Description of Goddesses Danu, Saranyu and Sarama

References to Danu, Saranyu and Sarama are so infrequent and so lacking in description that it is difficult to even speculate on what their distinctive natures might have been. Danu is identified as the mother of the cosmic demon viere, who is defeated by the god Indra. She is compared to a cow, although her son, who is described as without hands and feet, is more reptilian in appearance. The word'danu' is used elvewhere, in connection with the waters of. heaven; it may be that Danu was associated with the formless, primordial waters that existed prior to creation, the waters in which Vrtra hid and which he withheld from creation, until they were freed by Indra's mighty deed. 52 Taittiriya-brahmana II : 3+1+1. 53 Taittiriya-brahmana II : 3:1:2. 54 Rigveda I.32.9.

287 Saranyu is the daughter of Tvastr and the sister of SS Visvarupa. She is said to marry the god Vivasvat, and to give birth to twins, Yama and Yami (progenitors of the human race). It has been said that her nature is essentially impetuous for her name means 'quick, speedy, mimble, but there are no references to this aspect of her nature in the Rgveda. In the Rgveda her only significant action is to seek out the thieving Panis, who have stolen cows and to act as Indra's messenger to the Panis in negotiating the return of the cows. Sarama _56 As swift as Saranyu, is Sarama. It is not said whose child she was. She did have children of her own, the Sarameyas, two dogs of varied colour; mythically she was a bitch, the bitch 57 of the gods. The Rgveda speaks of her as the messenger of Indra. Different from that of Saranyu, her progeny does not act out her 58 role. While they take part in her nature their role is subordinate to her adventurous, imperious self. She is a bitch and acts for Indra, the new in comparison with Tvastr-creator god. Saranyu and Sarama may have been regarded as Great Goddesses earlier, but by the time we get them or find them mentioned, they can no longer be classified as Great Goddesses. 55 Rigveda X.17.1. 56 Rigveda X.108. 57 Nirukta 11.25. 58 Rigveda 10.14. 10-12.