Additional Devas

Vishvakarman
A.K.A.: Bishukatsuma-ten, Brahmanaspathi, Tvastar
The All-Maker, the lord of sacred speech, swift as thought — we will call to him today to help
us in the contest. Vishvakarman, son of the Primordial Brahma (and occasionally mistaken for
his divine father, much to his chagrin) was born before the elements themselves existed. He was
vital in the creation of the universe and the other Devá, crafting the bodies that would become
the shapes they took. More reclusive than his peers, Vishvakarman is content to work on the
outskirts of creation, his many faces watching over the multitude of universes that exist and
drawing inspiration from the past, present, and futures yet to come. Having Vishvakarman craft
a piece for you is considered the ultimate status symbol within the pantheon, and Indra wanted
the architect God to build the grandest palace in all creation for him — as the greatest of all
Devá, of course. But nothing Vishvakarman made satisfied Indra’s ego, causing the Divine
Architect enough distress to seek out Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva for advice in knocking
Indra’s arrogance down a few pegs. It might have involved hundreds of thousands of ants, all
claiming to be Indra’s past Incarnations, but it got the point across: Material possessions
account for little when death makes all equal until the next turning of the wheel, and Indra never
again questioned Vishvakarman’s work. Vishvakarman’s earliest Scions — Manu, Maya,
Tvastar, Shilpi, and Visvajna — founded the Vishvakarma, the craftsman caste, to honor their
patron’s as a creator. Blacksmiths, carpenters, metal casters, stonemasons, and goldsmiths
aplenty number among Vishvakarman’s Scions, some of whom he Chooses and others of whom
he Creates with his own hands. From the struggling art student to the self-made construction
magnate, those who carry the Divine Architect’s spark manifest his blessings in their creativity,
and in turn inspire others to creative endeavors, thus creating a more beautiful World. While
declining to be a visible presence in their lives, Vishvakarman takes pride in the works of their
hands and hearts.
Associated Epics: Dexterity, Charisma
Associated Purviews: Animal (Doves), Chaos, Guardian, Justice, Samsara
Associated Abilities: Art, Control, Craft, Integrity, Presence, Science
Durga
A.K.A.: Adi Parashakti, Devi, Mahamaya
We bow to you, whose motherhood births power, whose victory brings peace. The Primordial
feminine power Shakti manifests as Durga, ultimate warrior. Was the supreme mother present at
the beginning, to create Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver? Or did she take form to
defeat the Aurochs Asura, when Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva crossed the streams of light
emerging from their enraged visages? The Aurochs Asura wrung a boon from Brahma that made
it so no man could defeat him. He stood against Durga, thinking no woman strong enough to
take him. But astride a great cat, blowing a conch-shell, she struck him dead with her trident,
chakram, mace, bow, longsword, and thunderbolt. Today she enjoys a 10-day-long annual
prayer festival. Her Incarnations include the Navadurga’s nine forms, among them the mountain
princess Parvati, who has ascended to Goddesshood in her own right. As a Shakti emanation,
she shares her essence with Kali, Parvati, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati. While nearly all Devá are
adept martial artists, only Karttikeya’s mastery of war matches Durga’s. All armaments are hers
to bless. She embodies the purest warrior impulse, the noblest rationale for weapons and
soldiers: to defend what matters. She takes no pleasure in combat. She has no rage — only
focus and purpose. This perspective sets Durga at odds with Gods who exult in battle, such as
Durga (cont.)
King Shàngó of the Loa, as well as those whose wrath oversteps their control, like
Maudjee-Kawiss of the Manitou. Durga is Titanomachy’s most zealous opponent, demanding
her Scions identify and put down asuras and their spawn swiftly and directly. She lacks patience
for anything short of staunch bravery and unyielding defense against asura forces. When the
Yazatas or Æsir, who are probably asuras anyway, dare question the Devá’s will, they must
contend with Durga before all.
