In Hinduism, the Vasus are attendant deities of Indra, and later Vishnu. They are eight elemental gods representing aspects of nature, representing cosmic natural phenomenon. The name Vasu means 'Dweller' or 'Dwelling'. This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... This article contains information that has not been verified. ... For other uses of the name Vishnu, see Vishnu (disambiguation). ...

There are varying lists of the eight Vasus in different texts, sometimes only because particular deities have varying names. The following are names and meanings according to the Brhad-Aaranyaka Upanishad and according to the Mahabharata as normally equated: The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), sometimes just called Bharata, is one of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. ...

Though the Shatapatha Brahmana uses the Brhad-Aranyaka names, most later texts follow the Mahabharata names with the exception that Āpa 'water' usually appears in place of Aha. The Vishnu Purana equates Prabhāsa with the lights of the 27 or 28 Nakshetra (Constellations/Lunar Mansions) and Dhruva with Akash Tatwa, that is "space", Dhruva seemingly taking over Aha's role when Aha is replaced by Āpa. The word Agni can have these meanings:- A fire-god in three religions: described below. ... In Hinduism, Anala (living) is one of the Vasus, gods of the material world. ... Prithvi (pá¹›thivÄ«) is the Hindu earth-god. ... In Hinduism, Dharā Support is one of the Vasus, gods of the physical cosmos. ... In Hinduism, Vayu is a primary god, father of Bhima and Hanuman. ... In Hinduism, Anila Wind is one of the Vasus, gods of the elements of the cosmos. ... In Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaush or Indra. ... In vedic religion, Dyaus Pita is the Sky Father, husband of Prthivi and father of Agni and Indra (RV 4. ... In Hinduism, I love Amit Chandra is a lunar deity. ... Soma (Sanskrit), or Haoma (Avestan) (from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Sauma) was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the later Vedic and Iranian cultures. ... Dhruva in Hindu mythology was the prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star (Dhruva Nakshatra in Sanskrit) by Lord Vishnu. ... Polaris or Cynosura (α UMi / α Ursae Minoris / Alpha Ursae Minoris) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. ... Shatapatha Brahmana (Brahmana of one-hundred paths) is one of the prose texts describing the Vedic ritual. ... APA may stand for: Administrative Procedure Act, an American statute controlling government agency actions. ...

In the Ramayana the Vasus are children of the sage Kasyapa by Aditi and so are full siblings to the Adityas. However the Mahabharata makes them sons of PrajĀpati son of Manu son of Brahma by various mothers. The Ramayana (Sanskrit: march or journey (ayana) of Rama) is part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki. ... This article is about the Hindu god Kasyapa. ... In Hinduism, Aditi (limitless) is a goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility. ... In Hinduism, the Adityas are a group of solar deities, sons of Aditi and Kasyapa. ... Harappan Seal Impression In Hinduism, Prajapati is Lord of Creatures, thought to be depicted on ancient Harappan seals, sitting in yogic posture, with an erection and what appear to be bison horns. ... In Hindu mythology, Manu is a title accorded the progenitor of humankind during an eon called a Manvantara. ... This article concerns the Hindu creator god, Brahma. ...

The Mahabharata relates how the Vasus, led by "Prithu" (presumably here a male form of Privthvi) were enjoying themselves in the forest, when the wife of Dyaus spotted an excellent cow and persuaded her husband Dyaus to steal it, which he did with the agreement and aid of Pirthu and his other brothers. Unfortunately for the Vasus, the cow was owned by the sage Vasishta who learned through his ascetic powers that the Vasus had stolen it and immediately cursed them to be born on earth as mortals. Vasishta responded to pleading by the Vasus by promising that seven of them would be free of earthly life within a year of being born and that only Dyaus would pay the full penalty. The Vasus then requested the river-goddess Ganga to be their mother. Ganga incarnated and became the wife of King Santanu on condition that he never gainsaid her in any way. As seven children were born, one after the other, Ganga drowned them in her own waters, freeing them from their punishment and the king made no opposition. Only when the eighth was born did the king finally oppose his wife, who therefore left him. So the eighth son, Dyaus incarnated, remained alive, imprisoned in mortal form, and later became known in his mortal incarnation as Bhishma. Vasishta, in Hindu mythology was chief of the seven venerated sages (or Saptharishi) and the Rajaguru of the Suryavamsha or Solar Dynasty. ... The River Ganges (Ganga in Indian languages) is a major river in northern India. ... Shantanu is a king of Hastinapura in the great epic of the Mahabharata. ... Bhishma born as Devavrata, son of Santanu and the holy River Ganga, is the most respected and perhaps the most fabulous character in the Mahabharata after Lord Krishna. ...

A later section of the Mahabharata gives an alternate version in which each of the Vasus gives a portion of himself to create a ninth being and so all eight are later drowned leaving only this ninth composite as an incarnation of parts of all the Vasus to live out a very long mortal life as Bhishma.

See also

• Hindu deities

• List of Hindu deities

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This is a List of Hindu deities. ...

Hinduism | Hindu mythology | Itihasa
Male Deities: Brahma | Vishnu | Shiva | Rama | Krishna | Ganesha | Indra | Lakshman | Hanuman
Female Deities: Gayatri | Lakshmi | Sarasvati | Durga | Devi | Sita | Radha | Kali | Parvati | Shakti
Texts: Vedas | Puranas | Ramayana | Mahabharata