Visvedevas
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The Visvedevas ( viśve-devāḥ "all-gods") are the various Vedic gods taken together as a whole. In the Rigveda a number of hymns are addressed to them, including (according to Griffith) 1.89, 3.54-56, 4.55, 5.41-51, 6.49-52, 7.34-37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 8.27-30, 58, 83 10.31, 35, 36, 56, 57, 61-66, 92, 93, 100, 101, 109, 114, 126, 128, 137, 141, 157, 165, 181.
RV 3.54.17 addresses them as headed by Indra,
- This is, ye Wise, your great and glorious title, that all ye Deities abide in Indra. (trans. Griffith)
The dichotomy between Devas and Asuras is not evident in these hymns, and Devas are invoked together with Asuras such as Mitra and Varuna.
In later Hinduism, they form one of the nine ganadevatas (along with the Adityas, Vasus, Tushitas, Abhasvaras, Anilas, Maharajikas, Sadhyas, and Rudras). According to the Vishnu Purana, they were the sons of Vishvā, a daughter of Daksha, enumerated as follows: 1. Vasu, 2. Satya, 3. Kratu, 4. Daksha, 5. Kala, 6. Kama, 7. Dhrti, 8. Kuru, 9. Pururavas, 10. Madravas, with two others added by some, 11. Rocaka or Locana, 12. Dhvani, Dhuri
Sometimes it is unclear whether a reference to vishve-devas refers to all Devas collectively, as in the Rigveda, or to the specific group as enumerated in the Puranas.
[edit] See also
| The Rigveda (Mandalas: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10) |
| Deities: (Devas) Agni, Indra, Soma, Ushas | (Asuras) Mitra, Varuna, Vrtra | Visvedevas, Maruts, Ashvins |
| Rivers: Sapta Sindhu; Nadistuti; Sarasvati, Sindhu, Sarayu, Rasā |
| Rishis: Saptarishi; Gritsamada, Vishvamitra, Vamadeva, Atri, Angiras, Bharadvaja, Vasishta |
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