During the Rigvedic time the gods worshipped were generally the personified powers of Nature. It was believed that divine powers were capable of conferring both and punishments on man. Fire was sacred as it was regarded to be the intermediary between man and God.
There were nearly 33 gods. Later day tradition classified them into 3 categories of terrestrial (Prithvisthana), aerial or intermediate (antarikshasthana) and celestial (dyusthana) god.
(i) Terrestrial (Prithvisthaniya): Prithivi, Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and rivers.
(ii) Aerial/ Intermediate( Antarikshasthaniya): Indra, Rudra, Vayu – Vata, Parjanya.
(iii) Celestial (Dyusthaniya): Daus, Surya (In 5 forms: Surya, Savitri, Mitra, pushan, Vishnu). Varuna, Aditi, Usha and Asvin.
Indra, Agni and Varuna were the most popular deities of Rigvedic Aryans.
Indra or Purandra (destroyer of fort ): The most important god (250 Rigvedic hymns are devoted to him); who played the role of warlord and was considered to be the rain god.
Agni : The second most important god (200 Rigvedic hymns are devoted to him); fire god was considered to be the intermediary between the gods and the people.
Veruna: Personified water ; was supposed to uphold ‘Rits’ or the natural order (‘Ritasyagopa’).
Surya (sun) was worshiped in 5 forms : Surya, Savitri, Mitra, Pushan and Vishnu.
Surya (Sun) : God who used to drive daily across the sky in his chariot driven by seven horses.
Savitri (the god of light ) : The famous Gayatri Mantra is addressed to her.
Mitra : A solar god.