Vedic Mythology c7.s5: § 63. The Bird
Vedic Mythology c7.s5
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§ 63. The Bird
c7.s5.1
Birds figure largely in Vedic mythology. Soma is often compared with or called a bird¹ (p. 106). Agni in particular is frequently likened to or directly designated a bird², once being spoken of as the eagle of the sky (p. 89)³. The sun is also sometimes conceived as a bird (p. 31)⁴, twice under the name of *garutmat*⁵. The fact that Viṣṇu's vehicle in post-Vedic mythology is Garuḍa, the chief of the birds, is probably based on the same notion (cp. p. 39). The main application of the bird in the Veda is as the eagle which carries off the Soma for Indra and which appears to represent lightning⁶. In the Kāṭhaka it is Indra himself who in the form of an eagle captures the Soma or *amṛta*. Similarly in the Avesta, Verethraghna assumes the form of Vāraghna, the swiftest of birds, and in Germanic mythology, the god Odhin transforming himself into an eagle, flies with the mead to the realm of the gods (p. 114)⁷.
c7.s5.2
¹ Cp. Benfey, SV. glossary, s. v. *śyena*. — ² Bloomfield, FaR. 152. — ³ KHF. 29. — ⁴ v. Bradke, ZDMG. 40, 356. — ⁵ GW.; HRI. 45. — ⁶ BRI. 11. — ⁷ ORV. 75. — ⁸ Cp. ZDMG. 31, 352 ff.; Bloomfield, SBE. 42, 474. — ⁹ ORV. 76.
c7.s5.3
Ominous birds as well as beasts are occasionally connected with certain gods by whom they are supposed to be sent. Thus in the RV. the owl and the pigeon are spoken of as messengers of Yama (§ 77)⁸. In the Sūtras the owl is 'the messenger of evil spirits'; while the beast of prey besmeared with blood and the carrion vulture are called messengers of Yama⁹. In the RV. a bird of omen is once invoked to give auspicious signs (2, 42⁴³).
Linked texts (1)
- Ṛgvedasaṃhitā — Sanskrit