DIVINE DEITIES IN SCRIPTURES From the Rig Veda to the Village Shrine

Divine Deities in Scriptures: From the Rig Veda to the Village Shrine is a historical and textual study of the divine figures that appear across the major traditions of Indian scripture. Rather than presenting a simple dictionary of gods and goddesses, the book asks which deities individual texts name, how those texts understand them, and why particular divine figures become important in different historical and cultural settings. Beginning with the Vedic Samhitas and Upanishads, the book traces the movement from a diverse pantheon of fire, storm, dawn and other divine powers toward the philosophical idea of Brahman. It then follows the development of religious traditions through Rama, Krishna, Durga, Kali, regional and tribal deities, and the presence of the divine in law, statecraft, medicine, architecture and other branches of Indian intellectual life. A distinctive feature of the volume is its attention to Odisha and regional traditions, including Purushottama Kshetra, Viraja, Jagannath, tribal religious influences and Stambhesvari. By placing regional traditions alongside pan-Indian scriptures, the book presents a broad picture of how Indian religious thought developed across texts, communities and historical periods. The volume is intended for students of history, religion and Indian culture, scholars of textual and religious traditions, and general readers interested in understanding why India’s sacred traditions contain such a rich and diverse world of deities.