Essay name: Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras
Author:
Rajeshri Goswami
Affiliation: Jadavpur University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras. In short, this thesis examines Vedic goddesses by analyzing their images, functions, and social positions. It further details how natural and abstract elements were personified as goddesses, whose characteristics evolved with societal changes.
Chapter 1
42 (of 144)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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according to Geldner 61 The night drives the beings to their homes, while the
1999 morning brings them out of their houses.
20 They have given strength, game and power to Indra, and
have brought him the brilliant light emanating from their breasts
21 22
by sacrifice, In VS 28.37, where they appear among a number of
deities contributing to Indra's greatness, they are said to have
strengthened this god by means of the anustubh metre. They help
the devotees establish the sacrificial fire. Among the formulae
to be used in performing the sautramani is, where the double deity,
being brhati, sudughe and also rich in mutritive liquid (payasvati)
is said to worship Indra.
25 24
23 26
They are invoked to nourish Agni combining together whatever
belongs to themselves. They invoke Indra to the sacrifice. They
invoke the gods to the well-established and well-endowed animal
28 sacrifice 27 They are requested to drink the soma-juice.
W
19 "Die Nacht treibt die Wesen heim, der Morgen him aus"
"Der Rig Vede 眉bersetzt", Vol. I, Cambridge, Mass, 1951,
p. 315, n, 2.
20 VS XXI: 51, 28:37.
21 VS 21.52.
22 MS III.2.1.
23 vs 20.41.
24 of. also MS 3.11.1, 140.6, etc.
25 SB III.6.7.3.
26 TB II : 2.6 2.
27 RB II : 3:6:1.
22 28
RV II.31.5.
:
