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'{{Other uses|Deva (disambiguation){{!}}Deva}} [[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|360px|The male [[Lokapala]] devas, the [[Guardians of the directions#Lokapālas|guardians of the directions]], on the wall of [[Shiva]] temple, [[Prambanan]]]] {{IndicTextRight}} '''{{IAST|Deva}}''' ({{lang|sa|[[:wikt:देव|देव]]}} in [[Devanagari]] script) is the [[Sanskrit]] word for [[deity]], its related feminine term is [[devi]]. In modern [[Hinduism]], it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings or as the enormous fatness of Omega which has acquired human form. The devs in [[Hinduism]], also called '''Suras''', are often juxtaposed to the [[Asura]]s, their [[half brothers]].<ref name=ang>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/40167/asura/40167rellinks/Related-Links Encyclopaedia Britannica]</ref> Devs are also the maintainers of the realms as ordained by the [[Trimurti]]. They are often warring with their equally powerful counterparts, the [[Asuras]]. ==Etymology== The Sanskrit ''deva-'' derives from Indo-Iranian ''*dev-'' which in turn descends from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] (PIE) word, ''*deiwos'', originally an adjective meaning "celestial" or "shining", which is a PIE (not synchronic Sanskrit) [[vrddhi]] derivative from the root ''*diw'' meaning "to shine", especially as the day-lit sky. The feminine form of PIE ''*deiwos'' is PIE ''*deiwih₂'', which descends into Indic languages as ''[[devi]]'', in that context meaning "female deity". Also deriving from PIE ''*deiwos'', and thus cognates of ''deva'', are 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", "deity", French "dieu", Portuguese "deus", Spanish "dios" and Italian "dio", also "Zeys/''Ζεύς''" - "Dias/''Δίας''", the Greek father of the gods, are derived. Related but distinct is the PIE proper name ''*[[Dyeus]]'' which while from the same root, may originally have referred to the daytime sky, and hence to "Father Sky", the chief God of the Indo-European pantheon, continued in Sanskrit [[Dyaus]]. The bode of the Devas is [[Dyuloka]]. ==Vedas== {{Main|Rigvedic deities}} The [[Vedas]], the earliest comprehensive literature, contain [[mantra]]s for pleasing the Devas to obtain blessings. The [[Rig Veda]], the earliest of the four, enumerates up to 33 Devas. Some Devas represent the forces of nature and some represent moral values (such as the [[Aditya]]s/[[Asura]]s Varuna and Mitra). The main Devas addressed in the [[Rig Veda]] are [[Indra]], [[Agni]] (fire) and [[Soma]], the latter two representing modes of [[sacrifice]], called [[yagna]]. The post-Rig vedic [[Aitareya Brahmana]] in its opening stanza suggests a [[hierarchy]] among Devas.<ref>''agnir vai devānām avamo vishṇuḥ paramas, tadantareṇa sarvā anyā devtā'' - "Agni is the lowest and Vishnu is the highest among Devas. All other deities occupy positions that are in between." 1.1.1</ref> Many of the deities taken together are worshiped as the [[Vishvedevas]], the "all-deities". [[Varuna]] has the dual epithet of Deva and [[Asura]]. [[Ishwara]] is the only god. [[Savitra|Savitŗa]], [[Vishnu]], [[Rudra]] are Demi-Gods and (later given the exclusive epithet of [[Shiva]], "auspicious one"), [[Prajapati]] (later identified with '''[[Brahmā]]'''), and [[devi]]s (female deities) such as [[Ushas]] (dawn), [[Prithvi]] (earth) and [[Sarasvati]]. ==Upanishads== The [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] says there are 33 devas in the celestial world, in terms of performance of [[yagna]]s. They are eight [[Vasus]], eleven [[Rudras]], twelve [[Adityas]], [[Indra]], and [[Prajapati]], these groups, however, are mentioned already in the Rugved. ==Puranas== Puranas describes genealogy and histories as remembered by the teller. As per Purana, Brahamdeva had seven assumed sons (manasputra) called saptarushi. They were Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya (Kulastya), Pulaha, Kratu and Wasishtha. Marichi had a son called [[Kashyapa]]. Kashyapa had thirteen wives: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Duhita, Kadru etc. The sons of Aditi are called Aditya, the sons of Diti are called Daitya, the sons of Danu are called Danava and the sons of Duhita are called Duheva or Deva. Duhita's sons Deva were: Vishnu, Yama (Dharma) and Indra. ==Nature and Hinduism== According to [[Vedas]], the 33 devas, are frequently referred to as Asuras "twinkeling, unsleeping, eternal orbs of light". It means worship of devas are a worship of the skies and principle forces of life. Primary Devas include Varuna (Jupiter), Mithras (Venus) and Savitri (moon). ==Classical Hinduism== Nature Devas are responsible for elements or objects such as fire, air, rain and trees - most of them assumed a minor role in the later religion. Certain other deities rose into prominence. These higher Devas control much more intricate tasks governing the functioning of the cosmos and the evolution of creation. '''Mahadevas''', such as Lord [[Ganesha]], have such tremendous tasks under their diligence that they are sometimes called themselves [[deity|Gods]] under the Supreme One God. The [[Hindu trinity|Trimurti]] is composed of [[Brahma|Brahmā]], [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]] and [[Shiv|Śiva]]. (Note: ''Mahadeva'' generally refers to Śiva) There are also many other lesser celestial beings in Hinduism such as the [[Gandharvas]] (celestial musicians), or their wives, the [[Apsaras]] (celestial dancers). [[Vayu]], the Lord of the wind, is an example of an important Deva. Also, Death is personified as the Dev [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]]. Devs, in [[Hinduism]], are celestial beings that control forces of nature such as fire, air, wind, etc. They are not to be confused with the One and the only Supreme one [[God]] or His personal form, [[Saguna Brahman]] which can be visualized as [[Vishnu|Viṣṇu]] or [[Shiv|Śiva]]. God (see [[Ishvara]]) or [[Brahman]] (the Supreme Spirit) is the ultimate controller. A famous verse from the [[Katha Upanishad]] states: “From fear (here, power) of Him the wind blows; from fear of Him the sun rises; from fear of Him [[Agni]] and [[Indra]] and Death, the fifth, run." In actuality,Ishvara [[Brahman]] is the only Ultimate Reality, and all Devs are simply mundane manifestations of Him.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} The [[Vaishnavites]] (who often translate ''deva'' as "demigod") cite various verses that speak of the devas' subordinate status. For example, the [[Rig Veda]] (1.22.20) states, ''{{IAST|oṃ tad vishṇoḥ paramam padam sadā pashyanti sūryaḥ}}:'' "All the surs (i.e., the devas) look always toward the feet of Lord Vishnu." Similarly, in the [[Vishnu Sahastranama]] the concluding verses state: "The [[Rushis]] (great sages), the ancestors, the devs, the great elements, in fact all things moving and unmoving constituting this universe, have originated from [[Narayana]]," (i.e., [[Vishnu]]). Thus the Devas are stated to be subordinate to [[Vishnu]], or God.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} In the [[Bhagavad Gita]] Krishna himself states that worshipers of deities other than the Supreme Lord, [[Vishnu]], are incorrect (Gita 9.23) as such worship leads only to temporal benefits, rather than to the Lord Himself (Gita 7.23). [[Krishna]] also says: "Whatever deity or form a devotee worships, I make his faith steady. However, their wishes are granted only by Me." (Gita: 7:21-22) Elsewhere in the Gita Lord Krishna states: "O Arjuna, even those devotees who worship other lesser deities (e.g., devs, for example) with faith, they also worship Me, but in an improper way because I am the Supreme Being. I alone am the enjoyer of all sacrificial services (Seva, Yagna) and Lord of the universe." (Gita: 9:23) ==In pop culture== * In the computer game [[Rappelz]], Devas (theists, demigods) are a race that is in opposition to asuras (demons, atheists). ==See also== * [[Deva (Buddhism)]] * [[Hindu deities]] * [[Vishvadevas]] * [[Maruts]] * [[Deva Soye]] * [[Divinity]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.shaivam.org/shpvediy.htm www.shaivam.org] * [http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/demigods.htm Different Devs Explained] * [http://www.jswami.info/hinduism_god_and_gods Hinduism: God and gods] * [http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/who-were-the-devas/ Who were the devs] {{HinduMythology}} [[Category:Hindu gods| ]] {{Hinduism_footer_small}} [[af:Dêwa]] [[ar:ديڤا]] [[bg:Дева (индуизъм)]] [[ca:Deva]] [[cy:Deva (Hindŵaeth)]] [[da:Deva (hinduisme)]] [[de:Deva (Gott)]] [[es:Deva (religión)]] [[fa:دیو]] [[fr:Deva (divinité)]] [[ko:데바 (힌두교)]] [[hi:देवता]] [[id:Dewa (Hindu)]] [[it:Deva]] [[he:דאוואס]] [[lt:Deva (induizmas)]] [[ml:ദേവൻ]] [[nl:Deva (godheid)]] [[ne:देवता]] [[ja:デーヴァ]] [[pl:Dewa]] [[pt:Deva]] [[ru:Дева (индуизм)]] [[sv:Deva (mytologi)]] [[uk:Дева]] [[zh:提婆]]'