Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/60

36 Vivaswat, "The Radiant one."

Mihira, "He who waters the earth;" i.e., he draws up the moisture from the seas so that the clouds are formed.

Grahapati, "The Lord of the stars."

Karmasakshi, "The witness of (men's) works."

Martanda, "A descendant of Mritanda."

Pushan is the name of a sun-god to whom some hymns are exclusively addressed, and whose praise at other times is sung in connection with that of Indra and other gods. In these hymns his character is not very clearly defined. He is said* to behold the entire universe; is addressed as the guide of travellers, and the protector of cattle. He is called upon to protect his servants in battle, and to defend them as of old. He is invoked in the marriage ceremonial, and asked to take the bride's hand, to lead her away, and to bless her in her conjugal relations. He is said also to con- duct the spirits of the departed from this world to the next. In one text he is called "the nourisher, " as Vishnu in later times was called "the preserver." By far the greater number of prayers addressed to him seem to regard him as the guide and protector of travellers, both along the ordinary journeys of life and in the longer journey to the other world; and as he is supposed to be constantly travelling about, he is said to know the road by which they have to go.

The following is a specimen of the hymns addressed to Pushan in the Rig-Veda:—"Conduct us, Pushan, over our road; remove distress, son of the deliverer; go on before us. Smite away from before us the destructive and injurious wolf which seeks after us. Drive


 * Muir, O. S. T., v. 171, ff.