Mitra (Vedic) - Citizendia

This article is about the Vedic deity Mitra. There are 1028 hymns in the Rigveda, most of them dedicated to specific deities. For other divinities with related names, see the general article Mitra. *mitra ( Proto-Indo-Iranian, nominative *mitras) was an important Indo-Iranian divinity

Mitra
morning sun, the oath, loyalty and friendship
Devanagari	मित्र
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Mitra (Sanskrit Mitrá) was an important divinity of Indic culture, descended, together with the Zoroastrian yazata Mithra, from a common Proto-Indo-Iranian deity *Mitra, a god of the oath. An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a Promise or a Statement of Fact calling This page is about loyalty as faithfulness to a cause For its use in business see Loyalty business model or Loyalty Marketing. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra. Proto-Indo-Iranian, is the reconstructed Proto-language of the Indo-Iranian branch of Indo-European. *mitra ( Proto-Indo-Iranian, nominative *mitras) was an important Indo-Iranian divinity An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a Promise or a Statement of Fact calling

1 Etymology
2 Early history
3 In the Vedas
4 Role in Daily Worship of the Hindus
5 Counterparts of Mitra in other religions
6 References
7 See also

Etymology

The Indo-Iranian word *mitra- could mean either "covenant, contract, oath, or treaty", or "friend". A general meaning of "alliance" might adequately explain both alternatives. The second sense tends to be emphasized in Indic sources, the first sense in Iranian. The Iranian languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family and its subfamily Indo-Iranian. The word is from a root mi- "to bind", with the "tool suffix" -tra- (compare man-tra-), a contract is thus described as a "means of binding" (compare Ishara). A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language Ishara () is the Hittite word for " Treaty, binding promise" also personified as a Goddess of the Oath.

Early history

The first extant record of Mitra is in the inscribed peace treaty between Hittites and the Hurrian kingdom of the Mitanni in the area southeast of Lake Van, c. The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who spoke a language of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family and established The Hurrians (also Khurrites; cuneiform Ḫu-ur-ri 𒄷𒌨𒊑 were a people of the Ancient Near East, who lived in northern Mesopotamia Mitanni ( Hittite cuneiform, also Mittani) or Hanigalbat ( Assyrian Hanigalbat Khanigalbat cuneiform) Lake Van (Van Gölü Gola Wanê Վանա լիճ Daryacheye Van ("Lake of Van" is the largest Lake 1400 BC. There Mitra appears as one of five deities invoked as witnesses and keepers of the pact, with gods whose names are equivalent to the Vedic Varuna, Indra and the twin horsemen, the Nasatyas, all of whom the rulers of the Mitanni apparently worshipped. In Vedic religion, Varuna or Waruna ( Devanagari:वरुण IAST: varuṇa) is a god of the Sky, of Rain and Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra The Ashvins (अश्विन ( aśvin- "possessor of horses" "horse tamer" "cavalier" dual aśvinau) or Ashwini Kumaras (Campbell, 1964 p 256).

In the Vedas

Vedic Mitra is the patron divinity of honesty, friendship, contracts and meetings. This article discusses the historical religious practices in the Vedic time period see Hinduism and Indian religions for details He is a prominent deity of the Rigveda distinguished by a relationship to Varuna, the protector of rta. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" In Vedic religion, Varuna or Waruna ( Devanagari:वरुण IAST: varuṇa) is a god of the Sky, of Rain and Sanskrit ṛtá (sa ऋत as used in Vedic Sanskrit literally means the "order or course of things" cognate to Avestan Aša Together with Varuna, he counted among the Adityas, a group of solar deities. In Hinduism, the Ādityas are a group of Devas or celestial gods the sons of Āditi and Kashyapa. "Sun god" redirects here For the Ramsey Lewis album see Sun Goddess (album. They are the supreme keepers of order and gods of the law. Law is a system of rules enforced through a set of Institutions used as an instrument to underpin civil obedience politics economics and society

Varuna and Mitra are the gods of the oath, often twinned or identified as Mitra-Varuna (a dvandva compound). *mitra ( Proto-Indo-Iranian, nominative *mitras) was an important Indo-Iranian divinity An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a Promise or a Statement of Fact calling Mitra and Varuna are two deities ( Asuras frequently referred to in the ancient Indian scripture of the Rigveda. A dvandva or copulative or coordinative compound refers to two or more objects that could be connected in sense by the conjunction 'and' In the Vedic hymns, Mitra is often invoked together with Varuna, so that the two are combined in a dvandva as Mitra-Varuna. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. In Vedic religion, Varuna or Waruna ( Devanagari:वरुण IAST: varuṇa) is a god of the Sky, of Rain and A dvandva or copulative or coordinative compound refers to two or more objects that could be connected in sense by the conjunction 'and' Varuna is lord of the cosmic rhythm of the celestial spheres, while Mitra brings forth the light at dawn, which was covered by Varuna. Mitra together with Varuna is the most prominent deity and the chief of the Adityas, in the Rigveda. In Hinduism, the Ādityas are a group of Devas or celestial gods the sons of Āditi and Kashyapa. The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" Mitra and Varuna are addressed as devas in Rigveda (e. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge" g. , RV 7. The seventh Mandala of the Rigveda has 104 hymns Most hymns in this book are attributed to {{IAST|vasiṣṭha maitravaurṇi}}. 60. 12), and in the only hymn dedicated to Mitra, he is referred to as a deva (mitrasya. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " . . devasya) in RV 3. The third Mandala of the Rigveda has 62 hymns mainly to Agni and Indra. 59. 6.

