Part 33 - Symbolic relevance of “Tārkṣya” in Sun-worship

Tārkṣya is another divine steed closely associated with Dadhikrā. Indeed, Tārkṣya is the representative of the Sun-god. He is the son of Tṛkṣa, i.e. Suparṇa Garutmat.^[1] There are two hymns in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, in where, the deity Tārkṣya is invoked.^[2] He is described as the impeller of mighty steeds, vanquisher of the chariots, swift and speeding to battle.^[3]

The epithet ariṣṭanemi is associated with the deity.^[4]

Sāyaṇācārya, in his interpretation, states the meaning of the term thus:

ariṣṭanemiḥ/ nemiḥ iti āyudhanāma/ ariṣṭoʹhiṃsito nemiryasya/ yadvā rathacakrasya dhārā nemiḥ/ yatsaṃbandhino rathasya nemirna hiṃsyate soʹriṣṭanemiḥ/^[5]

Tārkṣya is invoked to prosper his devotees with uninjured fellies.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf., tārkṣyaṃ tṛkṣaputraṃ suparṇam/ Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid., 10.178.1

[2]:

Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 1.89; 10.178

[3]:

cf., tvamū ṣu vājinaṃ devajūtaṃ sahāvānaṃ tarutāraṃ rathānām/ ariṣṭanemiṃ pṛṭanājamāṃśu svastaye tārkṣyamihā huvema// Ibid.,10.178.1

[4]:

cf., svasti nastārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatirdadhātu// Ibid.,1.89.6

[5]:

Sāyaṇācārya, Ibid., 1.89.6