Gods of Mahabharata

 

Mahabharata's time was a transition time – from Vedic to Puranic.
This is evidenced by the fact that of the 5 Gods Kunta and Madri sought to sire their children, none was from the “trinity” !!! 
Kunta, Madri and Pandu chose from the original pantheon Vedic pantheon

Mitra was the original solar deity, friend to all lifeforms.  (Mitra = friend)  Kunta chose Mitra / Surya to sire her first son.

Dharma - Yama / Varun was originally the god of righteousness – an earlier version of Dharma. 
As kings must be righteous, Pandu chose him has the ideal God to sire his first son

Vayu was the god of strength, as can be seen from Ramayana when he sired Hanuman – the strong man of that epic. 
Kings require strength and so Vayu was chosen to sire the second child.

Indra was the petulant God of heaven who could shower his mercy or withhold his grace in the form of rain.
As Lord of heaven and king of "devatas", Indra was chosen as the ideal god to sire the third son.

Ashwini twins were probably pre Vedic Gods and dealt with herbal lore, healing and health.
They were chosen as the ideal gods to sire the fourth and fifth sons by Madri.

 

Later, Vishnu and his avataras became more popular.  Krushna and Rama became the most popular. 
Shiva and his forms were popular in Mahabhart times and continue to be so even now. 

As this was a transition time – between old and new – sometimes the text prefers the older gods, sometimes the new ones (Krushna and Balarama).  Sometimes the Vedic gods require the help of Krushna, Arjun and sometimes, they help these heroes in their own battles. 

Vedic Gods of heaven would not require humans to fight for them.
Puranic gods of heaven seek humans to fight on their behalf.
In Puranic legends, the Trinity are infallible and defeat the heavenly gods with ease.

Mahabharat reflects these changes.  There are legends, myths and histories from all corners of India.  Some of the stories are of pre-Vedic Gods, tribal Gods, Vedic pantheon and new emerging Gods.  Mahabharat is a reflection of the social, spiritual and philosophical milieu of its time.

 

 

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