Devas in different traditions

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kamalamala1
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Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:46 pm

Devas in different traditions

Post by kamalamala1 »

Dear Hari
As we know in different cultures there are different persons (devas) who controlling the particular elements
Like in vedas one who control all the watery elements is Varuna dev/
But in Greek tradition is Poseidon.
Also Indra is the king of devas in Greek tradition the king is Zevs/
And so on .There personal histories quite different, characteristics some of them although is quite similar sometime. /
Some are completely different/
My question is ,are all this divine personalities the same person in different traditions o r they are different persons?
If they are the same person then why the personal histories so different and if they are different personalities then how it is that
different personalities that are in charge of controll of the same nature element?
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Hari
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Re: Devas in different traditions

Post by Hari »

We cannot assume that the descriptions given in different cultures perfectly represent the personalities they attempt to depict. The differing characteristics of Varuna and Poseidon arise from the history, beliefs, and literary capacity of these ancient civilizations. No tradition completely and perfectly explains these devas, for the reality of these celestial beings is far greater than humans can document. Each culture assumes that their description is complete, but none of them are. Although the ancient Indian ideas are clearer than concepts of later cultures, differences in the description of the gods with similar functions do not imply different beings.
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