"now the following are share of aditya : that world ( heaven ), the third libation, rainy season, the jagati meter, the seventeenfold hymn, the vairup chant, and gods enumerated in highest place as well as women. now his function is to draw out and hold the juices with his rays. all that relates to greatness is aditya's function also. he is jointly praised with chandramas, vayu, samvatsara."
Thursday, 4 July 2013
share of indra : nirukta 7.10
"now the following are shares of indra: the atmosphere, the midday libation, the summer, the trishtubh meter, the fifteenfold hymn, the great chant. and the gods who are enumerated in the middle place and the women. now his function is to release the waters and to slay vrtra. and all actions that relates to strength are functions of indra also. now the gods with whom indra is jointly praised are: agni, soma, varuna, pusan, brhaspati, brahmanaspati, parvata, kutsa, vishnu, vayu. moreover mitra is jointly praised with varuna, soma with pusan and rudra, pusan with vayu, and parjanya with vata"
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
share of agni : nirukta 7.8-9
8) "it has been said before that there are three deities only. now we shall explain their shares and companion. now the following are shares of agni: this world, the morning libation, spring, the gayatri meter, the triple hymn, the rathantaram chant, and the group of gods who are enumerated in the first place.
agnayi ( wife of agni) , prithvi, and ila ( praise ) are the women. now it's functions is to carry oblations and to invoke gods. and all that which relates to vision is the function of agni also. now the gods with whom agni is jointly praised are 1) indra, 2) soma 3) varuna 4) parjanya and 5) the rtavas. there is joint oblation offered to but no joint panegyric addressed to agni and vishnu in ten books ( of rig veda ). moreover there is joint oblation offered to but no joint panegyric addressed to agni and pusan. with regard to this following stanza is cited ( in order to show ) their separate praise."
9) "may pusan, the wise, the guardian of universe , whose cattle are never lost cause thee to move forthwith from this world. may he hand over to the manes. and (may) agni ( entrust ) thee to the benevolent gods."
"may pusan the wise whose cattle are never lost, who is the guardian of the universe, i.e he the sun is indeed the guardian of all created beings, forthwith cause thee to move from this world."
the third verse that is 'may he handover to manes' is doubtful. according to some it refers to pusan, ( mentioned ) in preceding hemistich; according to others it extols agni, ( mentioned ) subsequently. (may ) agni entrust thee to the benevolent gods.
suvidatram means wealth: it may be derived from root vid ( to find ) with one preposition ( su ) or from da ( to give ) with two prepositions ( su and vi )
agnayi ( wife of agni) , prithvi, and ila ( praise ) are the women. now it's functions is to carry oblations and to invoke gods. and all that which relates to vision is the function of agni also. now the gods with whom agni is jointly praised are 1) indra, 2) soma 3) varuna 4) parjanya and 5) the rtavas. there is joint oblation offered to but no joint panegyric addressed to agni and vishnu in ten books ( of rig veda ). moreover there is joint oblation offered to but no joint panegyric addressed to agni and pusan. with regard to this following stanza is cited ( in order to show ) their separate praise."
9) "may pusan, the wise, the guardian of universe , whose cattle are never lost cause thee to move forthwith from this world. may he hand over to the manes. and (may) agni ( entrust ) thee to the benevolent gods."
"may pusan the wise whose cattle are never lost, who is the guardian of the universe, i.e he the sun is indeed the guardian of all created beings, forthwith cause thee to move from this world."
the third verse that is 'may he handover to manes' is doubtful. according to some it refers to pusan, ( mentioned ) in preceding hemistich; according to others it extols agni, ( mentioned ) subsequently. (may ) agni entrust thee to the benevolent gods.
suvidatram means wealth: it may be derived from root vid ( to find ) with one preposition ( su ) or from da ( to give ) with two prepositions ( su and vi )
appearence of gods : nirukta 7.6-7
6) "now we shall discuss appearance of gods. some say they are anthropomorphic for their panegyrics as well as their appellations are like those of sentient beings. moreover they are praised with reference to anthropomorphic limbs:
o indra, the two arms of mighty one are noble.
that ( heaven and earth ) which you has seized is your fist, o lord of wealth.
moreover they are praised in association with anthropomorphic objects:
o indra come with thy team of two bay steeds.
a beautiful wife and delightful things are in they house."
