Vedic Mythology c5.s1.t4.2

c5.s1.t4.2

Pūṣan sees all creatures clearly and at once (3, 62⁹), these identical words being applied to Agni also (10, 187⁴). He is ‘the lord of all things moving and stationary’ almost the same words with which Sūrya is described (1, 115¹; 7, 60²). He is the wooer of his mother (6, 55⁵) or the lover of his sister (ib. 4. 5), similar expressions being used of Sūrya (1, 115²) and of Agni (10, 3³). The gods are said to have given him, subdued by love, to the sun-maiden Sūryā in marriage (6, 58⁴). Probably as the husband of Sūryā, Pūṣan is connected with the marriage ceremonial in the wedding hymn (10, 85), being besought to take the bride’s hand and lead her away and to bless her in her conjugal relation² (v. 37). In another passage (9, 67¹⁰) he is besought to give his worshippers their share of maidens. With his golden ships which move in the aerial ocean, subdued by love he acts as the messenger³ of Sūrya (6, 58³). He moves onward beholding the universe (2, 40⁵; 6, 58²) and makes his abode in heaven (2, 40⁴). He is a guardian, who goes at the instigation of Savitṛ, knowing and beholding all creatures. In a hymn devoted to his praise, Pūṣan is said as best of charioteers to have driven downwards the golden wheel of the sun (6, 56³), but the connexion is obscure (cp. Nir. 2, 6). A frequent and exclusive epithet of Pūṣan is ‘glowing’ (*āghṛṇi*). He is once termed *agohya*, ‘not to be concealed’, an attribute almost peculiar to Savitṛ.