Indo-Aryan Deities and Worship as Contained in the Rig-Veda

Indo-Aryan Deities and Worship as Contained in the Rig-Veda - Albert Pike

Indo-Aryan Deities and Worship as Contained in the Rig-Veda is a book written by Albert Pike that explores the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Indo-Aryan civilization, as documented in the Rig-Veda. The Rig-Veda is one of the oldest sacred texts in the world, composed in Sanskrit around 1500 BCE, and contains hymns and prayers dedicated to various deities worshipped by the Aryans. In this book, Pike delves into the mythology and symbolism of these deities, including Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Soma, among others. He examines their roles in the Aryan pantheon, their attributes and characteristics, and the rituals and offerings made to them by the priests and worshippers of the time. Pike also provides insights into the social and cultural context of Aryan religious practices, including the caste system, the importance of sacrifice, and the role of the Brahmins as intermediaries between the gods and humans. He draws on a range of sources, including the Rig-Veda itself, as well as other Vedic and post-Vedic texts, to paint a comprehensive picture of Aryan religion and its evolution over time. Overall, Indo-Aryan Deities and Worship as Contained in the Rig-Veda is a scholarly and detailed exploration of an ancient and complex religious tradition, offering valuable insights into the beliefs and practices of one of the world's oldest civilizations.Nothing has ever so much interested me, as this endeavour to penetrate into the adyta of the ancient Aryan thought, to discover what things, principles or phenomena our remote ancestors worshipped as Gods, what Indra, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, the Acvins, Vayu, Vishnu, Savitri and the others really were, in the conception of the composers of the Vedic hymns. �������I found the most profound philosophic or metaphysical ideas, which those of every philosophy and religion have merely developed; and that, so far from being Barbarians or Savages, the old Aryan herdsmen and husbandmen, in the Indus country under the Himalayan Mountains, on the rivers of Bactria, and long before, on the Scythic Steppes where they originated, were men of singularly clear and acute intellects, profound thought and an infinite reverence of the beings whom they worshipped.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.