Brahma Purana (critical study)
by Surabhi H. Trivedi | 1960 | 254,628 words
This is an English study of the Brahmapurana鈥攐ne of the eighteen major Puranas. This text occupies an important place in the Pauranic literature. This study researches the rich an encyclopaedic material for social, religious, philosophical, mythological, political, geographical and literary study found in the Brahma-Purana. It also includes a lingu...
22. Description of Varuna
Varuna is the greatest of the vedic gods besides Indra. He dates from an early period, for in name he is probably identical with the Greek Ovpavos, and in character he is allied to the Avestic Ahura Mazda. In veda, he is the chief upholder of the moral and physical order. 284 With the development of Prajapati as creator and supreme god in the later vedas, the importance of Varuna waned, till in the post-vedic period he retained only the dominion of the waters as god of the sea. He In the Brahma-purana he is said to be the lord of waters and his daughter was married to king Janaka. seems to be a great philosopher and gave a discourse on the comparative superiority of enjoyment and liberation to king Janaka and Yajnavalkya (A.88). His constant association with Mibra in RV. is not much alluded to in the post-vedic mythology but secrifice in the Brahma Purana it is stated that Manu performed a sacrifice, With a view to obtain a son and he offered an oblation in the name of Mitravaruna and from their amsa, a maiden Ila arose from the sacrifice who married Budha and propagated the lunar race (7.3-6). The Brahma purana relates an interesting story how on account of the fear of 284 RV. 8.42.1, 7.61.4, 5.62.1.
613 the daitya Mahasani, Indra agrees to serve Varuna. A demon Mahasani defeated Indra and started to conquer Varuna but Varuna gave him his daughter Varuni and saved himself. Being requested by Varuna he released Indra on condition that thenceforth Indra should be ready to serve Varuna (A.129). Elsewhere Varuni is said to be the goddess of wine and Varuna advises her to go to Balarama whose favourite drink was wine and who after drinking her snatched the river Yamuna with his plough. There she is addressed as Madira Co at and as one which the beloved all the times (198,1-5). Varuna possesses a miraculous umbrella which pours the rain and the Brahma Purana states that it was in the possession of the demon Naraka. Krsna killed him and got the umbrella (202. 10,34). He is called a king (88.9) an epithet frequently applied in the Rv.285 and it is said that Varuna sent a garland of unfading flowers to Balarama (198.16).