The Sanskrit word Rig Veda comes from ‘praise’ and ‘knowledge’.The Rig Veda is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns during the times of ancient India. The Rig Veda contains 1000 hymns with many of them dedicated to specific gods like Surya (the Sun), Varuna (the guardian of the Cosmic order) Agni (the sacrificial fire), Indra (chief of the Gods) and Soma (a hallucinogenic beverage). The ritual drink Soma is dedicated to Indra Agni the messenger of Gods and sacrificial fire, and Indra the destroyer of Vala, slayer of Vritra and liberator of the rivers and cows. Divinities associated with the atmosphere and sky is propitiated in the Rigveda.
Natural forces were personified by the Vedic people. They gave natural forces animal or human attributes and looked upon them as living beings. There are a number of Rig Vedic Gods and Goddesses associated with natural forces. They include ‘Vayu’ the Wind God, ‘Maruts’ the Storm Spirits, ‘Dyaus’ the Father of Heaven, ‘Apsaras’ the Mistresses of Gods, ‘Aditi’ the Mother of Surya and the Mother of Goods, ‘Ribhus’ Gnomes, ‘Gandharvas’ the Divine Musicians, ‘Usha’ the Goddess of Dawn, ‘Aryani’ the Forest Goddess, ‘Ashavins’ the Experts in Surgical art and Healers of diseases, ‘Saraswati’ the River Deity, ‘Rudra’ an Archer God, whose anger brought in disease and ‘Prithvi’ – the Earth Goddess.
The mode of prayer of the Vedic people was recitation of mantras. Sources indicate that there were neither any idols nor temples. Naturalistic religion was followed during the early Vedic times. Gods were worshipped by Vedic people to gain favor of nature and not in fear of nature. Air, rain, thunder, sky and all other natural phenomena was considered to be presiding deities. If natural devastations took place, it was believed that natural phenomena were expressing their wrath.
