Asura in Early Vedic Religion

In the Rg-Veda the word asura is frequently used as an epithet for various deities. However, in later Sanskrit it is used instead for a class of demons who are enemies of the gods.

In this book the Vedic passages containing the word asura - are examined to see how such a remarkable shift in meaning could occur. Every verse in the Samhitas containing the word asura- or a derivative or a compound of it is quoted, translated, and discussed. The occurrences of this word and in the prose passages of the Brahmanas are reviewed and the more interesting are quoted. In order to examine the semantic field of this word, occurrences of the terms dasa-, dasyu-, and raksas- are also examined in some detail. In the appendix, the relevant occurrences of the cognate word ahura- are quoted, translated, and analysed.

If the author's conclusions are accepted, then some commonly held ideas about early Indo-Iranian religion will have to be revised. In particular, any ideas about the cult of Asuras distinct from the Devas who were worshipped by some people will have to be abandoned.

The author summarizes the prevailing theories about this semantic development of the word asura-, and subjects them to criticism. He develops his own theory and sums it up in the concluding chapter.

The book is addressed primarily to the scholars, researchers and students of Indology. It is also intended for those who are interested in the study of theology and religion.

About the Author:

WASH EDWARD HALE was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He obtained Bachelor's Degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1970. He completed the course of Theological Studies in History of Religion in Harvard Divinity School and became the recipient of Masters Degree in 1973. In 1980, he obtained Ph. D. in Comparative Religion from Harvard University.

I. PREVIOUS THEORIES ABOUT ASURA
F.B.J. Kuiper
Criticism of Kuiper's Position
Haug
P. von Bradke
Summary of Reviews of von Bradke's Book
Criticism of von Bradke's Position
Rudolf Otto
Criticism of Otto's Position
Emile Benveniste
Criticism of Benveniste's Position
Sten Konow
Criticism of Konow's Position
V.K. Rajwade
Criticism of Rajwade's Position
U.Venkatakrishna Rao
R.N. Dandekar
Criticism of Dandekar's Position
James Darmesteter
Criticism of Darmesteter's Position
R.G. Bhadarkar and K.R.V. Raja
Criticism of Bhandarkar's Position
A.Banerji-Sastri
Criticism of Banerji-Sastri's Position
A. Padmanabhayya
H. Skold
S.C. Roy
Criticism of Roy's Position
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy
Criticism of Coomaraswamy's Position
R. Shamasastry
Jean Przyluski
Criticism of Przyluski's Position
Leopold von Schroeder
Criticism of von Schroeder's Position
T. Burrows
Criticism of Burrow's Position
Alfred Hillebrandt
Criticism of Hillebrandt's Position
I.J.S. Taraporewala
Criticism of Taraporewala's Position
Herman Lommel
Criticism of Lommel's Position
V.Fausboll
Criticism of Fausboll's Position
T. Segerstedt
Criticism of Segerstedt's Position
Paul Thieme
Criticism of Thieme's Position
IIya Gerschevitch
Criticism of Gerschevitch's Position
Mary Boyce
Criticism of Boyce's Position
Arthur A. Macdonell
Criticism of Macdonell's Position
Hermann Oldenberg
Criticism of Oldenberg's Position
Karl F. Geldner
C.S. Venkatesvaran
Criticism of Venkatesvaran's Position
Jan Gonda
Criticism of Gonda's Position
Suggested Etymologies of Asura-
Criticism of Suggested Etymologies
Conclusion of Survey

II. ASURA - IN THE FAMILY BOOKS OF THE RV
Summary and Conclusions

III. DERIVATIVES AND COMPOUNDS OF ASURA- IN THE FAMILY BOOKS OF THE RV
Sumary and Conclusions

IV. ASURA - IN BOOKS ONE, EIGHT, NINE AND TEN OF THE RV

Summary of Singular Occurrences and Conclusions
Occurrences in the Plural
Summary of Plural Occurences and Conclusions
Appendix on RV 10.124

V. DERIVATIVES AND COMPOUNDS OF ASURA- IN BOOKS ONE, EIGHT, NINE AND TEN OF THE RV
Conclusions

VI. ASURA- IN THE ATHARVA VEDA
Summary of Singular Occurrences and the Conclusions Plural Occurrences
Summary of Plural Occurrences and Conclusions
Appendix on Asura- in the AVP
Conclusions

VII. DERIVATIVES AND COMPOUNDS OF ASURA IN THE ATHARVA VEDA
Summary and Conclusions

VIII. ASURA- IN THE SAMA VEDA SAMHITA, THE RGVEDA KHILA, AND THE MANTRA PORTIONS OF THE YAJUR VEDA
Summary and Conclusions

IX. DERIVATIVES AND COMPOUNDS OF ASURA- IN THE SAMA VEDA SAMHITA, THE RGVIDA KHILA, AND THE MANTRAS OF THE YAJUR VEDA.
Summary and Conclusions

X. RAKSAS- IN THE RV

XI. DASYU- IN THE SAMHITAS AND BRAHMANAS

XII. DASA- IN THE SAMHITAS AND BRAHMANAS

XIII. ASURA- IN THE BRAHMANAS

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX: AHURA- IN THE AVESTA

INDEX OF VERSES

BIBLIOGRAPHY: TEXTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY: SECONDARY WORKS AND TRANSLATIONS

INDEX