Consider the following statements about Rig Veda : 1. It reflects a naturalistic polytheism—a belief in many Gods who personified natural phenomenon. 2. The Gods were conceived of as anthropomorphic, i.e., as having a physical form similar to that of humans. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Rig Veda reflects a naturalistic polytheism, where natural forces such as the sun, moon, rivers, and rain were personified as divinities [1]. This process of personification allowed natural phenomena to develop into distinct gods, a characteristic feature of Vedic mythology [2]. These deities were conceived of as anthropomorphic, meaning they were attributed with physical forms and human-like qualities. For instance, Indra is depicted as a powerful warrior, and Agni is seen as a divine messenger bridging the gap between humans and gods [1]. While the Rig Veda does not mention temples or image worship, the hymns describe these gods in human terms, emphasizing their roles in maintaining the cosmic and natural order [1]. Thus, both the belief in many gods personifying nature and their anthropomorphic conception are accurate representations of Rig Vedic religion.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Vedic Religion and Rituals > p. 26
2. [2] https://ia802900.us.archive.org/20/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.196082/2015.196082.Vedic-Mythology.pdf