Why Bhishma was worshipped in Europe?

Summary

This video delves into the evolution of an ancient Indo-European sky deity, Ji, worshipped around 3,600 years ago by the Minian civilization in Greece. Tracing its transformation into the well-known gods Zeus, Jupiter, and their regional counterparts, the script explores the deity’s continuous presence across Europe and India. It connects the ancient deity to the Hindu concept of Pitra Devata, showing its continuity in modern Hindu practices, particularly through the figure of Bhishma in the Mahabharata. This shared divine archetype bridges cultures and showcases a profound cultural legacy that lives on in modern rituals and beliefs.

Takeaways

• 😀 3,600 years ago, the ancient Minian civilization in Greece worshipped a sky deity named Ji, a precursor to later Indo-European deities.
• 😀 Zeus, a supreme sky god in Greek mythology, shares similarities with Indra from Indian traditions but is not the same figure, contrary to common misconceptions.
• 😀 Around 500 BCE, the Romans worshipped Jupiter, a transformation of the Greek Zeus, and this god represented Roman power, war, and law.
• 😀 The Illyrians of the Balkans worshipped De Patos, a sky god linked to thunder, justice, and divine sovereignty, similar to Zeus and Jupiter.
• 😀 In the ancient Baltic tradition, the sky god Theas was worshipped, representing cosmic balance, light, and order, and is a direct descendant of the proto-Indo-European god Dios.
• 😀 The name 'Ji' appears across different ancient cultures, with similar deities like Zeus, Jupiter, and Deopathos sharing common traits across Europe and India.
• 😀 Pitradevas in Hinduism, like Vasus, Adityas, and Rudras, represent cosmic elements, and their worship also ties to honoring ancestors.
• 😀 Daos, a Vedic deity associated with the sky and elemental forces, is linked to the worship of sky gods in ancient European traditions, including Zeus and Jupiter.
• 😀 The worship of Daospitra (Vedic Daos) in Hinduism is closely connected to the idea that biological ancestors are reflected in natural elements and cosmic forces.
• 😀 Bhishma from the Mahabharata is identified as a former incarnation of Daospitra, showing the connection between ancient sky gods and Hindu mythology.
• 😀 The shared mythological figure of the sky father—Daospitra, Zeus, Jupiter, or Deopathos—reveals a common Indo-European divine archetype worshipped across diverse cultures.

Q & A

Who were the Minian civilization, and what significant discovery is related to them?

The Minian civilization lived in Greece around 3,600 years ago during the late Bronze Age. They are notable for their use of Linear B script, which was found on clay tablets from palaces like Pyos and Konosus. These tablets mention a sky deity named Ji, indicating an ancient reverence for a celestial god linked to divine authority.

What is the common misconception about Zeus and Indra?

A common misconception is that Zeus, the Greek god, is simply a form of Indra, the Vedic deity. However, this is incorrect, as Zeus and Indra belong to distinct traditions with unique roles and characteristics, despite some similarities in their mythologies.

How did Jupiter relate to the Greek god Zeus in Roman culture?

Jupiter, the Roman god, was a transformation of Zeus, the Greek sky god. Jupiter represented Roman power, war, and law, and was worshiped alongside other Roman deities such as Juno and Minerva. The largest and brightest planet visible from Earth was named Jupiter in his honor.

Who was Daospitra and how did he relate to other European deities?

Daospitra was the sky god worshiped by the ancient Illyrians, an Indo-European people in the Western Balkans. Like Zeus and Jupiter, Daospitra ruled over the heavens, storms, justice, and cosmic order. This deity shares many traits with other Indo-European sky gods, linking cultures across Europe with a common divine figure.

How does the sky god relate to the Baltic traditions?

In the Baltic tradition, the sky god was known as Theas, a distant and passive ruler linked to light, order, and cosmic balance. This god is considered a descendant of the proto-Indo-European sky god Dios, preserving ancient traits of the celestial deity across cultures.

What is the significance of the deity 'Daospitra' in the Vedic tradition?

In the Vedic tradition, Daospitra is linked to the concept of 'Pitra Devatas,' a pantheon of deities representing the elements of nature and cosmos. One of these deities, Daospitra, is associated with the sky and is considered a spiritual ancestor, playing a significant role in the worship of ancestors during rituals.

What are Pitra Devatas and how are they connected to ancestor worship?

Pitra Devatas are deities related to the veneration of ancestors in Vedic traditions. They are divided into groups such as the Vasus (elemental deities), Adityas (personifications of the solar months), and Rudras (forces of life). These deities symbolize the forces of nature and cosmic order, linking them to the worship of departed ancestors.

How does the concept of 'Daospitra' connect with the Mahabharata?

In the Mahabharata, Daospitra is revealed to be Bhishma, a key figure in the epic. According to the story, Daospitra, along with the other Vasus, was cursed by the sage Vasista to take human form. Bhishma's birth as the son of Ganga and his embodiment of Dharma are connected to the ancient deity, bridging the Vedic tradition with the epic narrative.

What is the significance of Bhishma in the Mahabharata and his connection to Daospitra?

Bhishma is one of the central characters in the Mahabharata, known for his wisdom, righteousness, and teachings on Dharma. He is revealed to be Daospitra, the sky god, reincarnated as a mortal due to a curse. Bhishma’s role in the epic, particularly in the Shanti Parbam and Anushasan Parbam, ties him to the ancient deity's legacy.

What does the video suggest about the shared memory of the sky god across cultures?

The video suggests that the reverence for the sky god is not just a myth but a shared cultural memory across Indo-European civilizations. Whether as Zeus, Jupiter, Daospitra, or other regional names, this divine figure’s core archetype has endured through history, influencing both ancient and modern cultures, especially in India where the worship of related deities continues today.