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Aryan Religion: Gatway to the Vedas
by
Kenneth Shouler, Ph.D., & Susai Anthony
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- It’s hard to tell which scriptures are Aryan
- A link between Hinduism & animism is likely
- Aryans built no temples but sacrificed animals
Vedic literature is probably the best sourcebook for an understanding of early Indian philosophy. But as authoritative as the Vedas are, even the best scholars are confused trying to separate the Aryan from the Indian contribution to the religion. After all, the Vedas were composed after the Aryan migration, not before it. Thus, we cannot ascertain what portions of these great scriptures are Aryan and what portions are pre-Aryan.
What can we know about the religion the Aryans brought with them? It seems to have been polytheistic and probably bore more than a little resemblance with the religions of other Indo-Europeans; comparisons have been made between the Aryan gods and those of Greece and Rome. The connection is a natural once, since the Aryans, like the Greeks, personified gods as natural forces and objects, such as the sun, the moon, and the fertility of the soil. A connection, then, between Hinduism and animism is likely.
Due to their nomadic ways, in the early years of their occupation, the Aryans built no temples to their gods; instead, they made animal sacrifices in open places. They also sacrificed dairy products like butter or milk, which was poured out to the gods. Also used in sacrifices was the juice of the soma plant. In ancient texts, this is described as a sacred plant, since it was sent to Earth by the god Indra.
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