Essay name: Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras
Author:
Rajeshri Goswami
Affiliation: Jadavpur University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras. In short, this thesis examines Vedic goddesses by analyzing their images, functions, and social positions. It further details how natural and abstract elements were personified as goddesses, whose characteristics evolved with societal changes.
Chapter 3
13 (of 17)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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make them live many years endowed with sons and grandsons, and is beseeched to enjoy the oblation offered by the devotes, she protects and nourishes Prajapati, and is regarded as lus- 52 286 trous, strong and beautiful She is the beloved of the gods,
and she pleases everyone and arose before in the eastern direction.
53 The Vedic Aryans looked upon Rohini, presumably the red
planet Mars (of Rohini means the red one), as a goddess who played
a major role in the sacrifice performed by them. She was also
considered by them to be the protector and nourisher of Prajapati.
They saw her as lustrous, strong, beautiful, pleasing and a beloved
of the gods.
Danu, Saranyu and Sarama
References to Danu. Saranyū and Sarama are so infrequent
and so lacking in description that it is difficult to even speculate
on what their distinctive natures might have been. Danu is identi-
fied as the mother of the cosmic demon viere, who is defeated by the
god Indra. She is compared to a cow, although her son, who is
described as without hands and feet, is more reptilian in appearance.
The word'ḍānu' is used elvewhere, in connection with the waters of.
heaven; it may be that Danu was associated with the formless,
primordial waters that existed prior to creation, the waters in
which Vṛtra hid and which he withheld from creation, until they
were freed by Indra's mighty deed.
52 TB II : 3+1+1.
53 TB II : 3:1:2.
54 RV I.32.9.
