deva

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(Sanskrit; Pāli, bright, shining). A god or supernatural being, normally resident in one of the numerous heavens and reborn there as the result of good karma. Buddhism inherited the vedic concept of a pantheon of gods, originally 33, but which rapidly expanded in number. The gods are thought to reside on or over Mt. Meru, the cosmic mountain, and to be frequent visitors to the human world, especially to hear the Buddha's teachings. Offerings and sacrifices are made to the gods, and they may be appealed to for help or protection. They enjoy lifespans of hundreds of thousands of years, but are eventually reborn when their good karma is exhausted, and are thus (in contrast to the Buddha) still within the realm of saṃsāra.

Celestial Hindu gods (see Asuras).

Hindu gods, who inhabit their world of Deva-Loka. The term derives from the root div (to shine) and may be related to the Persian divs. Indra was foremost among the ancient Hindu gods and Deva-Loka was his heaven. In later mythology, Indra became inferior to Agni, Vayu, and Surya, but remained in power over other gods and spirits. The Deva-Loka of the gods included many nature spirits and angels.

According to theosophical teachings (which partially derive from Hinduism) devas constitute the ranks or orders of spirits who compose the hierarchy that rules the universe under the deity. Their numbers are vast and their functions are not all known to mankind, though generally these functions may be said to be connected with the evolution of systems and of life.

Of devas there are three kinds—bodiless devas, form devas, and passion devas. Bodiless devas belong to the higher mental world; their bodies are composed of mental elemental essence, and they belong to the first elemental kingdom. Form devas belong to the lower mental world; while their bodies are composed also of mental elemental essence, they belong to the second elemental kingdom. Passion devas belong to the astral world and their bodies are composed of astral elemental essence. Devas are superlatively great and glorious creatures; they have vast knowledge and power, are calm yet irresistible, and are in appearance altogether magnificent.

Devas at Findhorn

Devas came into Western thought in a powerful way at the New Age community of Findhorn. In 1963, while struggling to survive in the trailer camp that would later become the community site, Peter and Eileen Caddy and Dorothy MacLean were gardening. In her meditations that spring, MacLean's attention was called to the presence of the forces of nature. She was told to cooperate with nature by thinking about the higher nature spirits, the spirits of different forms from the clouds to the varieties of different plants.

Getting over some initial skepticism, she made contact and began to receive instructions from the devas that allowed them to produce a spectacular garden in the spartan conditions of northern Scotland. Over the next few years hundreds of messages were received and published from the devas which also began to articulate a philosophy of the wholeness of creation.

Sources:

Findhorn Community. The Findhorn Garden. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.

Hawken, Paul. The Magic of Findhorn. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.

MacLean, Dorothy. To Hear the Angels Sing. Middleton, WI: Lorian Press, 1980.