Do We (Hindus) really have 33 Crore Gods and Goddesses?
The concept of 33 Koti devata in Hinduism!
’33 Crore Gods’ is a highly misinterpreted fact. The term ‘trayastrimsati koti’ mentioned in Atharva Veda, Yajur Veda, and Satapatha-brahmana, was misunderstood as 33 Crores.
The term ‘koti’ in Sanskrit has two meaning, one is ‘supreme’ and the other is Crore.
The term ‘trayastrimsati koti’ does not mean the number 'thirty-three crore'. Here koti means 'supreme', pre-eminent, excellent, that is, the 33 'supreme' divinities.
So, somewhere in translation, we missed the basic fact that Hinduism has 33 Supreme Gods and not 33 Crore Gods.
(The word koti has the same meaning as “Uchcha koti.”)
In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, chapter 3, Yajñavalkya has said that in reality there are only 33 Gods and Goddesses.
Of these 8 are Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, and Indra and Prajapati.
( 8+ 11 + 12 + 2 = 33).
8 Vasus (deities of material elements) are -
Dyaus "Sky",
Prthivi "Earth",
Vāyu "Wind",
Agni "Fire",
Nakşatra "Stars",
Varuņa "Water",
Surya "Sun",
Chandra "Moon"
They are called Vasus, because they are the abode of all that lives, moves or exists.