O All-creating devata please sweep away from us all sins, vices and miseries and grant us all that is beneficial and auspicious. (Rig Veda)
You are sure to be curious. We started with talking about the 73rd sect, as per Muslim belief, and are now referring to this verse from the Veda, in which the worshipper is seeking the blessing of a devata, who has been described as all creating, and imploring the devata to sweep away all sins, vices and miseries.
Translators and scholars have translated the word devata as god or gods in plural as there are several devatas that the Vedas talk about. At times, they are referred to as lesser-gods, who enjoy a very important place in this cosmos. Though the entire Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas are full of narrations about the devatas and devi, Hindus of today know very little about who the devatas actually are, where they came from, where are they at present and what is their role in the God’s universe and how are we related to them. The aforementioned verse reveals that the devatas have a say in creation, in sweeping away of sins, vices and miseries and in granting us all that is beneficial and auspicious.
Who are the devatas? As we have said, Hindus of today know little about them though it is a known fact that at least till the time of Buddha, most of the worship was confined around the devatas. Even today, the fire sacrifices and many other rituals that the Hindus undertake are dedicated to various devatas.
The reason why we decided to open up the discussion through the mention of devatas is that Hinduism, in its chaste form, is one of the oldest prevailing religions in the world and if we are of opinion that there is but one God who sent avatars or prophets in various regions, some indications must have been given regarding the true path in the Hindu scriptures that are considered sacred.
Seemingly a very weird statement by Kabir Das, revered both by Hindus and Muslims for his spiritual teachings, too became the cause of this. Kabir said: “Maha Deva is the same as Mohammad.”
In his entire life, Kabir Das tried to remove the differences that existed between Hindus and Muslims and cure the evils that inflicted them. As regards to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, who form the Hindu trinity, he says: “Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are the names of the three states of the same soul – animation, calmness and sloth.”
At one point he said: “The idea also is vain that the Hindus and the Musalmans are two different people. They are but one.” And said: “O Santu! Listen! There is no difference between Ram and Khuda. But both the Hindus and Musalmans have gone astray.” And said: “All must love the God of all. There is no one who is a Hindu, no one who is a Musalman. The difference between the two is a false difference.” “Both (Hindus and Muslims) are simpletons, both are misled. None of them has found God. One slaughters the goat, the other, the cow. In pursuit of such vain differences, they have wasted their lives.”
Question arises how could Kabir be so off the mark that he calls Maha Deva and Mohammad as one and the same? All we know of Mahadeva is through Vedas and his reference in various myths of the Puranas. It is common knowledge that Vedas and other Hindu books of religion were scripted several hundred years prior to the birth of Mohammad at Makkah in 570 A.D. There is documented role of Mahadeva at the time of the creation of this world (the aforementioned verse too relates creation with the devata), while Mohammad was born and died right in front of history’s eye.
Owing to the fact that Mohammad was born and died in the glare of historians, we know a great deal about him. We invite you now to explore the identity of the devatas, who have been adored, revered and perhaps also worshipped from times immemorial. Unless we know their identity truly, we won’t be able to understand the scriptures nor will the devatas be given the place they deserve.
You are sure to be curious. We started with talking about the 73rd sect, as per Muslim belief, and are now referring to this verse from the Veda, in which the worshipper is seeking the blessing of a devata, who has been described as all creating, and imploring the devata to sweep away all sins, vices and miseries.
Translators and scholars have translated the word devata as god or gods in plural as there are several devatas that the Vedas talk about. At times, they are referred to as lesser-gods, who enjoy a very important place in this cosmos. Though the entire Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas are full of narrations about the devatas and devi, Hindus of today know very little about who the devatas actually are, where they came from, where are they at present and what is their role in the God’s universe and how are we related to them. The aforementioned verse reveals that the devatas have a say in creation, in sweeping away of sins, vices and miseries and in granting us all that is beneficial and auspicious.
Who are the devatas? As we have said, Hindus of today know little about them though it is a known fact that at least till the time of Buddha, most of the worship was confined around the devatas. Even today, the fire sacrifices and many other rituals that the Hindus undertake are dedicated to various devatas.
The reason why we decided to open up the discussion through the mention of devatas is that Hinduism, in its chaste form, is one of the oldest prevailing religions in the world and if we are of opinion that there is but one God who sent avatars or prophets in various regions, some indications must have been given regarding the true path in the Hindu scriptures that are considered sacred.
Seemingly a very weird statement by Kabir Das, revered both by Hindus and Muslims for his spiritual teachings, too became the cause of this. Kabir said: “Maha Deva is the same as Mohammad.”
In his entire life, Kabir Das tried to remove the differences that existed between Hindus and Muslims and cure the evils that inflicted them. As regards to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, who form the Hindu trinity, he says: “Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh are the names of the three states of the same soul – animation, calmness and sloth.”
At one point he said: “The idea also is vain that the Hindus and the Musalmans are two different people. They are but one.” And said: “O Santu! Listen! There is no difference between Ram and Khuda. But both the Hindus and Musalmans have gone astray.” And said: “All must love the God of all. There is no one who is a Hindu, no one who is a Musalman. The difference between the two is a false difference.” “Both (Hindus and Muslims) are simpletons, both are misled. None of them has found God. One slaughters the goat, the other, the cow. In pursuit of such vain differences, they have wasted their lives.”
Question arises how could Kabir be so off the mark that he calls Maha Deva and Mohammad as one and the same? All we know of Mahadeva is through Vedas and his reference in various myths of the Puranas. It is common knowledge that Vedas and other Hindu books of religion were scripted several hundred years prior to the birth of Mohammad at Makkah in 570 A.D. There is documented role of Mahadeva at the time of the creation of this world (the aforementioned verse too relates creation with the devata), while Mohammad was born and died right in front of history’s eye.
Owing to the fact that Mohammad was born and died in the glare of historians, we know a great deal about him. We invite you now to explore the identity of the devatas, who have been adored, revered and perhaps also worshipped from times immemorial. Unless we know their identity truly, we won’t be able to understand the scriptures nor will the devatas be given the place they deserve.
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