Abstract Deities in Rigveda

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Abstract Deities in the Ṛgveda

Manyu (Wrath)

Manyu, “Wrath,” is a personification inspired chiefly by Indra’s fierce anger. He is invoked in two hymns of the Ṛgveda, where he is described as of irresistible might, self-existent, glowing like fire, and identified as a god who is at once Indra, Varuṇa, and Jātavedas. He slays Vṛtra, goes with the Maruts, grants victory like Indra, bestows wealth, and—united with Tapas (ardour)—protects his devotees and destroys their foes.[1][2]

Śraddhā (Faith)

A short hymn praises Śraddhā (“Faith”), stating that she is invoked morning, noon, and night; through Faith fire is kindled and ghee is offered; through Faith wealth is obtained.[3] In the Brāhmaṇa literature she is called the daughter of the Sun or of Prajāpati (details cited there, not RV).

Anumati (Favour)

Anumati, “Favour (of the gods),” is personified twice in the Ṛgveda: she is asked to be gracious and to let her worshippers long see the sun,[4] and her protection is invoked.[5] In the Atharvaveda and Yajurveda she develops into a goddess of love presiding over propagation; later ritual links her with the moon as representing the day before the full moon.

Aramati (Devotion, Piety)

Aramati is occasionally personified in the RV. The name corresponds to Avestan Armaiti, a genius of earth and wisdom; however, the personification likely does not go back to the Indo-Iranian period.

Sūnṛtā (Bounty)

Sūnṛtā (“Bounty”) appears to be personified two or three times as a goddess in the RV, including passages 1.40.3 and 10.141.2.[6][7]

Asunīti (Spirit-life)

Asunīti (“Spirit-life”) is personified once in the RV, where she is implored to prolong life and grant strength and nourishment (10.59.5–6).[8]

Nirṛti (Decease, Dissolution)

Nirṛti appears about a dozen times in the RV as a personification presiding over death.

Other Personifications (mainly later Vedic)

Several abstract deities first appear (or are chiefly developed) in the later Vedas: Kāma (Desire) is deified in the AV as a fulfiller of desires, already described with “arrows that pierce hearts,” and called “the first who was born,” with the idea likely traced to RV 10.129.4 naming kāma “the first seed of mind”;[9] Kāla (Time) becomes a cosmogonic force; Skambha (Support) is praised as the All-god; Prāṇa (Breath) is deified and identified with Prajāpati; and Śrī (Beauty/Fortune) first appears personified in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa.

Notes on Scope

The items above reflect the deification of abstractions within the RV and immediate Vedic corpus as summarized in the cited section. Section 40 is introduced as treating “deifications of abstract nouns,” the transition to Aditi (Section 41) following thereafter.

References

  1. [1] RV 10.83 — Hymn to Manyu. ↩
  2. [2] RV 10.84 — Hymn to Manyu. ↩
  3. [3] RV 10.151 — Hymn to Śraddhā (Faith). ↩
  4. [4] RV 10.59.6 — Appeal to Anumati to be gracious/permit long sight of the sun. ↩
  5. [5] RV 10.167.3 — Reference to the protection of Anumati. ↩
  6. [6] RV 1.40.3 — Sūnṛtā personified. ↩
  7. [7] RV 10.141.2 — Sūnṛtā personified. ↩
  8. [8] RV 10.59.5–6 — Asunīti personified; petition for life, strength, nourishment. ↩
  9. [9] RV 10.129.4 — “Kāma” named the first seed of mind, background to later deification. ↩

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