Pūṣan: The Forgotten Shepherd of the Vedic World
Pūṣan (also spelled Pûshan) is a Vedic deity celebrated in the Rigveda as a god of roads, journeys, cattle, and prosperity. He functions as a divine guide and protector, invoked to clear paths, safeguard livestock, and bestow wealth upon his worshippers.
Etymology and Epithets
Pūṣan bears numerous epithets reflecting his divine attributes:
"Cloud-born God" (1-42.1)
"Lord of the path" (6-53.1)
"Wonder-Worker" (1-42.5; 1-138.4)
"Lord of all prosperity" (1-42.6)
"Wide-Ruler" (1-138.3)
"Free-giver" (1-138.4)
"Resplendent One" (1-138.4)
"Son of Deliverance" (6-55.1)
"Lord of riches" (6-54.8)
"Guard of cattle" (6-58.2)
"Lord of food" (6-58.4)
"The Mighty One" (1-42.10)
"Strong Friend of all prosperity" (10-26.7)
"Friend of all suppliants" (10-26.8)
He is described as "Wise" (6-53.5; 6-56.4), "Strong" (10-26.3), "Vigorous" (1-138.1), and possessed of "wondrous lustre" (6-58.4).
Iconography and Appearance
Physical Description
Pūṣan is depicted with distinctive physical features:
Braided hair: "We pray for wealth to thee most skilled of charioteers, with braided hair" (6-55.2)
Beard: "He with light movement shakes his beard, lovely and ne'er to be deceived" (10-26.7)
Dual form: "Like heaven art thou: one form is bright, one holy, like Day and Night dissimilar in colour" (6-58.1)
Divine Implements
Pūṣan carries several characteristic implements:
Golden sword: "best wielder of the golden sword" (1-42.6)
Awl: "Thou, glowing Pûshan, carriest an awl that urges men to prayer" (6-53.8)
Goad: "Thou bearest, glowing Lord! a goad with horny point that guides the cows" (6-53.9); "Brandishing here and there his lightly-moving goad" (6-58.2)
Chariot and Steeds
A defining characteristic of Pūṣan is his unique mode of conveyance—a chariot drawn by goats:
"thou who hast goats for steeds, Goat-borne!" (1-138.4)
"Bright God whose steeds are goats" (6-55.3)
"Pûshan, who driveth goats for steeds" (6-55.4)
"May the sure-footed goats come nigh, conveying Pûshan on his car" (6-55.6)
"O Pûshan, may those goats of thine turn hitherward thy chariot-pole" (10-26.8)
His chariot is celebrated for its durability: "Unharmed is Pûshan's chariot wheel; the box ne'er falleth to the ground, Nor doth the loosened felly shake" (6-54.3).
He also possesses "golden ships that travel across the ocean, in the air's mid-region" (6-58.3).
Divine Functions and Roles
God of Roads and Journeys
Pūṣan's primary function is as patron and protector of travelers and roads:
"SHORTEN our ways, O Pûshan, move aside obstruction in the path: Go close before us" (1-42.1)
"Past all pursuers lead us, make pleasant our path and fair to tread" (1-42.7)
"Clear paths that we may win the prize" (6-53.4)
"LORD of the path, O Pûshan, we have yoked and bound thee to our hymn" (6-53.1)
He serves as a divine guide who knows the way: "O Pûshan, bring us to the man who knows, who shall direct us straight, And say unto us, It is here" (6-54.1); "May we go forth with Pûshan who shall point the houses out to us, And say to us, These same are they" (6-54.2).
