In the early Vedic period, there were two major groups of deities: the devas and the asuras. The devas were celestial beings or gods, worshipped and praised for their excellence. The asuras were another class of celestial beings defined by their opposition to the devas. Over time, the power and importance of the devas surpassed that of the asuras, and the asuras began to be understood as demons. The devas were not viewed as all-powerful, and humans‚¬„¢ relationship with them was transactional. Through sacrifices and offerings, humans secured the aid of the gods in maintaining peace, order, and health. The Rigveda enumerates 33 devas, some representing forces of nature and other representing moral values. The oldest Veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago. The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or ‚¬Å“well-said‚¬. These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses. Three gods are especially important: Agni, the god of fire; Indra, a warrior god; and Soma, a plant from which a special drink was prepared. ?INDRA Indra was one of the most important gods in the religion of the Vedic era. He is the king of the gods, as well as the god of storms and war. Indra is particularly celebrated in the Rig Veda, in which there are more than 250 hymns devoted specifically to him, more than any other deity. He rules over other deities as the benevolent king of the gods, bringing peace and prosperity. As the king of rain and thunder, he brings rain to end droughts, yet he is also a great warrior who conquers the asuras. He is often depicted riding a white elephant, Airavata. AGNI Agni‚¬„¢s importance in Vedic religion is second only to Indra‚¬„¢s, though Agni‚¬„¢s function in worship surpassed Indra‚¬„¢s. Agni is the god of fire, and was thus was of central importance in yagnas (fire ceremonies), especially sacrificial ceremonies. He is understood to be a messenger between humans and the gods, bringing the prayers and offerings of ceremonial rites to the gods and the boons and blessings of the gods back to humanity. In this way, he functions as an intermediary force, transforming the offerings of the human terrestrial world to the subtle celestial realm of the gods. Agni is the protector, especially of the home. He is omnipresent, and thus knows the thoughts of all people and is a witness to all important events. He is said to be able to discern between truth and lies, and this led to practices where people would be made to confess things in the presence of fire as a test of truth, ‚¬Å“trial by fire. ‚¬SOMASoma refers to a god, a plant, and a ritual drink, and the distinction between the three is not always made clear in Rigveda. Soma was considered a bringer of health and wealth. Soma the sacred drink is said to be a yellow-golden colour, and thus soma is also often identified with light. The gods drank soma to sustain their immortality, and the drink would likewise bestow the powers of the gods upon any mortal who drank it.