Associated Epics: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Perception
Associated Purviews: Fertility, Guardian, Illusion, Samsara, War
Associated Abilities: Athletics, Awareness, Brawl, Fortitude, Marksmanship, Melee
Karttikeya
A.K.A.: Murugan, Skanda, Tamill Kadavull, Subrahmanya, Kataragama Deviyo
Hail to the conqueror Karttikeya, whom the Tamil people revere as Murugan, who marshals
Devá into war. Was he born of Shiva and Parvati through Agni’s misadventure, his birth saving
the World from erupting into flames? Or did Agni and Svaha or the Ganges River bear him, that
the Krittika stars might raise him? His prowess alone averted annihilation at Tarakasura’s hands.
In a pantheon of warriors, none without martial power, he is the soldier among soldiers, the
match of Durga. Whereas many other Devá are associated with Aryan conquerors, who swept
into North India from Central Asia and subjugated the locals with chariot technology, Karttikeya
bridges the gap between Aryan and Dravidian, reminding Indians they are strongest when they
unite behind divine leadership. Karttikeya’s avatars reveal themselves whenever there is need
for a general among generals, at the moment of greatest urgency: in the village under attack by
marauding warlords, on the street where the bully threatens weaker children, Karttikeya shows
one of his six faces. His favored form bears all the weapons he has mastered at once. Skilled
with the bow, javelin, chakram, mace, and sword, his favored armament is Parvati’s spear,
which he wields with unchecked power from his peacock’s saddle. At once he is the divine
bachelor Kumaraswami, and the husband of Devasena and Valli. Karttikeya enjoys prayer
festivals in northern and eastern India as well as throughout the Tamil diaspora. Durga Puja also
highlights him as Durga’s child via Parvati. But despite his popularity, he and his Scions must
tread lightly around other Pantheons, for their very presence unnerves others as living rumors of
war. Whereas Durga represents defense and security, Karttikeya rules conquest, whether he likes
it or not. Should the Devás ever take up arms against other Pantheons, Karttikeya knows he or
his Scions must lead the charge.
Associated Epics: Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Appearance, Intelligence
Associated Purviews: Samsara, Stars, War
Associated Abilities: Command, Fortitude, Marksmanship, Melee, Politics, Presence
Varuna
A.K.A.: Baruna, Suiten
Let this paean to the Emperor of Order surpass in splendor every song that now exists. Mounted
atop the amphibious beast called a makara, Varuna was one of the first asuras to set himself
above and apart from his brethren. His mandate sets the rivers flowing down to the sea, swift as
birds. His lasso binds up fear and anguish, debt overwhelming, and thieves in the night. He was
the Devá’s first king before he ceded his throne to great Indra. Yet he remains present, his lasso
in hand to cast towards those who would speak untruths. What are we to think of his fall from
primacy? Have the millions forgotten that he measured out the distance between the sky and
earth with the primordial sun? During the war between Rama and Ravana, Varuna failed to
answer Rama’s call to part the seas until Rama threatened to smite him with a cruel weapon, at
which point Varuna revealed Ravana had enslaved him. It is all well and good that Varuna’s lot
might be humility, but does it now ever cross the line into humiliation? Varuna remains a
symbol of a bygone time, a simpler time, when a Devá’s responsibilities were the sky and the
seas, the sun and the earth, the primal forces that comprise the World’s basic functions. His
avatars exemplify that foundational formlessness: They don’t look like a person with a job so
much as a hulking, dripping-wet man staggering out of the nearest waterway, a rope in his hand.
But while his sovereignty may have faded, he encourages his Scions to act out the lordly grace
of their pantheon’s earliest history. They can still be kings of kings, shaping the world according
to Varuna’s order and vanquishing lies with their regal gazes. Perhaps one of them will rise
above this generation, as Indra over Varuna and Vishnu over Indra.
Associated Epics: Strength, Perception
Associated Purviews: Darkness, Fertility, Guardian, Justice, Samsara, Sky, Sun, Water
Associated Abilities: Athletics, Awareness, Command, Integrity, Melee, Politics