Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita ...

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Ushas (Sanskrit). The dawn, the daughter of heaven; the same as the Aurora of the Latins and the hjwvd of the Greeks. She is first mentioned in the Vedas, wherein her name is also Ahana and Dyotana (the illuminator), and is a most poetical and fascinating image. She is the ever-faithful friend of men, of rich and poor, though she is believed to prefer the latter. She smiles upon and visits the dwelling of every living mortal. She is the immortal, ever-youthful virgin, the light of the poor, and the destroyer of darkness.

(See also: Ushas , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Ushas usas (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root ush to burn, warm by illumination or light]

The dawn, daughter of heaven, identical with the Latin Aurora and the Greek Eos. First mentioned in the Vedas, "wherein her name is also Ahana and Dyotana ([both words meaning]

the illuminator), and is a most poetical and fascinating image. She is the ever-faithful friend of men, of rich and poor, though she is believed to prefer the latter. She smiles upon and visits the dwelling of every living mortal. She is the immortal, ever-youthful virgin, the light of the poor, and the destroyer of darkness" (TG 356).

Mystically, dawn is the bringer of spiritual and intellectual light, and therefore the sweet and holy comforter, allusions to which are found even in the New Testament with reference to Paraclete.

(See also: Ushas, usas , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Asch. See USHAS

(See also: Asch , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Darkness In theosophical philosophy light is not regarded as self-existent, but as primordially the spiritual effect of a spiritual cause, the emanation from something grander and more radical beyond it.

This unknown divine substratum, the original superspiritual intelligence-substance of the universe, is sometimes called darkness; likewise, it is spoken of as absolute light. Thus absolute light and absolute darkness are the same, so that manifested light sprang from unmanifested light or darkness.

Philosophically, non-ego -- which is freedom from the limitations of egoity and manifested particularities -- voidness, and darkness are a three-in-one, darkness being Father-Mother and light, their Son. Night or darkness preceded day and light in cosmogony, as is recognized in Genesis, where darkness broods over the face of the deep. The creation of light, or the emanation of light from darkness, is the first step in cosmic manifestation. Light thus is truly called original substance or spiritual matter; darkness, purest spirit. Synonymous with this darkness are 'eyn soph, the Boundless, the bridgeless abyss, the unmanifest, the ever-invisible robes of the eternal parent.

Light and darkness on manifested planes constitute a duality, correlative and interdependent, neither conceivable without the other. But what is darkness to our physical senses may be light to our inner senses.

Darkness is also used to denote the shadow side of things, and hence in popular speech evil as opposed to good, ignorance to knowledge.

See also DAWN; LIGHT; USHAS

(See also: Darkness , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Dawn Frequently denotes the beginning of a new cycle, of greater or less extent. Venus-Lucifer is called the luminous son of morning or of manvantaric dawn; and the builders are the luminous sons of manvantaric dawn.

In Greek mythology Apollo (the sun) has two daughters, Hilaira and Phoebe (evening twilight and dawn); Eos is the dawn, as is Aurora in Latin. In Hindu mythology, the wife of Surya (the sun) is Ushas (dawn), and she is also his mother. In the Vishnu-Purana, Brahma, for purposes of world formation, assumes four bodies -- dawn, night, day, and evening twilight.

Man is said to come from the body of dawn, for dawn signifies light, the intelligence of the intellect of the universe often called mahat, the ultimate progenitor, and indeed the final cosmic goal, of the Hierarchy of Light of which the human hierarchy is a small portion.

See also SANDHI

(See also: Dawn , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Aswins (Sanskrit), or Aswinau, dual ; or again, Aswini-Kumarau, are the most mysterious and occult deities of all; who have "puzzled the oldest commentators". Literally, they are the "Horsemen", the "divine charioteers", as they ride in a golden car drawn by horses or birds or animals, and "are possessed of many forms".