7) "others say they are not anthropomorphic because whatever is seem in them is unanthropomorphic as for instance fire, air, earth, moon, sun etc. as to view that their panegyrics are like those of sentient beings ( we reply ) that inanimate objects beginning with dice and ending with herbs are likewise praised. as to view that they are praised in association with anthropomorphic limbs ( we reply ) that this ( treatment ) is accorded to inanimate objects also:
they shout with green mouths. this is panegyrics of stones.
as to view that they are praised in association with anthropomorphic objects ( we reply ) that it is just the same ( as in inanimate objects ):
sindhu yoked the comfortable car, drawn by horse.
this is panegyric of river. as to view that ( they are praised ) with regard to anthropomorphic actions ( we reply ) that it is exactly same ( in case of inanimate objects)
even before the sacrificer they taste delicious oblations. this is panegyric of stones. or else they may be both anthropomorphic or unanthropomorphic. or else ( unanthropomorphic appearance ) of gods who are really anthropomorphic is their counterself in form of action. ( karma ) as sacrifice is that of sacrificer. this is well versed opinion of those who are well versed in legendary lore."
o indra, the two arms of mighty one are noble.
that ( heaven and earth ) which you has seized is your fist, o lord of wealth.
moreover they are praised in association with anthropomorphic objects:
o indra come with thy team of two bay steeds.
a beautiful wife and delightful things are in they house."
7) "others say they are not anthropomorphic because whatever is seem in them is unanthropomorphic as for instance fire, air, earth, moon, sun etc. as to view that their panegyrics are like those of sentient beings ( we reply ) that inanimate objects beginning with dice and ending with herbs are likewise praised. as to view that they are praised in association with anthropomorphic limbs ( we reply ) that this ( treatment ) is accorded to inanimate objects also:
they shout with green mouths. this is panegyrics of stones.
as to view that they are praised in association with anthropomorphic objects ( we reply ) that it is just the same ( as in inanimate objects ):
sindhu yoked the comfortable car, drawn by horse.
this is panegyric of river. as to view that ( they are praised ) with regard to anthropomorphic actions ( we reply ) that it is exactly same ( in case of inanimate objects)
even before the sacrificer they taste delicious oblations. this is panegyric of stones. or else they may be both anthropomorphic or unanthropomorphic. or else ( unanthropomorphic appearance ) of gods who are really anthropomorphic is their counterself in form of action. ( karma ) as sacrifice is that of sacrificer. this is well versed opinion of those who are well versed in legendary lore."
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
number of deities : nirukta 7.5
"there are three deities only says the etyomologists: 1) agni, whose sphere is earth; 2) vayu or indra whose sphere is atmosphere ; 3) sun, whose sphere is heaven. of these each receives many appellations on account of his supereminence , or the diversity of his function, just as priest, although he is one is called sacrificer ( hotr ), the director of sacrifice ( adhvaryu ), the possessor of sacred lore ( brahma ) and the chanter ( udgatr). or else they may be distinct for their panegyrics as well as their appellations are distinct as to view that one receives many appellations on account of diversity of functions, ( it may be remarked that ) many men can also do the actions divided among themselves. with regard to it, community of jurisdiction and enjoyment should be noted as for instance community of men and gods with regard to earth. community of enjoyment is seen in following, i.e the enjoyment of earth by clouds together with air and sun and of other worlds together with agni. there everything is like kingdom of man also."
polytheism or monotheism : nirukta 7.4
"on account of supereminence of the deity, a single soul (aatma ) is praised in various ways. other gods are individual limbs of a single soul. or else as people say seers praise objects according to the multiplicities of their original nature as well as from its universality. they are produced from each other. they are original forms of each other. they are produced from action. they are produced from soul. soul is their chariot, their horse, their weapon, their arrows. soul is indeed all in all of gods."
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