A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.546

c5.546

DYAUS. The sky, heaven. In the Vedas he is a masculine deity, and is called occasionally Dyaus-pitri, ‘heavenly father,’ the earth being regarded as the mother. He is father of Ushas, the dawn. Cf. Ζεύς, Deus, Jovis, Ju-piter. Dyāvā-prithivī, ‘heaven and earth,’ are represented as the universal parents, not only of men but of gods; but in other places they are spoken of as having been themselves created; and then, again, there are speculations as to their origin and priority. In one hymn it is asked, “Which of these two was the first and which the last? How have they been produced? Who knows?” The Satapatha Brāhmana declares in favour of the earth, saying, “This earth is the first of created beings.”