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CHAPTER V
THE BRAHMANICAL DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION
Brahmanism is one of the oldest living religions of the world. The literary tradition of this religion goes back to the Rgveda which is believed to be one of the oldest sacred books now extant in the world. Some modern scholars have referred to Brāhmanical religion as 'Hinduism'. Since we are dealing here with its ancient phase, we have preferred to call it Brāhmanism or the Brāhmanical religion. In this chapter we shall briefly trace the development of Brāhmanical soteriology.
WORSHIP OF MANY GODS
The Vedic people worshipped a large number of gods. Propitiation of gods was the main feature of their religion. The Vedic gods can be studied into three groups according to the regions in which they reside ::
The gods living in heaven (dyuloka) : they are Dyaus, Surya, Savits, Puşan, Vişņu, Varuņa, Mitra, Adityas, Aśvins and Uşas (Dawn). All these are the shining gods par excellence.
The gods dwelling in intermediary region (antarikşaloka) : Indra, Vāyu, Maruts, Rudra, Parjanya, etc., are the gods of intermediary space. The gods residing in terrestrial sphere (bhürloka): Agni, Bphaspati, Soma, the Sea and the Rivers, etc., are the earthly gods. Among them Agni is the most powerful god.
Apart from these three divisions, there are other minor gods like Prajāpati, Gandharvas, Viśvakarman and the deities of the trees, mountains, meadows, etc.
In each of the three different regions, there is one chief ruling god : Sürya is the ruling god of heavenly region, Indra is the ruling god of intermediary space, and Agni is the ruling god of earth. These three gods were multiplied into thirty-three gods, there being eleven gods in each sphere. Further, these thirty-three gods were augmented
1.
Taittiriya Samhita, 1. 4.10; Ķgveda, I. 139.11.
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