Avatsara
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Avatsara(Sanskrit:अवत्सार,romanized:Avatsāra) is arishi(sage) featured in theRigveda.His name first appears inSukta44 of the Fifth Mandala.[1][2]
Work[edit]
Avatsara is the main poet ofSukta44 of the Fifth Mandala of the Rigveda, whose hymn addressed to the class ofRigvedic deitiescalled theVisvedevas.He is known for the set of eight hymns of four mantras each appearing in the Rigveda viz. Suktas IX.53 to IX.60, and also in the Samaveda (SV.757, SV.1717).[3]He is stated to be the chief priest of the gods. He is described to offer Agni the six-syllable oblation –O Agni, enjoy the oblation,and was set-free.[4]According to Satyasadha (21.3.13), the Kashyapapravara(lineage) consists of three rishi–ancestors: –Kashyapa,Avatsara, and Naidhruva.[5]The lineage also belongs to the two of theSandilyavariations.[6]There are eight notable sages belonging to the Kashyapa family –Kashyapa,Avatsara,Nidhruva,Rebha,Devala,Asita,Bhutamsa,andVivrha;two unnamed sons ofRebhawere also authors of Rigvedic hymns.[7]
He is more known for the Suktas 53 to 60 of the Ninth Mandala; these Suktas contain fourmantraseach, all composed in theGayatriMetre.In the Rigveda, he addressesIshvaraas, "the fully armed and endowed with many subtle and fine divine powers and destroyer of all evil forces" (RV.IX.53.1). He then addresses Ishvara as, "the purifier or the pure, brilliant as the Sun".[8]
His name appears in theYajurveda,(Y.V.III.i & III.xviii) where he prays toAgni,[9]and in theAitareya Brahmanaand theKausitaki Brahmana.From the verses of the Aitareya Brahmana (A.B. ii.24) and Kausitaki Brahmana (K.B.viii.6), both pertaining to the Sacrifice of the Five Oblations, it is stated that Avatsara had reached the home ofAgniand had conquered the highest world.[10]
In Rigveda Sukta IX.53, he reminds us that the learned people extract the wisdom of the ancients from theVedaswhich are enlightening, and in Rigveda mantra IX.60.3 he states that the Lord, in the form of knowledge and consciousness, resides in the cleansed mind and heart of the learned people and in the mind and heart of all those who know the Lord fully without being aware of knowing Him.[11]
Genealogy[edit]
Avatsara is described to be the son of Kashyapa, who whose lifetime was later than Vamadeva (son ofMaharishi Gautama), but earlier thanAtri.[12]The word,Avata,denotes an artificially dug up water-source or an artificial well.[13][14]
Apart from Kashyapa, the son of Marichi, there appears to have been a second Kashyapa who was the father of Avatsara,NaradaandArundhati,the wife ofVasishthaand it was this second Kashyapa who was one of theSaptarishi.[15][16][17]According to the list of sages provided by theMatsya Purana,Kashyapa had two sons – Avatsara and Asita; Nidhruva and Rebha were Avatsara’s son. But this list is doubted; the genealogy otherwise gives three groups among the Kashyaps, the Sandliyas, Naidhruvas and Raibhyas.[18]
From Book IV Chapter VIII of theSrimad Bhagvatamit is learnt though Maitreya thatDhruva,the son of Uttanapada through Suruti, and the grandson ofSvyambhuva Manu,had by his first wife Brahmi, two sons, Vatsara and Kalmavatsara or Kalpa.[19][20]
References[edit]
- ^Shrikant G.Talageri.The Rig Veda: A Historical Analysis(PDF).Aditya Prakashan. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-01-16.Retrieved2014-01-16.
- ^Jayantanuja Bandopadhayaya (2007).Class and Religion in Ancient India.Anthem Press. p. 13.ISBN9781843313328.
- ^All Four Vedas.Agniveer. 2013-11-10. pp. 124–134, 326, 409–417, 734.
- ^Arthur Barriedale Keith (1998).Rig Veda Brahmanas:The Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas of the Rig Veda.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 419.ISBN9788120813595.
- ^Dhundiraja Ganesa (1962).Sarautakosah:Encyclopaedia of Vedic Sacrificial Rituals.p. 1016.
- ^The Early Brahmanical System of Gotra and Pravara.Cambridge University Press. 1953. p. 36.ISBN9781001403793.
- ^Purushottam Lal Bhargava (January 2001).India in the Vedic Age.D.K.Print World. p. 221.ISBN9788124601716.
- ^Ravinder Kumar Soni.The Illumination of Knowledge.GBD Books. pp. 246–247.
- ^Agniveer (2013-11-10).All Four Vedas.Agniveer. p. 46.
- ^Arthur Barriedale Keith (1998).Rig Veda Brahmanas:The Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas of the Rig Veda.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 153.ISBN9788120813595.
- ^Ravinder Kumar Soni.The Illumination of Knowledge.GBD Books. pp. 247–248.
- ^Islamkotob.Rig Veda A Historical Analysis.Islamic Books. p. 102.
- ^Arthur Anthony Macdonell.Vedic Index of Names and Subjects Vol.1.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 39–40.
- ^Macdonell, A.A.; Keith, A.B. (1995).Vedic Index of Names and Subjects.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 40.ISBN9788120813328.Retrieved2015-02-09.
- ^Sita Nath Pradhan (1927).Chronology of Ancient India.Bhartiya Publishing House. p. 90.
- ^Praci-jyoti.Kurukshetra University. 1973.
- ^Ganga Ram Garg (1992).Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World Vol.3.Concept Publishing Company. p. 839.ISBN9788170223764.
- ^F.E.Pargiter (1997).Ancient Indian Historical Tradition.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 231.ISBN9788120814875.
- ^Francis Wilford (1799).On the chronology of the Hindus Asiatic Researches Vol. 5.New Jersey College Library. p. 253.
- ^Swami Venkatesananda.The Concise Srimad Bhagvatam.Suny Press. p. 86,90.ISBN9781438422831.