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Devata (pl:devatas, meaning 'the gods')[a] are smaller and more focused Devas (Deities) inIndian religions, such asHinduism andBuddhism. The term "devata" itself can also mean deva. They can be either male or female. Every human activity has its devata, its spiritual counterpart or aspect.
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There are many kinds of devatas: vanadevatas (forest spirits, perhaps descendants of early nature-spirit cults),gramadevata (village gods), devatas of river crossings, caves, mountains, and so on. For example, in theKonkan region ofIndia, Hindu devatas are often divided into five categories:[2]
Following are some of the important types of Dewatas inSri Lankan Buddhism:
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Some well-known Hindu-Buddhist heavenly beings belong to the group of devatas, such asapsaras orvidhyadaris (female cloud and water spirits) and their male counterparts, thegandharvas (heavenly musicians). Devatas often occur in manyBuddhist Jatakas, Hindu epics such as theRamayana and theMahabharata and in many other Buddhist holy scriptures.The island ofBali is nicknamedPulau Dewata (Indonesian: "islands of devata or island of gods") because of its vividHindu culture and traditions. In Indonesia, the termhyang is equivalent to devata. In Hinduism, the devatas that guard the eight, nine and ten cardinal points are calledLokapala (Guardians of the Directions) or, more specifically in ancientJava tradition,Dewata Nawa Sanga (Guardians of Nine Directions).