Protector Against Dangers
Pūṣan shields travelers from various threats:
Wolves: "Drive, Pûshan, from our road the wolf, the wicked inauspicious wolf, Who lies in wait to injure us" (1-42.2)
Robbers: "Who lurks about the path we take, the robber with a guileful heart: Far from the road chase him away" (1-42.3)
The wicked: "Tread with thy foot and trample out the firebrand of the wicked one, The double-tongued, whoe'er he be" (1-42.4)
Enemies: "scatter our enemies afar" (6-53.4); "make the foemen flee, drive, camel-like, our foes afar" (1-138.2)
Guardian of Cattle and Livestock
Pūṣan is intimately connected with the protection of animals:
"Guard of cattle, he whose home is strength" (6-58.2)
"May Pûshan follow near our kine; may Pûshan keep our horses safe" (6-54.5)
"Follow the kine of him who pours libations out and worships thee" (6-54.6)
"Let none be lost, none injured, none sink in a pit and break a limb. Return with these all safe and sound" (6-54.7)
"From out the distance, far and wide, may Pûshan stretch his right hand forth, And drive our lost again to us" (6-54.10)
He also provides for pastoral needs: "He dews our corn with moisture, he bedews the pasture of our kine" (10-26.3); "Lead us to meadows rich in grass: send on our way no early heat" (1-42.8).
Bestower of Wealth and Prosperity
Wealth-giving is a central aspect of Pūṣan's worship:
"We seek the Mighty One for wealth" (1-42.10)
"Make riches easy to be won" (1-42.6)
"thou art a stream of wealth, a treasure-heap" (6-55.3)
"Pûshan who listens to our prayers, the Strong whose wealth is never lost, The Lord of riches, we implore" (6-54.8)
"May he increase our store of wealth" (10-26.9)
"Bring us the wealth that men require" (6-53.2)
"make this hymn of ours produce kine, horses, and a store of wealth For our delight and use as men" (6-53.10)
"May Pûshan gather gear for us" (6-54.5)
He rewards devotees: "Pûshan forgetteth not the man who serveth him with offered gift: That man is first to gather wealth" (6-54.4).
Compeller of Generosity
A unique function of Pūṣan is compelling the miserly to give:
"Even him who would not give, do thou, O glowing Pûshan, urge to give, And make the niggard's soul grow soft" (6-53.3)
"Penetrate with an awl, O Sage, the hearts of avaricious churls, And make them subject to our will" (6-53.5)
"Thrust with thine awl, O Pûshan: seek that which the niggard's heart holds dear, And make him subject to our will" (6-53.6)
"Tear up and read in pieces, Sage, the hearts of avaricious churls, And make them subject to our will" (6-53.7)
Divine Charioteer
Pūṣan is celebrated as the supreme charioteer:
"he is best of charioteers" (6-56.2)
"most skilled of charioteers" (6-55.2)
"be our charioteer of sacrifice" (6-55.1)
"the driver of the chariot steeds" (10-26.5)
"the best of charioteers hath guided through the speckled cloud The golden wheel of Sura's car" (6-56.3)
Inspirer of Hymns and Patron of Poets
Pūṣan supports sacred poetry and its composers:
"inspirer of the hymn, set over all the world" (6-58.2)
"Who brings fulfilment of our hymns, and stirs the singer and the sage" (10-26.4)
"The R̥ishi who is good to man, the singer's Friend and faithful Guard" (10-26.5)
"Thou, Pûshan, in whose friendship they who sing forth praise enjoy advantage, even in wisdom, through thy grace, in wisdom even they are advanced" (1-138.3)
Lord of Textiles
A distinctive attribute connects Pūṣan with wool-working: "One who is Lord of Suca, Lord of Suca caring for herself: Weaving the raiment of the sheep and making raiment beautiful" (10-26.6).
