GODS

How many Gods are there?

Then Vidaghdha, the son of Sakala, asked him: How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya? Yajnavalkya ascertained the number through the group of mantras known as the Nivid and said: As many as are mentioned in the Nivid of the Visve-devas-three hundred and three and three thousand and three. Very good, said Sakalya (the son of Sakala) and asked again:

How many gods are there, yajnavalkya?

Thirty-three.

Very good, said Sakalya and asked again:

How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?

Six.

Very good, said Sakalya and asked again:

How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?

Three.

Very good, said Sakalya and asked again:

How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?

Two.

Very good, said Sakalya and asked again:

How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?

One and a half.

Very good, said Sakalya and asked again:

How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?

 One. Very good, said Sakalya and asked:

Which are those three hundred and three and those three thousand and three?

Yajnavalkya said: There are only thirty-three gods. These others are but manifestations of them.

Which are these thirty-three?

The eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras and the twelve Adityas-these are thirty-one. And Indra and Prajapati make up the thirty-three.

Which are the Vasus? asked Sakalya. Fire, the earth, the air, the sky, the sun, heaven, the moon and the stars-these are the Vasus; for in them all this universe is placed (vasavah). Therefore they are called Vasus.

Which are the Rudras? asked Sakalya.

The ten organs in the human body, with the mind as the eleventh. When they depart from this mortal body, they make one's relatives weep. Because they make them weep (rud), therefore they are called Rudras.
Which are the six gods? asked Sakalya.

Fire, the earth, the air, the sky, the sun and heaven; for these six comprise all those.

Which are the three gods? asked Sakalya.

 These three worlds.Because, all those gods are comprised in these three.

Which are the two gods?

Matter and the vital breath (prana).

Which are the one and a half?

This air that blows.

Yajnavalkya said: Concerning this some say: 'Since the air blows as one substance, how can it be one and a half (adhyardha)?'

The answer is: It is one and a half because by its presence everything attains surpassing glory (adhyardhnot).

Which is the one God?

The vital breath (Hiranyagarbha); it is Brahman which is called That (Tyat). [Yajur Veda, Brih. Upa., III, IX-Yajnavalkya and Vidaghdha, 1-9].