Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas
by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words
This page relates ‘Pushan (the Pastoral Deity)’ of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.—This section belongs to the series “Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda”.
Part 17 - Pūṣan (the Pastoral Deity)
Pūṣan is the deity related to the cattle.[1] He is called paśupā, the protector of the cattle in the Veda.[2] He is mentioned as the son of the cloud,[3] and the brother of rain, i.e. Indra.[4] He is mentioned as the associate of Soma, i.e. Somāpūṣaṇā,[5] Bhaga,[6] and Viṣṇu.[7] He is worshipped in the Vedas for bestowing the rain[8] as well as to move the solar chariot.[9] The solar rays and the rain are the essential part of the agronomy. The car of Pūṣan is mentioned as drawn by goat, i.e. ajāśva, instead of horse.[10]
Sāyaṇācārya interpretes the term ajāśva thus:
ajāśchāgā evāśvā aśvakāryāpannā yasya tādṛśa pūṣan/[11]
All the above symbolizes the pastoral character of the deity. Again, the deity takes gruel as his food and so he is called karambhin or karambhāt in the Vedas.[12]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid., 6.54.5,6,10; 58.2; Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa, 1.7.2.4
[2]:
Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 6.58.2
[5]:
Ibid., 2.40
[7]:
[8]:
[9]:
cf., utādaḥ paruṣe gavi sūraścakraṃ hiraṇyayam/ nyairadrathītamaḥ//Ibid., 6.56.3
[10]:
cf., rāyo dhārāsyāghṛṇe vaso rāśirajāśva/ Ibid., 6,55,3
[11]:
Sāyaṇācārya on Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 6.55.3