They are two Vedic deities, the twin sons of the sun and the sky, which becomes the nymph Aswini. In mythological symbolism they are "the bright harbingers of Ushas, the dawn", who are "ever young and handsome, bright, agile, swift as falcons", who "prepare the way for the brilliant dawn to those who have patiently awaited through the night".

They are also called time "physicians of Swarga" (or Devachan), inasmuch as they heal every pain and suffering, and cure all diseases. Astronomically, they are asterisms. They were enthusiastically worshipped, as their epithets show. They are the "Ocean-born" (i.e., space born) or Abdhijau, "crowned with lotuses" or Pushhara-srajam, etc., etc.

Yaska, the commentator in the Nirukta, thinks that "the Aswins represent the transition from darkness to light " - cosmically, and we may add, metaphysically, also. But Muir and Goldstücker are inclined to see in them ancient "horsemen of great renown", because, forsooth, of the legend "that the gods refused the Aswins admittance to a sacrifice on the ground that they had been on too familiar terms with men". Just so, because as explained by the same Yaska "they are identified with heaven and earth", only for quite a different reason.

Truly they are like the Ribhus, "originally renowned mortals (but also non-renowned occasionally) who in the course of time are translated into the companionship of gods"; and they show a negative character, "the result of the- alliance of light with darkness", simply because these twins are, in the esoteric philosophy, the Kumara-Egos, the reincarnating "Principles" in this Manvantara.

(See also: Aswins , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Dyaus (Sanskrit) (nominative of div, Dyu heaven, sky from div day, brightness from the verbal root div to shine)

Heaven, sky; in the Vedas the sky was regarded as descending in three divisions, named from below upwards avama, madhyama, and uttama or tritiya. The sky was designated the father (dyaush-pita); the earth, the mother (dyava-prithivi); and ushas (dawn) the daughter. The term stands for "the unrevealed Deity, or that which reveals Itself only as light and the bright day -- metaphorically" (TG 97).

(See also: Dyaus , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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U - Letter U, Uasar, uccaih-sravas, Uchchaih-Sravas, Uchchaih-sravas, Uchnicha, Udambara, Udana, Udara Ramaputra, Udayana, Udayana Raja, Udayana-raja, Udbhijja, Udra Ramaputra, Udumbara, Ugrasena, Ukko, Ulfilas, Ullambana, Uller, Ullr, Ulom, Ulphilas, Ultima Thule, Ultramontanes, Ulupi, Ulysses, Uma-Kanya, Uma-kanya, Umbra, Umsimi, Una, Unavoidable Cycle, Unborn, Unconditioned, Unconsciousness, Underworld, Undine, Undines, Undulatory Theory, Unity, Universal Brotherhood, Universal Mind, Universal Pralaya, Universal Solar System, Universal Soul, Universal Spirit, Universals, Unknowable, Unlucky Numbers, Unmanifest, Unmanifested, Unmerited Suffering, Un-nefer, Upadana, Upadana Karanam, Upadana-karana, Upadhyaya, Upadrashtri, Upadrastri, Upadvipa, Upadvipas, Upadwipas, Upamana, Upamiti, Upanita, Uparati, Upas Tree, Upasaka, Upasika, Upasruti, upeksa, Upeksha, Upper Triad, Upward Cycle, 'Uqqals, Ur, Ur 'ur, Uraeus, Uragas, Uranides, Uranus, Urd, Urdhvasrotas, Urdr, Ureus, Uriel, Urim, Urja, Urlak, Ursa Major and Minor, Urschleim, Urvasi, Usanas, Usanas-Sukra, Us-ar, Ushas, Ushnisha, Utpala-varna, Uttanapad, Uttara Mimansa, Uttara-Mimansa, Uttarayana, Uzza,

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Sanskrit Dictionary , Hinduism Dictionary , Buddhism Dictionary, Mysticism Dictionary , Spiritual Dictionary

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Bhutavan (Sanskrit) In Hindu mythology, the terrifying form taken by the gods in response to Brahma committing the first sin with his daughter Ushas {IU 1:265}.

