CWTVKS Volume 2

Vedic Gods and the Upanishads

Q: On page 45, Lights on the Veda, you adopt the symbolism of Agni, Vayu and Aditya for Hota, Adhvaryu and Udgata respectively; but the symbolism recommended by Yajnavalkya in the Upanishads is somewhat slightly different. Can you reconcile these two views?

A: It is not a symbolism that I adopt. It is one that is given in the other Brahmana texts which I have quoted in the original Sanskrit. Only Yajnavalkya has not cared to reconcile his explanation with the other texts either in Brahmanas or Upanishads. I think no reconciliation is necessary because the purpose is different. He has to lay stress more upon the adhyatmika as indeed all Upanishads do than on the true character and functionings of the Vedic Gods. This perhaps may explain the position.

Q: What is the meaning of the phrase ‘yadidam antariksam anarambanam iva' ([Br. Up. III.1.6](https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/12/3/1/6))? It is well known that the sky is without an approach, why is it stated here ‘iva', what is its special significance here?

A: Anarambanam iva. ra in the earlier language is in the place of our la. It is analambanam iva. It means akasa seems to be without support. Obviously it means that too has a support i.e. Brahman.

Q: Indrah suparno bhutva vayave prayacchat etc. ([Brh. Up. III. 3.2.](https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/12/3/3/2)) What is the meaning of Indra and Vayu here? Here Indra is usually translated as Fire. What is your interpretation of this passage?

A: The Vedic Gods, when they are referred to in the Upanishads, are not exactly what they are in the Vedas. It is doubtful if Indra is meant to be Agni and so commented upon by the Acharyas. Granting it is so done—I have not got all the commentaries by the Acharyas before me just now—we may say it is quite plausible because agnih sarva-devatah—Fire has within him all the Gods or he himself is all the Gods. This is repeatedly affirmed in all the Vedic texts.

Q: Why are the gods said to be immortal? Surely they do not have physical immortality; for they too have to die sometime.

A: The Gods are immortals because they belong to the Immortal world. It will lead to utter confusion if we do not recognise the difference between the Gods of the Vedas and those of the Puranas. Even in the Upanishads the Vedic Gods are treated differently. This has been stated in more than one place in the Lights on the Upanishads.

You may refer to the chapter on Vaisvanara Vidya (in Lights on Upanishads).