The pairing with Varuna, a god unknown in Iranian religion, is very strong already in the Rigveda, which has few hymns where Mitra is mentioned without Varuna. RV 3. The third Mandala of the Rigveda has 62 hymns mainly to Agni and Indra. 59 is the only hymn dedicated to Mitra exclusively, where he is lauded as a god of order and stability and as a giver of laws (2b, vrata), the sustainer of mankind (6a, carani-dhrt, literally "of cultivators", said also of Indra in 3. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra 37. 4c) and of all gods (8c, devān vishvān). The Visvedevas ( Sanskrit: विश्वेदेवाः ( viśve-devāḥ "all-gods" are the various Vedic gods taken together

3. 59. 1 Mitra, when speaking, stirreth men to labour: Mitra sustaineth both the earth and heaven.

Mitra beholdeth men with eyes that close not. To Mitra bring, with holy oil, oblation. (trans. Griffith)

Rigvedic hymns to Mitra-Varuna are RV 1. The first Mandala ("book" of the Rigveda has 191 hymns 136, 137, 151-153, RV 5. The fifth Mandala of the Rigveda has 87 hymns Most hymns in this book are attributed to the Atri family 62-72, RV 6. The sixth Mandala of the Rig Veda has 75 hymns mainly to Agni and Indra. 67, RV 7. The seventh Mandala of the Rigveda has 104 hymns Most hymns in this book are attributed to {{IAST|vasiṣṭha maitravaurṇi}}. 60-66, RV 8. The eighth Mandala of the Rigveda has 103 hymns Other than the "family books" (Mandalas 2-7 dated as an old part of the RV and RV 1 and 25 and RV 10. The tenth Mandala of the Rigveda has 191 hymns Together with Mandala 1, it forms the latest part of the Rigveda containing much mythological material 132.

Where Mitra appears not paired with Varuna, it is often for the purpose of comparison, where other gods are lauded as being "like Mitra", without the hymn being addressed to Mitra himself (Indra 1. Indra ( Sanskrit: इन्द्र or इंद्र Indra, Malay: Indera, Thai: พระอินทร์ Phra-Intra 129. 10, 10. 22. 1-2 etc. ; Agni 1. Agni is a Hindu and Vedic deity. The word agni is Sanskrit for "fire" (noun cognate with Latin ignis 38. 13 etc. ; Soma 1. Soma ( Sanskrit: सोम) or Haoma ( Avestan) from Proto-Indo-Iranian * sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance 91. 3; Vishnu 1. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific 156. 1).

In the Shatapatha Brahmana, Mitravaruna is analyzed as "the Counsel and the Power" — Mitra being the priesthood, Varuna the royal power. The Shatapatha Brahmana (sa शतपथ ब्राह्मण śatapatha brāhmaṇa, " Brahmana of one-hundred paths" abbreviated ŚB As Joseph Campbell remarked, "Both are said to have a thousand eyes. Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer Both are active foreground aspects of the light or solar force at play in time. Both renew the world by their deed. "

Role in Daily Worship of the Hindus

Reflecting his status as a solar deity, Mitra has long been worshipped in the sunrise prayers of the Hindus. The morning upasthaana prayer, recited to the risen sun after contemplation on the sacred Gayatri mantra, is a collection of Rig Veda verses addressing Mitra. Gayatri (गायत्री gāyatrī is the feminine form of gāyatra, a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn A mantra ( Devanāgarī मन्त्र (or mantram is a religious or mystical syllable or poem typically from the Sanskrit language The Rigveda ( Sanskrit sa ऋग्वेद ṛgveda, a compound of ṛc "praise verse" and veda "knowledge"

Counterparts of Mitra in other religions

The Iranian counterpart to the Vedic Mitra was the Avestan yazata (angelic deity) Mithra. To best understand Iran and its people one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language. Yazata is the Avestan language word for a Zoroastrian concept This article is about the Zoroastrian Yazata Mithra (Miθra For other divinities with related names see the general article Mitra.
In the Roman Empire, the name of Mithra was borrowed (as Mithras) in the popular cult of Mithraism. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late

References

Dumézil, Georges (1990). Georges Dumézil ( March 4, 1898 – October 11, 1986) was a French comparative Philologist best known for his analysis of Sovereignty Georges Dumézil ( March 4, 1898 – October 11, 1986) was a French comparative Philologist best known for his analysis of Sovereignty Mitra-Varuna: An Essay on Two Indo-European Representations of Sovereignty. Cambridge: Zone Books. ISBN 0-942299-13-2.
Campbell, Joseph (1964). Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer Joseph John Campbell ( March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American Mythology Professor, Writer Occidental Mythology: The Masks of God. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 0-14-004306-3.

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