Vedic Gods - A Reference Source

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Jaya Jagannath

Dear Breanna,

The knoledge of the Hindu/Vedic gods is not to be found in one book and you

should visit Nataraj Books, Springfield, VA. He is a kind man and has the most

extensive coverage on Hinduism and the Vedas in North America. He has a

web-site too and if you do a search on Nataraj Books you will find it.

I have collected a number of books. My own Guru has written many books on the

subject and he has an outstanding reference book called the "Encyclopedia of

Authentic Hinduism: The True History of India," (Swami Prakashanand Saraswati)

and in my experience, this is the best and most comprehensive I have found on

this vast vast subject. It is a massive volume.

He has written this book to correct the many distortions in Hinduism and Sanatan

Dharma, that have occurred due to English influence. It is a vast compendium on

Indian civilization and Bhartiya history and its evolution. It covers a great

deal about the Vedas, Upavedas, Vedangas, Upanishads, Puranas, etc, and has a

wonderful coverage on Maya, the Yugas, Kaliyuga, to mention just a few threads

that are presented.

The following is an extract from His web-site and these gods apply to Jyotish -

the signs, constellations and divisions. Jyotish becomes an even more

fascinating subject when we approach it from this point of view.

"The Brihadaranyak Upanishad says that there are mainly thirty-three gods who

are important in the celestial world in terms of the performance of Vedic

rituals and the yagyas. Other celestial gods are affiliates to them. They are

eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas (forms of sun god), god Indra and

god Prajapati.

The eight Vasus are: agni (god of fire), prithivi (goddess of the earth), vayu

(god of the wind), antarikch (god of the space), aditya (sun god), dyo (god of

the luminous sky), chandrama (moon god) and nakshatra (god of the nakshatras,

asterism. Nakshatras are 27, called Magha, Rohini etc.)

These gods are associated with Vedic ceremonies only. They have no concern with God realization."

If you go to the following web-sites you will get a taste of this voluminous

writing. It is probably the most comprehensive work on this topic. Gives a very

clear explanation of the gods and godesses as well as the history of Hinduism,

Vedic India, Creation and God realization via the path of bhakti yoga. To

understand Jyotish we must understand it s context in Vedic/Indian culture and

spiritual knowldge, otherwise we may well miss the entire essence of the

subject. References to these gods are to be found in the works of Maharishi(s)

Parasara and Jaimini.

http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/articles/7_general_theme.htm

This following web-page has numerous articles on Hinduism and the Vedas as well

as all the different philosophies, gods and godesses. Explains all about

creation.

http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/articles.htm

http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/hinduism-bhartiya-sanatan_dharm.htm

http://www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/

This site is also useful and again contains a great deal of knowledge about the

Vedic tradition. It is another encyclopedic volume on "The True History and the

Religions of India."

http://thetruehistoryandthereligionofindia.org/

I hope this helps.

Yes, it is vital that you integrate the spiritual and philosophical knowledge of

the vedas into your understanding of Jyotish, for without that it becomes a dry

subject. This is the emphasis of SJVC and Sanjay Rath will be talking about

this very topic in the East & West Coast seminars in NYC and CA this August. I

will be sending you a flyer on this in the next few days. You must plan for

this!

Keep up your good work. The Rishis have grabbed your mind and I can see that the

material is blossoming inside you just like the growth that we see all around us

in this wonderful season of Spring.

You are constantly thirsty for more. Just keep drinking and don't quench the desire.

Regards,

Brendan

Would anyone please recommend a book on Vedic Gods and Goddesses? I'd

really like to understand more about them. Thank you. Breanna