A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1999

c5.1999

In the Purānas, Varuna is sovereign of the waters, and one of his accompaniments is a noose, which the Vedic deity also carried for binding offenders: this is called Nāga-pāsa, Pula-kānga, or Viswa-jit. His favourite resort is Pushpa-giri, ‘flower mountain,’ and his city Vasudhā-nagara or Sukhā. He also possesses an umbrella impermeable to water, formed of the hood of a cobra, and called Ābhoga. The Vishnu Purāna mentions an incident which shows a curious coincidence between Varuna and Neptune. At the marriage of the sage Richīka, Varuna supplied him with the thousand fleet white horses which the bride's father had demanded of him. Varuna is also called Prachetas, Ambu-rāja, Jala-pati, Kesa, ‘lord of the waters;’ Ud-dāma, ‘the surrounder;’ Pāsa-bhrit, ‘the noose-carrier;’ Viloma, Vāri-loma, ‘watery hair;’ Yādah-pati, ‘king of aquatic animals. His son is named Agasti.