|| 33 Koti Devas ||

The description of Devas in Bharat is very interesting. The number of devas is said to be thirty three crores, and the river, trees, mountains, animals and birds have also been included in it.

In such a situation, it is very important that the scriptures are understood and the real teachings of the Vedas should be adopted in life.

Dev Who —

The word 'Dev' has many meanings—

" देवो दानाद् वा , दीपनाद् वा , द्योतनाद् वा , द्युस्थानो भवतीति वा | " ~ (Nirukta - 7/15)

Accordingly, the sign of 'Dev' is 'charity'. Whoever gives his dear thing and life for the benefit of everyone, he is a Dev.

The quality of देव is 'दीपन' means to light. Because of lighting the sun, moon and fire, they are known as Devas. Dev's deed is 'द्योतन' means to do Satyopadesh. The person who believes the truth, speaks the truth and does the truth, is also called a देव.

The specialty of देवता is 'द्युस्थान' means to be situated above. The Sun is located above the universe, the scholar from the top position in society, and the king is also called the Dev from its position above the nation. Thus, the word 'Dev' is used for both root and conscious.

Yes, meanings vary according to sentiment and purpose.

The word 'Koti' has two meanings - 'type' and 'crore'. There are thirty three types of gods in the world, that is thirty three types of gods, not thirty three crores. The Atharvaveda-10/28/27 states -

" यस्य त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवा अङ्गे गात्रा विभेजिरे |
तान् वै त्रयास्त्रिंशद् देवानेके ब्रह्मविदो विदुः || "

The thirty three cosmic elements within his body are disposed as limbs and some learned men who knows about universe and it's master knows those thirty three cosmic powers.

Means the Vedic people know that thirty three types of Devas are following the world and practicing beings. Thus, to say thirty three crore devas is false and misleading. In Vedic culture there are thirty three koti devas i.e. thirty three types.

They are calculated as follows —

(1) 8 Vasu — Earth, water, fire, air, sky, moon, sun and Nakshatra, these eight are called Vasu by being the abode of all. These eight Vasus are devas from giving shelter to all beings.

(2) 11 Rudra — Jeevatma, five prana and five Sub prana, when these eleven leave the body, people cry. For this reason, they are called Rudras. These eleven are the Devas because they are the basis of the body.

प्राण And उपप्राण —

Five प्राण — प्राण , उदान , समान , व्यान और अपान।
Five उपप्राण — नाग , कूर्म , कृकल , देवदत्त और धनञ्जय।

(3) 12 Aditya — There are twelve months of the year - Chaitra, Vaishakh, Jyeshtha, Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartik, Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalgun. These twelve Adityas are called gods by giving age.

(4) Yajna — Yajna is a Dev because it rains and gives happiness to the living beings. It is said in Gita-3/14 -

"अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः|
यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्म समुद् भवः||"

That means beings arise from food, grain from clouds and clouds from yajna.

Thus Yajna is the basis of life and happiness of beings.

(5) Vidhyut — विद्युत is a Dev, because it is a साधन of ऐश्वर्य. It gives the साधन of speed, power, light, prosperity and happiness.
According to बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद ३/१/६ — "कतम इन्द्रः ? अशनिरिति | "

Who is the साधन of Lord Indra means ऐश्वर्य?
विद्युत is the साधन of Lord Indra means "ऐश्वर्य".

Of these thirty-three devas, only the Atma is चेतन. It uses others.
In addition to the Atma, the remaining thirty-two devas are 'जड़' and are called devas of usage. They are always used for Chetan.

Deva of worship is only ईश्वर. Ishwar alone is greatest and worth being worshiped. He is the source of all knowledge and activities. According to Maharshi Dayanand -

" परमेश्वर एवेष्टदेवोsस्ति " means that ईश्वर is the presiding deity of all human beings.

According to the Shatapatha Brahman, the Supreme Paramatma [Mahadev], the lord of these 33 devas, is the only one worthy of worship. Whose सर्वोत्तम name is "ओ३म्".

॥ तस्मै परमेश्वराय नम: ॥