Varuna

Varuna (/ˈvɜːrʊnə, ˈvɑːrə-/;[1] IAST: Varuṇa व ण, Malay: Baruna) is a

Varuna
Vedic deity associated first with sky, later with waters as well as with Ṛta
(justice) and Satya (truth).[2][3] He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic God of the Water
literature of Hinduism, such as the hymn 7.86 of the Rigveda.[3] He is
possibly one of the earliest Indo-Aryan triads with parallels to a Avestan
deity, possibly Iranian Ahura Mazda.[3][4] His streak of demonic violent
tendencies, according to Hindu mythology, led to his demotion and Indra
taking away most of his powers.[2][4] He is also mentioned in the Tamil
grammar work Tolkāppiyam, as the god of sea and rain.[5]

In the Hindu Puranas, Varuna is the god of oceans, his vehicle is a Makara
(part fish, sea creature) and his weapon is a Pasha (noose, rope loop).[2][6] The God Varuna on his mount Makara,
He is the guardian deity of the western direction.[3] In some texts, he is the 1675-1700
father of god Brahma and of Vedic sage Vasishtha.[2] Painted in: India, Rajasthan, Bundi, placed
in LACMA museum
Varuna is found in Buddhism, for example as Suiten in Japanese Buddhist
Devanagari व ण
mythology.[6] He is also found in Jainism.[7][8]
Sanskrit Varuṇa
transliteration
Affiliation Ādityas
Contents Deva
Guardians of the
Etymology
directions,Panchmahabhoot
Texts
Vedas Abode Ocean
Ramayana Weapon Pasha (noose)
In Tolkappiyam
Mount Makara
Sindhi Hindus
Personal Information
East Asian Buddhism
Consort Varuni
Shinto
See also Siblings Samudra deva
References Greek Poseidon
External links equivalent
Roman Neptune
equivalent
Etymology
Varuna is related to the root vṛ ("vri") which, states Adrian Snodgrass, means "to surround, to cover" or "to restrain, to check". With
uṇan, it gives "Varuna" meaning "he who covers or binds all things".[6] The sea or ocean is the perceived manifestation of him, while
the universal law or Ṛta (dharma) is the abstract binder which connects all things.[6] His name is related to Indo-European root "uer"
or "to bind". In later Hindu literature, the term Varuna evolves to mean god of waters, the source of rains and the one who rules over
[6]
the Nagas (divine sea serpent) – myths important in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Texts
Vedas
In the earliest layer of the Rigveda, Varuna is the guardian of moral law, one who
punishes those who sin without remorse, and who forgives those who err with
remorse.[10][11] He is mentioned in many Rigvedic hymns, such as 7.86–88, 1.25,
2.27–30, 8.8, 9.73 and others.[10][6] His relationship with waters, rivers and oceans
is already mentioned in the Vedas, and according to Hermann Oldenberg, he is
already the Indian version of Poseidon in these texts.[12] Yet, the Vedic poets
describe him as an aspect and one of the plural perspectives of the same divine or
spiritual principle.[13][14] For example, hymn 5.3 of theRigveda states:

You at your birth are Varuna, O Agni.

When you are kindled, you areMitra.
In you, O son of strength, all gods are centered.
You are Indra to the mortal who brings oblation.
You are Aryaman, when you are regarded as having
the mysterious names of maidens, O Self-sustainer
.

— Rigveda 5.3.1-2, Translator: Hermann

Oldenberg[13][15] Varuna iconography at the 11th-
century Rajarani Hindu temple.[9]
Varuna and Mitra are the gods of the societal affairs including the oath, and are often
twinned Mitra-Varuna.[16][17] Both Mitra and Varuna are classified as Asuras in the
Rigveda (e.g. RV 5.63.3), although they are also addressed as Devas as well (e.g. RV 7.60.12). Varuna, being the king of the Asuras,
V [18]
was adopted or made the change to a Deva after the structuring of the primordial cosmos, imposed by Indra after he defeatsrtra.

According to Doris Srinivasan, a professor of Indology focusing on religion, Varuna-

Mitra pair is an ambiguous deity just like Rudra-Shiva pair.[19] Both have wrathful-
gracious aspects in Indian mythology.[20] Both Varuna and Rudra are synonymous with
"all comprehensive sight, knowledge", both were the guardian deity of the north in the
Vedic texts (Varuna later gets associated with west), both can be offered "injured, ill
offerings", all of which suggest that Varuna may have been conceptually overlapping
with Rudra.[19] Further, the Rigvedic hymn 5.70 calls Mitra-Varuna pair as rudra, states
Srinivasan.[19] According to Samuel Macey and other scholars, Varuna had been the
more ancient Indo-Aryan deity in 2nd millennium BCE, who gave way to Rudra in the
[20][21]
Hindu pantheon, and Rudra-Shiva became both "timeless and the god of time".

