Aṅgirases, Virūpas, Navagvas, Daśagvas in the Rigveda

on

Aṅgirases, Virūpas, Navagvas, Daśagvas

Aṅgirases

The Aṅgirases are among the most frequently mentioned ancestral seers of the Ṛgveda, appearing over sixty times, often in the plural. They are presented as “sons of heaven”, as seers who are themselves the sons of the gods, and as descendants of a primordial Aṅgiras; poets also call them “fathers,” “our fathers,” and “our ancient fathers,” with a particular association to Yama and the other Pitṛs.[1]

Cultically, the Aṅgirases receive Soma and are invoked like gods; they are called brāhmaṇ priests, credited with discovering Agni hidden in the wood, and with conceiving the first ordinance of sacrifice—through which they gain immortality and the friendship of Indra.[2]

Above all, the Aṅgirases are closely linked to Indra’s recovery of the cows and the breaching of Vala. Indra discloses or drives out the cows for them, opens the stall, and casts down Vala; accompanied by the Aṅgirases he pierces Vala and drives out the cattle. In this role Indra is even styled aṅgirastama (“chief Aṅgiras”), and Soma too is said to open the cow-stall for the Aṅgirases.[3]

The Aṅgirases’ own song and ritual action become decisive: praised by them, Indra pierces Vala and bursts the stalls; their rites are said to dispel the darkness, set the sun aloft, and spread out the earth. In several verses Indra recedes from view and these deeds are directly attributed to the Aṅgirases: they empty the stalls of cows and horses, cleave the rock, find the cows, and find the light by their chants.[4]

The Aṅgirases also appear in the Saramā–Paṇis cycle: Saramā helps Indra and the Aṅgirases track the hidden cattle; elsewhere the Aṅgirases alone are credited with finding the cows and steeds of Paṇi. Because Bṛhaspati shares these exploits—piercing the rock and releasing cattle—he receives the epithet Āṅgirasa, and in one passage is even directly called Aṅgiras when he drives out cows and releases the waters with Indra.[5]

In the singular, Aṅgiras is frequently an epithet of Agni (e.g., “the first seer Aṅgiras”), underscoring Agni’s role as the archetypal priest and inspirer among the Aṅgirases.[6]

Related Priest-Groups

A. Virūpas

The Virūpas are mentioned only a few times and always in close connection with the Aṅgirases: they are called sons of heaven and seers, sons of Aṅgiras, “born from Agni, from heaven.” Once Virūpa appears as a single singer of Agni; the adverb virūpavat (“like Virūpa”) likewise implies a singular figure. A patronymic form occurs where Yama is invoked with the Aṅgirases and the Yairūpas. Since virūpa is commonly an adjective meaning “variously-formed” and the name almost always appears beside “Aṅgiras/Aṅgirases,” it is likely no more than an epithet of the Aṅgirases.[7]

B. Navagvas

The Navagvas are named fourteen times, often beside the Aṅgirases, and are hailed as “our (ancient) fathers.” Like the Aṅgirases, they are tied to Indra’s myth of the recovered cows (with Saramā and the Paṇis). With Indra as their friend they sought the cows; pressing Soma they praise Indra with songs and break open the stall of the cows. One hymn pictures them singing with the pressing stones for ten months. The word navagva can also be a mere adjective (e.g., of Agni’s rays), and in the singular seems to be an epithet of Aṅgiras or Dadhyañc. It probably means “going in a company of nine,” denoting a group of nine ancient priestly ancestors.[8]

C. Daśagvas

The Daśagvas are named seven times (three times in the singular), rarely without the Navagvas. They are remembered as the first to offer sacrifice. Indra sought the cows with the Navagvas and found the sun with the ten Daśagvas. With both groups he rents the rock and Vala; they praise Indra and break open the stall of the cows. Dawn is said to shine upon the Navagva Aṅgira and the seven-mouthed Daśagva. Daśagva is even called a chief Aṅgiras, and once appears as a seer aided by Indra. The name seems a numerical counterpart of Navagva, probably suggested by it.[9]

References (Rigveda)

  1. RV 3.53.7; 10.67.2; 4.2.15; 10.62.4–6; 1.71.2; 1.62.2; 10.14.3–5. ↩︎
  2. RV 9.62.9; 3.53.7; 10.62; 7.42.1; 5.11.6; 10.67.2; 10.62.1. ↩︎
  3. RV 8.63.3; 1.51.3; 1.134.4; 8.14.8; 2.11.2; 6.17.6; 1.100.4; 1.130.3; 9.86.23. ↩︎
  4. RV 2.15.8; 4.16.18; 6.18.5; 1.62.5; 10.62.7; 10.62.2–3; 4.3.11; 1.62.2; 1.7.22. ↩︎
  5. RV 10.108.8–10; 1.62.3; 1.83.4; 6.73.1; 10.68.2; 2.23.18. ↩︎
  6. RV 1.15.11; 10.92.15; 1.127.2. ↩︎
  7. RV 3.53.7; 10.62.5–6; 8.75.6; 1.45.3; 10.14.5. ↩︎
  8. RV 6.22.2; 10.14.6; 1.62.3–4; 5.45.7; 10.108; 3.39.5; 5.29.12; 5.45.7–11; 6.63; 4.5.14; 10.62.6; 9.108.4. ↩︎
  9. RV 2.34.12; 3.39.5; 1.62.4; 5.29.12; 4.5.14; 10.62.6; 8.12.2. ↩︎

Comments

Post a Comment