Ribhus, aka: Ṛbhus; 1 Definition(s)

Introduction

Ribhus means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Ṛbhus can be transliterated into English as Rbhus or Ribhus, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana

Ṛbhus (ऋभुस्).—General information. Ṛbhus are a group of divine beings who attained divinity by performing tapas. Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 137, Verse 25 says that even other gods worship the Ṛbhus. Who were Ṛbhus? Aṅgiras, the son of Brahmā had a son named Sudhanvā. Sudhanvā had three children, Ṛbhukṣan, Vibhvan and Vāja. These three persons form the Ṛbhus as mentioned in Ṛgveda, 1st Maṇḍala, 16th Anuvāka, 111th Sūkta. Ṛbhus and Miracles.

(i) Long ago, a cow belonging to a Ṛṣi died. Its calf began to cry. The Ṛṣi took pity on it and prayed to the Ṛbhus. They made a cow and covered it with the skin of the dead cow and placed it in front of the calf. Because of its likeness to its mother, the calf believed it to be its mother.

(ii) Ṛbhus restored their parents who had become old, to youth. (Ṛgveda, 1st Maṇḍala, 16th Anuvāka. 11th Sūkta).

(iii) Ṛgveda says that it was the Ṛbhus who made Indra’s horses, the chariot of the Aśvinīs and Bṛhaspati’s cow. (See full article at Story of Ṛbhus from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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