In Vajasaneyi Samhita 21.40 (Yajurveda), Varuna is called the patron deity of

Varuna with Varunani. Statue
carved out of basalt, dates back
to 8th century CE, discovered in
Karnataka. On display at the
Prince of Wales museum,
Mumbai.
physicians, one who has "a hundred, a thousand remedies".[19] His capacity and
association with "all comprehensive knowledge" is also found in the Atharvaveda
(~1000 BCE).[22] Varuna also finds a mention in the early Upanishads, where his role
evolves. In verse 3.9.26 of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad(~800 BCE), for example, he
is stated to be the god of the western quarter, but one who is founded on "water" and
dependent ultimately on "the heart" and the fire of soul.[23] In the Katha Upanishad,
Aditi is identified to be same as the goddess earth. She is stated in the Vedic texts to be
the mother of Varuna and Mitra along with other Vedic gods, and in later Hindu
[24][25]
mythology she as mother earth is stated to be mother of all gods.

Ramayana
Rama interacts with Varuna in the Hindu epic Ramayana. For example, faced with
the dilemma of how to cross the ocean to Lanka, where his abducted wife Sita is
held captive by the demon king Ravana, Rama (an Avatar of Vishnu) performs a
pravpavesha (prayer, tapasya) to Varuna, the Lord of Oceans, for three days and
three nights, states Ramesh Menon.[26] Varuna does not respond, and Rama arises on
the fourth morning, is enraged. He states to his brother Lakshamana that "even lords
of the elements listen only to violence", Varuna does not respect gentleness, and
peaceful prayers go unheard.[26]

With his bow and arrow, Rama prepares to attack the oceans to burn up the waters
and create a bed of sand for his army of monkeys to cross and thus confront Ravana.
Lakshmana appeals to Rama, translates Menon, that he should return to "peaceful
paths of out fathers, you can win this war without laying waste the sea".[26] Rama
shoots his weapon sending the ocean into flames. As Rama increases the ferocity of
his weapons, Varuna arises out of the oceans.
Varuna himself arose from the depth
He bows to Rama, stating that he himself did not know how to help Rama because
of the ocean and begged Rama for
the sea is deep, vast and he cannot change the nature of sea. Varuna asked Rama to forgiveness.
remember that he is "the soul of peace and love, wrath does not suit him". Varuna
promised to Rama that he will not disturb him or his army as they build a bridge and
cross over to Lanka.[26]

In Tolkappiyam
The Tolkāppiyam, a Tamil grammar work from 3rd century BCE divides the people
of ancient Tamilakam into 5 Sangam landscape divisions: kurinji, mullai, paalai,
marutham and neithal.[27] Each landscape are designated with different gods.
Neithal is described as a seashore landscape occupied by fishermen, with the god of
sea and rain, Varunan or Kadalōn.[5] "Varuna" means water which donates the ocean
in the Tamil language.[28]

Sindhi Hindus
Jhulelal is considered an
incarnation of Varuna by
Sindhi Hindus.
Jhulelal is believed by Sindhi Hindus to be an
incarnation of Varuna.[29] They celebrate the
festival of Cheti Chand in his honor. The festival
marks the arrival of spring and harvest, but in Varuna surrenders to rama.
Sindhi community it also marks the mythical
birth of Uderolal in year 1007, after they prayed
to Hindu god Varuna to save them from the persecution by tyrannical Muslim ruler named
Mirkhshah.[30][31][32] Uderolal morphed into a warrior and old man who preached and
reprimanded Mirkhshah that Muslims and Hindus deserve the same religious freedoms. He, as
Jhulelal,[32] became the champion of the people in Sindh, from both religions. Among his Sufi
Muslim followers, Jhulelal is known as "Khwaja Khizir" or "Sheikh Tahit". The Hindu Sindhi,
.[32][30]
according to this legend, celebrate the new year as Uderolal's birthday

East Asian Buddhism

In East Asian Buddhism, Varuna is one of the twelve deities (Jūniten 十 二 天 ),
guardian deities who are found in Buddhist temples.[33] Varuna was called Shuitian
in Chinese or Suiten in Japanese (水天, lit. "Watery Sky").[34] Varuna joins the other
eleven deities: Indra (Jap. Taishakuten), Agni (Katen), Yama (Emmaten), Nirrti
(Rasetsuten), Vayu (Futen), Ishana (Ishanaten), Kubera (Tamonten), Brahma
(Bonten), Prithvi (Chiten), Surya (Nitten), Chandra (Gatten).[35][36] From
Buddhism, Suiten was also incorporated into the Shinto religion of Japan.

Shinto Suitengū (Tokyo) is a Shinto shrine to

Varuna.
Varuna is also worshipped in Japan's Shinto religion. One of the Shinto shrines
dedicated to him is the Suitengū ("Palace of Suiten") in Tokyo. After the Japanese
emperor issued the Shinbutsu bunri, the separation of Shinto and Buddhist practices as part of the Meiji Restoration, Varuna/Suiten
was identified with the Japanese supreme God,Amenominakanushi.[37]

See also
Ādityas
Asura
Guardians of the directions
Hindu deities
Mitra (Vedic)
Paravar
Rigvedic deities
Shukra
The king and the god
Veles (god)
Left: A Balinese Hindu offering prayers to Varuna on Indonesian
beach;
References Right: Vishnu avatar Parasurama, asking Varuna to create Kerala.

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External links
Asura Varuna, R. N. Dandekar (1939)
Great Vayu and Greater Varuna, Mary Boyce (1993)

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