Divine Relationships
Cosmic Position
Pūṣan holds an exalted place in the cosmic order:
"Near kinsman of the heaven and earth is Pûshan" (6-58.4)
"beholding every creature, Pûshan, God, goes forth" (6-58.2)
"All magic powers thou aidest, self-dependent!" (6-58.1)
Relationship with Sūryā
Pūṣan has a special connection with the solar goddess Sūryā:
"Thou goest on an embassy to Sûrya, subdued by love, desirous of the glory" (6-58.3)
"Whom strong and vigorous and swiftly-moving, subdued by love, the Deities gave to Sûryâ" (6-58.4)
Family Connections
Enigmatic references suggest complex familial relationships:
Sister's lover: "who is called His Sister's lover" (6-55.4)
Mother's suitor: "His Mother's suitor I address. May he who loves his Sister hear" (6-55.5)
Brother of Indra: "Brother of Indra, and my Friend" (6-55.5)
Alliance with Indra
Pūṣan works alongside the warrior god Indra: "Indra, the hero's Lord, allied With him as Friend, destroys the foes" (6-56.2).
Worship and Offerings
Sacrificial Role
Pūṣan participates in ritual sacrifice: "joint-sharer of each sacrifice" (10-26.5).
Dietary Offering
A specific offering is mentioned: "Whoso remembers Pûshan as eater of mingled curd and meal Need think no more upon the God" (6-56.1).
Nature of Worship
Worshippers approach Pūṣan through hymns and praise:
"No blame have we for Pûshan; him we magnify with songs of praise" (1-42.10)
"We here are they who sing thy praise" (6-54.9)
"With sacred hymns let this man here, this singer, win the God to whom Belong this majesty and might. He hath observed our eulogies" (10-26.2)
"Pûshan the Strong hath knowledge of sweet praises even as Indu hath" (10-26.3)
Reciprocity
Pūṣan is faithful to those who worship him:
"Pûshan forgetteth not the man who serveth him with offered gift" (6-54.4)
"The Friend of every pious man" (6-55.3)
"Secure in thy protecting care, O Pûshan, never may we fail" (6-54.9)
Character and Temperament
Benevolence
Pūṣan is characterized by his gentle, giving nature:
"Not stirred to anger, O Wide-Ruler, come to us" (1-138.3)
"Not stirred to anger, come, Free-giver, nigh to us" (1-138.4)
"Be gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate" (1-42.9)
"liberal, Lord of food" (6-58.4)
Reliability
He is consistently dependable:
"ne'er to be deceived" (10-26.7)
"born in old time, and arm and sure" (10-26.8)
"thy friendship may not be despised" (1-138.4)
"The Strong whose wealth is never lost" (6-54.8)
Universal Beneficence
Pūṣan extends his care widely:
"The God who visiteth mankind" (6-55.6)
"The R̥ishi who is good to man" (10-26.5)
"Who, Vigorous one, hath drawn to him the hearts of all" (1-138.1)
Prayers and Invocations
Common petitions to Pūṣan include:
For safe travel: "Past all pursuers lead us, make pleasant our path and fair to tread: O Pûshan, find thou power for this" (1-42.7)
For prosperity: "Prosperity we crave from thee, afar from sin and near to wealth, Tending to perfect happiness both for tomorrow and today" (6-56.6)
For protection: "Secure in thy protecting care, O Pûshan, never may we fail" (6-54.9)
For recovery of lost property: "From out the distance, far and wide, may Pûshan stretch his right hand forth, And drive our lost again to us" (6-54.10)
For fulfillment: "Whate'er we speak this day to thee, Wise, Wondrous God whom many praise, Give thou fulfilment of our thought" (6-56.4)
For ancestral aid: "Wise Pûshan, Wonder-Worker, we claim of thee now the aid wherewith Thou furtheredst our sires of old" (1-42.5)
Hymns Dedicated to Pūṣan
The following Rigvedic hymns are addressed to Pūṣan:
Summary
Pūṣan emerges from the Rigvedic hymns as a multifaceted deity whose domains encompass travel, pastoral life, prosperity, and sacred poetry. Distinguished by his goat-drawn chariot, braided hair, golden implements, and gentle temperament, he serves as divine guide, guardian of livestock, bestower of wealth, and friend to worshippers. His cosmic significance—as kinsman of heaven and earth, ally of Indra, and beloved of Sūryā—places him among the important deities of the Vedic pantheon.
Comments
Post a Comment