RELS 203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Yajna, Axial Age, Macrocosm And Microcosm
6 Feb 2017
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Deities identified with natural forces: sun: surya. Rides a chariot across the sky: moon: chandra (synonymous with soma, earth, sky: dyaus pita, fire: agni. Also have deities associated with cultural spheres: warfare: indra (destroyer of vrtra, healing, ritual, guardian of universal order (rta): varuna. This must be maintained through ritual sacrifice. These are known as devas or (cid:862)shi(cid:374)i(cid:374)g o(cid:374)es(cid:863: hymns to these deities are outlined in the rig veda. In one verse one deva will be supreme, in the next it will be another. Soma: deified sacred drink: comes from a sacred plant, considered to be immortal nectar, connected with the moon. Yajna: sacrifice: creation itself is the result of sacrifice, the gods attained immortality (amrta) through sacrifice, setting an example for humans. Marriage: only those who are married qualify in ritual sacrifice. Had to maintain cosmic order (rta) through ritual sacrifice and other behaviours: ritual sacrifice (yajna, elaborate making of altars, sacrifice of animals, recitation of hymns.
