Deva

Luminous, divine being. In Vedic and Tantric cosmology, devas are principles of consciousness governing aspects of manifestation: light, fire, wind, mind.

They are not gods in the Western theistic sense. They are personified cosmic forces — archetypes the practitioner can invoke or recognize as aspects of their own nature.

In Hatha Yoga, the subtle body is described as inhabited by devas: each chakra, each nadi has its tutelary deity. To meditate on them is not external worship but recognition of the divine already present in the energetic structure of the being.

Deva shares its root with dīvyati (to shine) and with Latin deus. Luminosity is the essential quality.