Part 22 - Varuna and Ahura Mazda and Amesha Spentas

While talking about Varuna, it is clearly noted and as opined by many scholars that one finds a lot of similarities between Vedic deity Varuna and Avestan God Ahura Mazda.(See plate 11) Varuna has an epithet 'Asur' in Rigveda. and meaning of Asur in Vedas is 'Powerful'. (Bahulkar:2008: 40). The word 'Ahur' is equal to the word 'Asur' and this is a striking similarity between these two.

It is somewhat difficult to trace the exact origin of Lord Varuna. Generally, the all-encompassing sky is believed to be Varuna. The sky can monitor things through Moon and Nakshatras. One finds the similarity between Varuna and the Greek God Zeus. The Zeus basically means sky, which subsequently comes to be known as the ruler of Gods. God Varuna dates to the Indo-Iranian period. Lord ‘Ahuramzad’ (Ahura Mazda) described in the Parsee religious scripture ‘Avesta’ is similar to Lord Varuna. The word Ahur is equal to word Asur here. The meaning of Asur in Vedas is powerful. (Bahulkar: 2008:40)

In one of the Suktas of Atharvaveda, Lord Varuna is described as omnipresent, ever witnessing and ruler of the entire universe. In the same Sukta, it is appealed that may Lord Varuna destroy my enemies through his ‘Pasha’ which is his weapon. (Bahulkar:2008: 53). He has been mentioned in Bhagavata Purana as well. It is stated that Lord Varuna killed Demon Heti. Even in the post-Vedic period, Lord Varuna is still found as an important God. Outside India, in Angkor Vat temple Varuna is found sitting on a Goose at panel number fifteen.

Lord Jhulelal has been described as Lord of water and Sea and is also considered as an ‘Avtar’ of Lord Varuna from Vedas. It can be said that a historical figure has been converted into Deity /God.

According to Vedic scholar Macdonell, there is a distinct similarity between Iranian God Ahura Mazda and Vedic deity Varuna.

In his book Vedic Mythology, Macdonell writes about ‘Avesta’ and ‘Vedic Mythology’. He says that "It is rather with the striking correspondences in mythology that we are concerned in both religions the term 'Asura' is equal to 'Ahura' is applied to the highest Gods, who in both are conceived as mighty wings drawn through the air in their war chariots by swift steeds, and in character benevolent, almost entirely free from guile and immoral traits". He has further clearly mentioned: "The parallel in character, though not in name of the God Varuna is Ahura Mazda, the wise spirit. (Macdonell 1979: 7,8).

Another Scholar Jatindra Mohan Chatterjee, in his book ‘Atharvan Zarathushtra’, has seconded the above statement and has in fact gone further in strengthening this viewpoint by stating that out of one hundred names of Ahura Mazda, the name Varuna stands at number forty-four. (Chaterjee 1971: 51). This statement supports the view that Varuna and Ahura Mazda share a close relationship.

It is believed that Varuna is an Indo-Iranian deity and that is how so much similarity is found between the two. They have much in common viz.

-Guardian of Truth
-God of Sky
-Punishing the guilty
-Fetters -Bind the criminals with fetters

"In Avesta, the Sun has swift horses like Surya and is called the eye of Ahura Mazda." (32-33). This description is similar to the description of Varuna found in Vedas that Varuna's eyes are Sun or he sees through thousand eyes or rays of Sun (Thite 2013: 5,6,9)

Ahura Mazda is the most powerful God of Zoroastrians, the old Iranian religion. He is described as the lord of the highest order and literal meaning of Ahura Mazda is: Ahura or Ahur means powerful or mighty and Mazda is equal to wisdom. The word Ahura equivalent to Asura has been used as an epithet in Vedas, the meaning of which is mighty or powerful and the Sanskrit meaning of Mazda which can be stated as Madha (Medha) which means wisdom.

Ahura Mazda:

He is the all-powerful (almighty) and supreme God in the Zoroastrian religion. Ahur is the adjective and Mazda is Noun.

