Religion in Vedic Period

• There was no temple or idol worship

They practiced primitive animism(worshipped forces of nature such as wind, rain, water, etc.)

•  Idol worship is prominent
• Sacrificesbecame more elaborateand important
• Brahmans gained in importance and they maintained their supremacy
• They performed yajnas (rituals) such as Ashvamedha, Vajapeya, etc. to establish their authority over the chiefs and their territory

• Indra (most important): God of thunder/rain
• Agni: God of fire
• Varuna: God of water
• Soma: God of plants
• Yama: God of death
• Pushan: God of jungle paths, herdsmen, and cattle
• Vishnu: Benevolent god
• Marutas: god of storm

Ashvins: twin god of war and fertility

• Indra and Agni lost importance and Prajapati (god of creation) emerged supreme
• Vishnu, Rudra(previously minor god) became prominent
• Division in the class of deities appeared e.g. Pushan (god of cattle) became the god of Shudras

• Savitri: Solar deity
• Aditi:Goddess of eternity
• Prithvi: Earth Goddess
• Nirrti: Goddess of death
• Usha: Goddess of dawn

• Gandharvas(divine musicians)
• Apsaras(Mistress of God)
• Vishwadevas (Intermediate Deities)

Aryaman (Guardian of compacts and marriages)