Varuna

By: Madalitso Undi & Montana Laborero

About Varuna• One of the most important Vedic Gods• God of all forms of water element• Supreme lord of cosmos• Keeper of divine order• Bringer of rain• Enforcer of contracts• Omnipotent and omniscient

About Varuna (Cont’d)• Was the son of sage Kashyapa• 1 of 12 Gods acknowledged as Adityas • Was also considered god of law and the

underworld• Lord Varuna's worship is considered as the vital

part of the ritual of Sandhyavandanam• Considered to be the sustainer of live by providing

rain and crops• Possesses aspects of solar deity

Representation• God of all forms of water element• Particularly the oceans• Personification of the sky• Associated with the moon and Soma • Keeper of Cosmic Order (rta)• Only has about a dozen hymns written in Rig Veda

Symbolism

• Name means “he who covered”• Considered to be represent in the whole world• Embodiment of the sky• Has a thousand eyes and oversees the whole

world• His theme is the punishment of liars and those

who do not honor contracts.

More Information• Lord of the dead • Ability to grant immortality• Known to punish mortals• Usually hanged his subjects• Very closely linked to the God Mitra• Gods went to Varuna to pray to him to look after

clouds and rain

Legend• Vritra, a serpent, stole all the waters of the

universe• Varuna was thus left without any water to keep

guard of• Indra, god of thunderstorms and rain, took it upon

himself to fight the dragon and get them back• Because of this, Indra became king of all gods• And Varuna was demoted as a result• He still was, however, god of the oceans and

rivers• He just didn’t have the same reverence he once

had.

Demotion• Was once one of the most revered Gods• “Demoted” by invading Aryan conquerors to a god

of rivers and waters. • Replaced by Indra as King of all Gods• Eventually faded away, and was replaced by gods

Shiva and Vishnu• May, however, be the same as Zoroastrian god

Ahura Mazda

Different Forms• According to Puranas, he has a thousand eyes and

oversees the whole world• Hindus worship him in a number of forms• Riding a crocodile• Riding a chariot pulled by seven swans with an

umbrella over his head• Carrying a serpent• Wears a cloud cloak, rides a tortoise and carries a

noosed rope.

Sources• "Varuna." Hindu God - Varuna. N.p., 07 Dec. 2013. Web.

07 Dec. 2013.• "The Meaning of Varuna." The Meaning of Varuna. N.p., 08

Dec. 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.• "Varuna - God of Oceans." Crystal Wind™. N.p., 08 Dec.

2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.• "Encyclopedia Mythica." Hindu Mythology. N.p., 07 Dec.

2013. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.• "Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic." Index. N.p., 07 Dec.

2013. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.• "Varuna (Indian Deity)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 07 Dec. 2013. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.