The meaning of Ahura or Ahur is the same as that of Asur in Sanskrit and it is full of life. This adjective has been also used for Mithra and Apanpat (Yāsna: 2.5: 105; 62.12). However, the epithet Ahur is especially applicable to Ahur Mazda. The Ahur Mazda in Sanskrit is Asur Mahat as per scholar Rajwade. Another synonym suggested is Asur Meghas, and its meaning is omniscient (Joshi 1976: 358). In Rigveda, this quality is attributed to Varuṇa and he is called Asurprachetah (Rigveda 1.26.14).

In the Caesarian era, Mazda cult had reached its peak and Ahura Mazda was their supreme God. In Pehalvi scripture he has been described as the one who is complete, most superior and of purer nature. He is benevolent, obliges and kind. He is the source of light and intellect.

A God by name Ahirman is opposite of him. As such their positions are different i.e. they live in different places. Ahura Mazda lives ever in light, whereas Ahirman lives in darkness.

There are six more forms which are assumed for Ahura Mazda and there is one quality in each of them. The first one is called Ash which is equivalent of Ṛta in Sanskrit which means the cosmic rules as cosmic order (Joshi 1976:348). As per Zoroaster’s teachings, people should worship Ahura Mazda who is in possession of those six qualities. The concept of six qualities of Ahura Mazda is similar to Ṣāḍguṇyavigraha concept of Viṣṇu. Subsequently, the six qualities of Ahura Mazda were deified together into one deity and a name Amesha Spentas was given to it.

Amesha Spentas:

In Zoroastrian religion, Amesha Spenta is a name given to a group of angles.

Amesha = Amar (the one who is immortal or never die) Spenta = obliging person.

The meaning of both words together is the immortal obliging character or person. This word is not found in ancient ‘Gatha’ part of Avesta scripture, but it is found in later period ‘Avesta’ and another religious book quite after. The Amesha Spenta are servants or assistants of Ahura Mazda and they are 6 in number. If the deity ‘Strasosh’ is included then the number becomes seven. They stay forever with Ahura Mazda and they assist him in guiding the world.

The Amesha Spenta is the own world or own creation of Ahura Mazda. They are invisible, immortal, very good administrators (rulers) and generous (Joshi 1976:228)

They come to accept the offerings made to them during sacrifice (Yajna) through the illuminated path. Amongst them, Vohumahn sits on the throne of Gold. Ahura Mazda has allocated a specific work in the universe for each of them. Superior to ordinary Gods and of lesser value (or inferior) to Ahura Mazda are their angles and are comparable to angles in Bible by some scholars or some scholars say that they have similarity with Adityas of Vedas.

Ahura Mazda is also mentioned as the wise Lord, God or Order and the Principal God of ancient Zoroastrians. He is believed to be the creator of the sky, water, earth and animals and the creator of fire as well.

Certain more similarities are noted below:

1) Iranian / Persian people and Vedic Aryans belong to the same culture.

2) Ahura Mazda is the all-powerful God in Avesta. Varuna is a very powerful God in Vedas

3) Ahura Mazda has a connection or similarity in pronunciation with Asura, which means powerful. Mazda is Mahat-Dha or Medha which is an adjective here.

4) Along with Ahura Mazda, many Vedic deities are found in Avestan either with the same name or a slight variation in name and pronunciation. There are Indra, Ashwina, Mitra (Mithra in Avesta), Vivaswan, Surya, Aryama, Soma, Yama etc.

5) Sufficient similarity is seen in the form of deities in Vedas and Avesta.

6) There is a lot of similarity between the language of Gatha (a part of Avesta) and Vedas.

7) Many words are identical.

8) Vowels and Consonants have no difference in both.

9) The similarity is found in grammar as well.

a) There are three forms: Single, double, plural.
b) There are three genders: Masculine, Feminine and Neuter.
c) There are eight Vibhaktis or Karak

These are definitely similar to each other, and whatever the difference would be, is negligible. Once again, the connection between Ahura Mazda and Vedic deity Varuna is established without any doubt. The Ahura Mazda is a water God and so is Varuna and so is Lord Jhulelal as well showing a distinct connection with each other.