Devas
/ˈdeɪ.vəz/noun
Plural of deva, a divine or supernatural being in Hinduism and related South Asian traditions.
Did you know?In Buddhist cosmology, devas possess extraordinary longevity and power but are not eternal or all-powerful; they too remain within samsara, the cycle of birth and death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*deywós
“A celestial or shining deity, derived from the root for the bright daytime sky”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
deva
“A god, divine being, or shining one”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
devāḥ
“Gods or divine beings; the masculine plural of deva”
19th Century
English
deva
“A divine being in Hinduism, Buddhism, or Theosophical writing”
Modern English
English
devas
“Plural of deva, referring to celestial or divine beings”