Pushan

Pushan ( Sanskrit पूषण् Pusan m. ) Is a Vedic God, in the Rig Veda are dedicated eight hymns. In later Hinduism it no longer plays a role.

myth

According to the Vedic hymns, Pushan is the man of Surya (skt. Sūryā m. ), The daughter of the sun god Surya (skt. Sūrya m. ), Whose messenger he is. Pushan promotes growth on earth through his light. He knows all beings and sees them all at the same time. He is the guardian of the paths and protector of travelers who removes obstacles from the way. He is also the companion of the dead on the path of the fathers ( pitaras ). He protects horses and pets and leads stray cattle back to the stable healthy.

Pushan is described as a bright, bearded man who feeds only on porridge. He carries a golden spear and drives a cart pulled by goats.

Indo-European origins

Comparative religious studies compare Pushan with the Greek god Hermes , with whom he shares many similarities, especially as the protector of travelers and the function of a soul companion ( psychopompos ). In addition, his name is linguistically equated with Pan , who is a son of Hermes in Greek mythology.

literature

• Hans Wilhelm Haussig (Ed.): Gods and Myths of the Indian Subcontinent (= Dictionary of Mythology . Department 1: The ancient civilized peoples. Volume 5). Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1984, ISBN 3-12-909850-X , p. 149 f.
• Pushan . In: John Dowson : A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature. Trübner & co., London 1879, pp. 249-250 ( Text Archive - Internet Archive ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ pūṣan . In: Monier Monier-Williams : Sanskrit-English Dictionary . Clarendon Press, Oxford 1899, p. 645, col. 1 .