" title="Portal:Hinduism">Portal</a></li>
<li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="WikiProject"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/16px-People_icon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/24px-People_icon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/32px-People_icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Hinduism" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Hinduism">WikiProject</a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Hindu_deities_and_texts" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3" style="background:#FFC569;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Hindu_deities_and_texts" title="Template:Hindu deities and texts"><abbr title="View this template" style="background:#FFC569;;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Hindu_deities_and_texts" title="Template talk:Hindu deities and texts"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="background:#FFC569;;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Hindu_deities_and_texts&action=edit"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="background:#FFC569;;;background:none transparent;border:none;box-shadow:none;padding:0;">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Hindu_deities_and_texts" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Hindu_deities" title="Hindu deities">Hindu deities</a> and <a href="/wiki/Hindu_texts" title="Hindu texts">texts</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Gods</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Trimurti" title="Trimurti">Trimurti</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Brahma" title="Brahma">Brahma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishnu" title="Vishnu">Vishnu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Agni" title="Agni">Agni</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ashvins" title="Ashvins">Ashvins</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chandra" title="Chandra">Chandra</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dattatreya" title="Dattatreya">Dattatreya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ganesha" title="Ganesha">Ganesha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hanuman" title="Hanuman">Hanuman</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Indra" title="Indra">Indra</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kamadeva" title="Kamadeva">Kama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kartikeya" title="Kartikeya">Kartikeya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Krishna" title="Krishna">Krishna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kubera" title="Kubera">Kubera</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rama" title="Rama">Rama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shasta_(deity)" title="Shasta (deity)">Shasta</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Surya" title="Surya">Surya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Varuna" title="Varuna">Varuna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vayu" title="Vayu">Vayu</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vishvakarma" title="Vishvakarma">Vishvakarma</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yama_(Hinduism)" title="Yama (Hinduism)">Yama</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_gods" title="Category:Hindu gods">more</a></i></li></ul>
</div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="4" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hindu Om symbol"><img alt="Hindu Om symbol" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Om_symbol.svg/50px-Om_symbol.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="52" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Om_symbol.svg/75px-Om_symbol.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Om_symbol.svg/100px-Om_symbol.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="356" data-file-height="367" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Devi" title="Devi">Goddesses</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tridevi" title="Tridevi">Tridevi</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Saraswati" title="Saraswati">Saraswati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lakshmi" title="Lakshmi">Lakshmi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Parvati" title="Parvati">Parvati</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aditi" title="Aditi">Aditi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bhumi_(goddess)" title="Bhumi (goddess)">Bhumi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Chhaya" title="Chhaya">Chhaya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Durga" title="Durga">Durga</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ganga_(goddess)" title="Ganga (goddess)">Ganga</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Indrani" title="Indrani">Shachi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kali" title="Kali">Kali</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mahadevi" title="Mahadevi">Mahadevi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mahavidya" title="Mahavidya">Mahavidya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Matrikas" title="Matrikas">Matrikas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Radha" title="Radha">Radha</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rati" title="Rati">Rati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rohini_(goddess)" title="Rohini (goddess)">Rohini</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rukmini" title="Rukmini">Rukmini</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sanjna" title="Sanjna">Sanjna</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sati_(Hindu_goddess)" title="Sati (Hindu goddess)">Sati</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shakti" title="Shakti">Shakti</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shashthi" title="Shashthi">Shashthi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sita" title="Sita">Sita</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_goddesses" title="Category:Hindu goddesses">more</a></i></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%">Other deities</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Apsara" title="Apsara">Apsaras</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Asura" title="Asura">Asuras</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Daitya" title="Daitya">Daitya</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Danava_(Hinduism)" title="Danava (Hinduism)">Danava</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gandharva" title="Gandharva">Gandharvas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kuladevata" title="Kuladevata">Kuladevatas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Gr%C4%81madevat%C4%81" title="Grāmadevatā">Gramadevatas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rakshasa" title="Rakshasa">Rakshasas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Vahana" title="Vahana">Vahanas</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yaksha" title="Yaksha">Yakshas</a> / <a href="/wiki/Yakshini" title="Yakshini">Yakshini</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:#FFC569;;width:1%">Texts (<a href="/wiki/List_of_Hindu_texts" title="List of Hindu texts">list</a>)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vedas" title="Vedas">Vedas</a>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Rigveda" title="Rigveda">Rig</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Samaveda" title="Samaveda">Sama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Yajurveda" title="Yajurveda">Yajur</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Atharvaveda" title="Atharvaveda">Atharva</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Upanishads" title="Upanishads">Upanishads</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Puranas" title="Puranas">Puranas</a></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Ramayana" title="Ramayana">Ramayana</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Mahabharata" title="Mahabharata">Mahabharata</a></i>
<ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita" title="Bhagavad Gita">Bhagavad Gita</a></i></li></ul></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Yoga_Sutras_of_Patanjali" title="Yoga Sutras of Patanjali">Yoga Sutras of Patanjali</a></i></li>
<li><i><a href="/wiki/Category:Hindu_texts" title="Category:Hindu texts">more</a></i></li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3" style="background:#FFC569;"><div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hinduism" title="Hinduism">Hinduism</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Hindu_mythology" title="Hindu mythology">Hindu mythology</a></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1061467846"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1038841319">.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}</style><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1038841319"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-label="Navbox" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a>: National <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211258#identifiers" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">
<ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://d-nb.info/gnd/4133497-8">Germany</a></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://uli.nli.org.il/F/?func=find-b&local_base=NLX10&find_code=UID&request=987007544314705171">Israel</a></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><span class="rt-commentedText tooltip tooltip-dotted" title="Devas"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/sh95003040">United States</a></span></span></li>
<li><span class="uid"><span class="rt-commentedText tooltip tooltip-dotted" title="dévové"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=ph317180&CON_LNG=ENG">Czech Republic</a></span></span></li></ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>' |
Whether or not the change was made through a Tor exit node (tor_exit_node) | false |
Unix timestamp of change (timestamp) | '1694386985' |