(See also: Bhutavan , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

ushas:

vedic goddess of dawn

(See also: ushas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

A beautiful assembly of poems and prayers on the theme of LOVE and TRANSCENDENCE.

�We will read them during the transit tomorrow on the most sacred places on the Isle of Wight.
We invite you to pray for World peace and love during the Transit of Venus at 11am GMT on 8th June 2004 for fifteen minutes. This will be the biggest global mass prayer meeting in the history of the World. You will find some multifaith prayers and poems, and a list of goddess names for your use on this page. Or make up your own prayer in accordance with your own faith or lack thereof. Or, do what thou wilt.�

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Asvins, Asvinau (Sanskrit) The two horsemen; two Vedic divinities which in some respects parallel the Greek Dioscuri, Pollux and Castor. Harbingers of Ushas (the dawn), they are represented as twin horsemen, appearing in the sky in a golden chariot drawn by horses or birds.

One myth gives their origin as children of the sun by a nymph, Asvini, who concealed herself in the form of a mare; another myth makes Asvini their wife. Since they precede the sun's rising they are called the parents of the sun's form, Pushan. They are also the parents of Nakula and Sahadeva, Arjuna's brothers by Madri. Many Vedic hymns are addressed to them; their attributes pertain to youth and beauty, to speed, and to duality.

They bring treasures to mankind, averting misfortune and sickness, for they are the two physicians of heaven (svar-vaidyau). Yaska, the earliest known commentator on the Vedas, in his Nirukta writes that the Asvinau represent the transition from darkness to light and are identified with heaven and earth.

Blavatsky says that "these twins are, in the esoteric philosophy, the Kumara-Egos, the reincarnating 'Principles' in this Manvantara" (TG 41). That the Greek Dioscuri were respectively the son of Zeus and the son of a mortal, is a direct reference to the dual character of the kumaric mind or the higher manas, an immortal quality in human beings in its higher aspect, the lower aspect being connected with the mortal part of the human constitution.

(See also: Asvins, Asvinau , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Egyptian deities are often portrayed as having animal heads in art; as an example, Anubis is often portrayed in statuary as having the body of a human, but the head of a canine. Many gods were portrayed with different animal heads, depending upon the situation. The Egyptians did not actually believe that most of their gods had animal heads; rather, they portrayed them that way as artistic symbolism. This may have been for the benefit of the illiterate. Amun, creator deity Anubis, God of Embalming, Friend of the D ...

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The sky father is a recurring theme in pagan and neopagan mythology. The sky father is the complement of the earth mother and appears in some creation myths, many of which are European or ancient Near Eastern. Other cultures have quite different myths; Egyptian mythology features a sky mother and an earthly dying and reviving god of vegetation. Shinto gives precedence to a sun goddess. A sky father also relates to a solar deity, a god identified with the sun. In Maori mythology, Ranginui was the sky father. In this story, the sky father and earth moth ...

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• Sky father - History of the concept

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Ratri, who is often also called Ratridevi is the goddess of night in the Vedas, and the mythology of India and Hinduism. She is sister to Ushas, the Vedic goddess of Dawn. Other related archivesHinduism, India, Ushas, Vedas

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Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika Vahana is the being or object that serves as the mount or vehicle of a deity in Indian mythology. Vah in Sanskrit ...

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• Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

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Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Hinduism (सनातन धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma, and Vaidika-Dharma) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the revealed knowledge of the Veda and the direct descendant of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. It is the world's ...

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Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Git ...

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The Vedic civilization is the Indo-Aryan culture associated with the Vedas, the earliest known records of Indian history. Mainstream scholarship places the Vedic civilization into the 2nd and 1st millennia BC, many Hindu scholars date its beginnings as early as the 7th millennium BC based on astronomical information in the Vedas, genetics, horse bones findings in Harappan places that suggest a Vedic way of living before 2000 BC,and the reference to a big Saraswati river in Rig Veda which proves Vedic people were there before it decrea ...

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