Rigvedic deities
Rigvedic deities are deities mentioned in the sacred texts of Rigveda, the principal text of the historical Vedic religion of the Vedic period.
There are 1,028 hymns in the Rigveda. Most of these hymns are dedicated to specific deities.
The most prominent deity is Indra, the sky god and also the king of the gods ruler of heaven; Surya, the Sun; Agni, the sacrificial fire and messenger of the gods; and Soma, the ritual drink dedicated to Indra also related to the Moon, are additional principal deities.
Deities by prominence
List of Rigvedic deities by a number of dedicated hymns, after Griffith. Some dedications are to paired deities, such as Indra-Agni, Mitra-Varuna, Soma-Rudra, here counted double. Visvedevas have been invoked 70 times.- Indra 250
- Agni 200
- Soma 123
- Ashvinas 56
- Varuna 46
- Maruts 38
- Mitra 28
- Ushas 21
- Vayu 12
- Savitr 11
- Ribhus 11
- Pushan 10
- Apris 9
- Brihaspati 8
- Surya 8
- Dyaus and Prithivi 6, plus 5.84 dedicated to Prithvi alone
- Apas 6
- Adityas 6
- Vishnu 6;4 plus 2 paired hymns 1.155 dedicated to Vishnu-Indra & hymn 6.69 dedicated to Indra-Vishnu. A total of 6 hymns
- Brihaspati 6
- Rudra 4, 3 plus a paired hymn 6.74 dedicated to both Soma-Rudra. A total of 4 hymns
- Dadhikra 4
- Yama 4
- Sarasvati, goddess of Sarasvati River 3
- Parjanya 3
- Vac 2
- Vastospati 2
- Vishvakarman 2
- Manyu 2
- Chitragupta, a son of Brahma and Sarasvati mentioned Rig Veda Book 8, Hymn 21, Stanza 18
- Manas, a god in 10.58
- Dakshina, a god in 10.107
- Purusha in the Purusha sukta, 10.90
- Aranyani
- Ratri
- Aditi
- Shachi
- Bhaga
- Vasukra
- Atri
- Apam Napat
- Kshetrapati
- Ghrta
- Nirrti
- Asamati
- Urvasi
- Pururavas
- Vena
- Mayabheda
- Tarksya
- Tvastar
- Sanjna