devat

Devat is a term used in several South Asian languages to denote deities or divine beings. Often seen as a variant transliteration of the Sanskrit devata, devat can refer to a single deity or to the pantheon of gods depending on the context.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from Sanskrit deva "god," with devata meaning a deity, guardian spirit, or divinity in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain literature. In some languages, the final syllable is shortened in everyday speech, producing “devat” in written or oral forms.

Religious usage: In Hindu practice, devat figures prominently in ritual and household worship. Village deities, known as gram devata, and family deities, kul devata, are focal points of offerings and rites. The term also appears in scriptures and devotional poetry as a collective or plural reference to divinities labeled as devatā or devatas.

Regional and cultural notes: In many Indian and Himalayan communities, devat are believed to protect communities, crops, and homes. In Southeast Asian contexts influenced by Sanskrit and Pali traditions, similar terms appear in translations of deva and devata in local languages.

In contemporary usage, devat is primarily encountered in linguistic discussions, translations, or descriptions of ritual practices. See also deva and devata.