@GraniRau I would disagree wtih various parts of this.
For a start, "Asura" was not a "general term for deity" in the archaic Vedic (i.e. RigVedic) textual layers.
It is instead a term for 'mighty', and is applied not only to some Gods but also Demons and even Humans therein.
For a start, "Asura" was not a "general term for deity" in the archaic Vedic (i.e. RigVedic) textual layers.
It is instead a term for 'mighty', and is applied not only to some Gods but also Demons and even Humans therein.
@GraniRau A good example would be the situation of Agni - labelled 'Asura' at RV VII 6 1, and an 'Asura-Slayer' at RV VII 13 1 (both from the very archaic 'Family Books').
@GraniRau Similarly, Indra's 'Asura-ness' ("Asuratvaa") at RV X 99 2 doesn't conflict with His efforts at RV VIII 96 9 & RV VIII 97 1 to, basically, disarm ("anaayudhaaso") 'Asuras' and relieve them of their 'cool stuff' ("bhuja")
@GraniRau RV X 157 4 has "the Gods, [having] slain the Asuras" [“hatvaaya devaa asuraan”] ; whilst RV VIII 27 20 seems to have "Asuraa" to refer to the 'All-Gods' ('Vishvedeva') as a group; & RV III 55 13 speaks of "Mahad Devaanaam Asuratvam Ekam" - the Great & Sole Might of the Gods
@GraniRau Meanwhile, Svarbhanu - who is Very Definitely A Demon (and an A'Sura in later attestation; as an Eclipse Demon, doubly so), is "Asurah" ('Asuric') per RV V 50 5 & 9 - again, from the Family Books, the more archaic swathe of the RV.
@GraniRau Namuci at RV X 131 4 has an 'Asura' labelling;
as does the 'Dasa' Varcin (a lieutenant of Shambara) at RV VII 99 5 (wherein he's / his great army of powerful men is being vanquished by Indra & Vishnu)
as does the 'Dasa' Varcin (a lieutenant of Shambara) at RV VII 99 5 (wherein he's / his great army of powerful men is being vanquished by Indra & Vishnu)
@GraniRau As applies (Arya) humans - RV V 27 1 has the war-leader Tryaruna hailed via 'Asura'; RV I 126 2 has the king Svanaya Bhavya (patron of the Rsi Kaksivan); RV X 93 14 has 'Rama' (occasionally inferred by some to be *that* Rama)
@GraniRau There's also a rather interesting occurrence at RV I 108 6, wherein it seems to be used to refer to 'powerful' rivals who are contending for the visit of the Divinity to *their* rite rather than that of the verse's invoker.
@GraniRau (c.f. RV X 151 3 for the Gods previously 'imparting trust' ("śraddhām [...] cakrire") in the "Asureṣu [...] Ugreṣu", as the reference-point for the Gods therefore bestowing the hoped-for result for the offerer invoking that verse; again 'Asura' here is a mighty [invoker])
@GraniRau As applies various of the 'Asura-Slayer' style hailings going on for relevant divinity in the RV - I would suggest that it's understandable as indicating the potency to be able to overcome the most formidable opposition (whatever that may be); 'Slayers of Kings', 'Giant-Slayer'
@GraniRau Meanwhile, that the [RigVedic] term 'Asura' ought not be taken to mean a sort of deity is supported with some of the (other) ways its cognate - 'Ahura' - gets used by the Zoroastrians.
Kavay Haosravah [Yasht 19 77] is a human who is accorded the term, for instance.
Kavay Haosravah [Yasht 19 77] is a human who is accorded the term, for instance.
@GraniRau oh, I should also have mentioned - viz. RV VIII 96, which I'd briefly referred to above, the 'Asura' occurrence therein is "Asurā Adevāś"
As we can see - in this instance, the application is to anti-divine forces.
As we can see - in this instance, the application is to anti-divine forces.
@GraniRau Meanwhile, in addition to Indra - also on the scene for the vanquishing *of* these 'Asura' Anti-Divine antagonists per the relevant verse, are the Maruts ... Themselves 'Asuraa' per RV I 64 2
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