Part 9 - Savitṛ (the Stimulator)

Savitṛ removes the darkness and diffusing the light enlightens the whole world to indulge in their respective duties. In the Vedas, he is mentioned as the enlightener of men, i.e. savitāraṃ nṛcakṣam.^[1]

Sāyaṇācārya gives the interpretation of the term nṛcakṣam [nṛcakṣa] thus:

nṛcakṣaṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ prakāśakāriṇam/^[2]

For the generation of the people, Savitṛ comes to the world along with the rays of the day.^[3]

Savitṛ is mentioned in the Vedas as the stimulator:

savitā prasavānāṃ adhipatiḥ sa māvatu/^[4]

He is the lord of stimulation.

The Aitareyabrāhmaṇa directs the same as:

savitā vai prasavānāmīśe.^[5]

Again, the deity is worshipped as the stimulator of the human intellect.^[6] The worshippers meditate upon him with a view to achieving the highest light.^[7] As soon as he rises, he inspires and flourishes all acts.

Savitṛ is mentioned as the progenitor of the gods, and that is why, all the desires produced by Savitṛ prosper in man:

savitā vai devānāṃ prasavitā, tathā hyāsā ete savitṛprasūtā eva sarve kāmaḥ samṛdhayante/^[8]

The term savitṛ is derived from root su, that indicates the nature of the deity as the generator or impellor in the Vedas.

Each and everything is under the control of Savitṛ, who governs this universe with its light:

eṣa vai savitā—ya eṣa tapati/^[9]

In the commentary of the relevant passage, Sāyaṇācārya interpretes:

eṣa vai khalu savitā sa ca sūrya eti-prakarṣaprakāśādinā jagannirvāhaṃ kurvan sarvadā sañcarati/¹⁴⁰

Again, he is mentioned in the Vedas as the incentive force, so communicative to produce motion suddenly, i.e. impellor.^[10] Savitṛ motivates everyone including the gods.^[11] He has fastened the heaven and the earth; has fastened the illimitable space or hasten the cloud that moistens.^[12]

As Savitṛ is well connected with the sacrifice, he is invoked to vivify the worshipper.^[13] The lord of instigation,^[14] Savitṛ is worshipped in the Śrauta sacrifices for instigation.^[15]

Sāyaṇācārya has well-interpreted the instigative aspect of him thus:

yoʹyaṃ savitā devaḥ sa eva prasavānāṃ karmasvanujñānamīśe svāmī bhavati/^[16]

In the Śatapathabrāhmaṇa, Savitṛ is mentioned as the progenitor of the gods, and that is why, all the desires produced by Savitṛ, prosper in man:

savitā vai devānāṃ prasavitā, tathā hyāsā ete savitṛprasūtā eva sarve kāmāḥ samṛdhyante/^[17]

In this way, the stimulative aspect of Savitṛ is frequently delineated along with its power of generation, impulsion and instigation.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid., 1.22.7

[2]:

Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid.

[3]:

cf., udu ṣya devaḥ savitā savāya śaśvattamaṃ tadapā vahnirasthāt/ nūnaṃ devebhyo vi hi dhāti

[4]:

Atharvavedasaṃhitā, 5.24.1

[5]:

Aitareyabrāhmaṇa, 1.16

[6]:

cf., tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi/ dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt// Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 3.62.10

[7]:

cf., … tat tasya devasya savituḥ sarvāntaryāmitayā prerakasya jagatsraṣṭuḥ parameśvarasya vareṇyaṃ sarvaiḥ upāsthatayā jñeyatayā ca saṃbhajanīyaṃ bhargaḥ avidyātatkāryayorbharjanādbhagaḥ svayaṃjyotiḥ parabrahmātmakaṃ tejaḥ dhīmahi vayaṃ dhyāyāmaḥ/ Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid.

[8]:

Śatapathabrāhmaṇa, 2.3.4.39

[9]:

Ibid., 5.3.1.7¹⁴⁰ Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid.

[10]:

Taittirīyasaṃhitā,1.1.1; 1.1.4; 1.1.6; 1.2.6; 1.7.7; 4.1.1; 4.1.3

[11]:

cf., yuktvāya manasā devān suvaryato dhiyā divam/ bṛhajjyotiḥ kariṣyatassavitā prasuvāti tān// Śvet.

[12]:

cf., Sarup, L.(ed.), The Nighantu and the Nirukta, Part-II, p.164

[13]:

cf., yadadya sūra uditeʹnagā mitro aryamā/ suvāti savitā bhagaḥ// Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 7.66.4

[14]:

cf., savitā vai prasavānāmīśe savitṛ prasūtā evainaṃ/ Aitareyabrāhmaṇa, 1.16

[15]:

cf., …yatsāvitreṇa japena prasauti savitā vai prasavitā karmaṇa eva prasavāya/ Kauṣītakibrāhmaṇa, 1.4.14 ātithyena ha vāi devā dvipadaśca catuṣpadaśca paśūnāpnotyāsanne haviṣyātithyeʹgniṃ manthanti… abhi tvā devasavitariti sāvitrīṃ prathamāmanvāha savitṛ prasūtatāyai savitṛprasūtasya ha vai na kācana ṛṣṭirbhavatyariṣṭyai … sarvasyāʹʹptyai// Ibid., 1.8.1

[16]:

Aitareyabrāhmaṇa, 1.16

[17]:

Śatapathabrāhmaṇa, 2.3.4.39