The Truth of 33 Kotis

Many a times, when we worship various forms and read various eulogies dedicated to different gods, people do get confused as to who are we worshipping and if Divine is truly One ☝️, why are we worshipping different gods. This is a humble attempt to spread the message of Vedas  that says :

“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan”

There is only one God, not the second, not at all, not it the least. 

The world is not running on its own. The one seer who is unmanifested, first manifested himself into the play and movement and then duly allotted to the various eternal creators their respective functions. In Samhita and olden texts, they are revered as 33 divine beings(Devas) that are ordained the cosmic functions. 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, 8 Vasus, and 2 Asvinkumaras. It is very important to understand that the highest principle, One being itself is adored here. The idea is to invoke the oneness of the divine being in apparent separateness by glorifying his manifested aspects. 

Rudras:

Rudras means” the one who makes us weep when they leave”, this cosmic being when shifts the locus of vital energy from an individual physical body, the person is declared dead and the world weeps, hence is known as ‘Rurdras’. They are 11 in number as the pranic flow that they control is channelized in 11 ways in the body, responsible for the functioning of 5 organs of actions, 5 sense organs, and the existence of ego principle in us. Since being responsible for all these functions is one, we always feel oneness in our bodies. When we see the manifested world in terms of  dynamic force, we see 10 major pranas and ahamkara fuelled from prana, then we refer the supreme being as Rudra.

Adityas: 

Adityas are 12 sons of Aditi. Aditi and Diti are two sisters, Aditi referring to the indivisible consciousness. Diti refers to the separate and individual consciousness. All the beings who live in the separative and individualized consciousness are the sons of Diti, known as Asuras. All the beings who live in the realization of unity and indivisible consciousness are known as Adityas. This undivided conscious principle, depending upon time and space, embraced 12 different characteristics. Hence, they are known as Twelve. Different regions of space are considered to be lord by different Adityas. These different regions are also known as Rashis or Zodiac signs in Astrology. When we see the manifested world in terms of undivided space of consciousness, we see 12 rays manifesting out of this Being , six rays representing the feminine aspect lord by moon, and six rays representing the masculine aspect lord by sun. This is the reason earlier Vedas represents only 6 adityas and later they came to know as 12 adityas as every ray represented masculine and feminine aspects.

Vasus:

The meaning of Vasu has come from the root word ‘Vasa’ that means ‘ to dwell or to cover’ .The word ‘vastra’ has also come from the same root word. Vasu means ‘ the one who dwell in all’ . They are abode of all that lives, moves or exists.

When we see the manifested world in terms of elements, we see eight eternal elements having unique elemental properties. It is observed in Vedas that even when the universe dissolves back and the gross elements disappear and vanish, these elemental properties remain in the mula-prakriti and manifests themselves time and again. It is interesting to note that Aditya is considered as one of the Vasus. This shows the oneness of Vedas. Adityas when seen as elements refers to ‘Sun’. Since Lord alone pervades the ‘ heat principle’ or ‘Sun’. He is considered as one of the Vasus, the one who is pervaded or covered by Lord.

The eight elemental vasus as Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Sun, Moon, and Nakshatras. 

The Nakshatras are further divided into 27 celestial beings . When space is seen as one undidivded consciousness in terms of Sun, we divide the space into 12 regions, known as twelve adityas. When the same space is seen in terms of Moon( the reflected light of Sun), we see them in terms of movement of Moon that changes its qualities in 27 parts, known as Nakshatras. 

Ashvin- Kumaras:

Ashvins, literally means Horse possessors. They are twins sun of Aditya and always referred to as Dual. When we see the undivided consciousness flowing downwards in terms of duality, we refer them as Asvins.

Horse in vedic terms refers mostly to Pranic energy, the cosmic vital force. These two beings possess this pranic energy . They are known as Ida and Pingala in yogic terms. Ashvins are considered as Lord of Dawn and rejunvenation. The solar channel within us is the force that brings Light of knowledge within us and the lunar channel within us is the force that brings rest, regeneration, calmness, nourishment, rejuvenation within us. Indeed, it is the Ida and Pingala channel alone that manifests in cosmos as the pranas of Sun and Moon . The same dual flow of energy that creates all the duality in the world flows back seamlessly into one flow of undivided consciousness as Sushumna.

Seeing the divinity in each and every fiber of being is what Vedas teach us. This is the eternal message of Vedas. See Oneness everywhere, and  Live in Oneness everywhere!!!

P.S: These understanding of different Kotis have come by reading various interpretations of Vedic Samhitas, most notably of works of Swami Dayanada( Rigvedabhashikas0 and SriAurobindo( The Secret of Vedas). However, I have differed from their interpretations at many places according to own personal experiences and vision that has come to me for that One Divine. I could not thank enough to Swami Dayananda for sprouting the seed of contemplation within me and providing me with the science of ‘Nirukta’ that opened a world of Vedas to me in its full glory. All that flows through me , is a grace of my beloved master and I humbly offer this at his lotus feet. All mistakes are mine and the glory belongs to you alone my master.

🌼🌼🌼All Glories to Swmaiji alone🌼🌼🌼