Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c33.s5: Varuṇa
Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c33.s5
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Varuṇa
v4.c33.s5.1
Varuṇa was no doubt an important deity of the Vēdic period; he belonged to the triad, Indra, Varuṇa and Agni. He is praised often in company with Indra or Mitra as the possessor of illimitable resources and as upholding the heaven and the earth. He is the lord of the rain, the water and the sea. Except for the fact that he is the guardian of the west, he is practically overlooked in modern mythology. At the present when the rain fails he is invoked by mantras and pūjā and prayed to send down showers.
v4.c33.s5.2
Varuṇa is of white colour, is draped in yellow garments and possesses a pacific look. His head should be adorned with a karaṇḍa-makuṭa and all other ornaments and should be wearing on his person an yajñōpavīta. He should be represented as of strong constitution and as seated or standing upon a fish or makara (a kind of aquatic animal, more mythical than real) or a crocodile. He may be represented as possessing two or four arms; if shown with two arms only, one hand should be in the varada pose and the other should be carrying a pāśa; if with four, one of the hands should be in the varada pose, while the remaining ones should carry the pāśa, a snake and a kamaṇḍalu.
v4.c33.s5.3
As usual, the Viṣṇudharmōttara has a different description from those found in the āgamas. It states that Varuṇa should be seated in a chariot drawn by seven haṃsas; his colour is like the vaiḍūrya (a precious gem) and he must be draped in white garments and adorned with ornaments set with pearls and necklaces composed of the same material. He should have a slightly hanging belly and four arms. Over his head there should be a white umbrella and on his left the fish banner. In the right hands of Varuṇa there should be the padma and the pāśa and in the left hands the śaṅkha and the ratna-pātra. A very good looking consort of his should be seated on his left lap with a nīlōtpala in her left hand and her right arm embracing Varuṇa, her lord.
v4.c33.s5.4
To the right and left respectively of Varuṇa should be standing the river goddesses Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Gaṅgā of moon-like white colour and possessing a pretty face should be standing on a matsya or makara, with a cāmara in one hand and a padma in the other, and Yamunā, also possessing good looks and having the colour of the Tigova : Jabulpur District, Central Provinces.
v4.c33.s5.5
Fig. 1. Gaṅgā : Stone :
v4.c33.s5.6
Fig. 2. Yamunā : Stone :
v4.c33.s5.7
Gate of a Temple with Gaṅgā and Yamunā on the jambs: Stone: Kharod, Bilāspūr District, Central Provinces.
v4.c33.s5.8
*nīlotpala* flower, should be standing on a tortoise with a *chāmara* in one hand and a *nīlotpala* in the other.
v4.c33.s5.9
Varuṇa being the lord of the ocean he is represented in the descriptions as keeping with him the *padma*, the *śaṅkha* and a vessel containing *ratnas* (or gems)—the sea being believed by the Hindus to be the repository of gems—and as being attended upon by the river goddesses.
v4.c33.s5.10
Illustrations of the river goddesses, Gaṅgā and Yamunā are given on Pls. CLV and CLVI. Fig. 1, Pl. CLV represents Gaṅgā; she is standing upon a *makara* under the shade of a tree. Her right elbow rests upon the shoulder of a female attendant, while the left hand carries some object which is not quite clear in the photograph. Two more dwarfish attendants are on her left side. Yamunā is represented in fig. 2 on the same plate. She also stands under a tree one of whose branches she holds by her left hand. The right hand is held in the *sūchi* pose. She is standing upon a *kūrma* (tortoise). On either side of her is an attendant. Pl. CLVI is a very finely carved gate-way of a ruined temple of Śiva at Kharod, in the Bilāspūr district of the Central Province. On the jambs of this gate are sculptured Gaṅgā and Yamunā; Gaṅgā stands on the proper right and Yamunā on the proper left. They both carry pūrna-kumbha or pots full of water.
Cites (1)
- Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa — Sanskrit