Saranyu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saranyu (Saraṇyū) or Saraniya is the wife of Surya, and a goddess of the dawn and the clouds in Hindu mythology, and is sometimes associated with Demeter. According to Max Muller and A. Kuhn, Demeter is the mythological equivalent of the Sanskrit Saranyu, who, having turned herself into a mare, is pursued by Vivasvat, and becomes the mother of the Revanta and two Asvins, the Indian Dioscuri, the Indian and Greek myths being regarded as identical. She is also the mother of Manu, Yama and Yami. According to Farnell, the meaning of the epithet is to be looked for in the original conception of Erinys, which was that of an earth-goddess akin to Ge, thus naturally associated with Demeter, rather than that of a wrathful avenging deity.
Saraṇyū is the female form of the adjective saraṇyú, meaning "quick, fleet, nimble", used for rivers and wind in the Rigveda (compare also Sarayu).
Etymologically, Saranyu may be related to Helen. In Rigveda 10.17, Saranyu is the daughter of Tvastar, and, like Helen, is abducted, and Vivasvan is given a replacement bride instead.
- 1ab tváṣṭā duhitré vahatúṃ kṛṇotîtīdáṃ víśvam bhúvanaṃ sám eti1
- 1cd yamásya mātâ paryuhyámānā mahó jāyâ vívasvato nanāśa
- 2ab ápāgūhann amŕtām mártyebhyaḥ kṛtvî sávarṇām adadur vívasvate
- 2cd utâśvínāv abharad yát tád âsīd ájahād u dvâ mithunâ saraṇyûḥ
- Tvastar prepares the bridal of his Daughter: all the world hears the tidings and assembles.
- But Yama's Mother, Spouse of great Vivasvan, vanished as she was carried to her dwelling.
- From mortal men they hid the Immortal Lady, made one like her and gave her to Vivasvan.
- Saranyu brought to him the Asvin brothers, and then deserted both twinned pairs of children.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
This Hindu mythology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
