Varuna

2021-08-29T15:18:08Z

2409:4065:E95:9258:F375:27AF:63DF:1B0F:

{{short description|Hindu deity associated with waters}}
{{about||the possible dwarf planet|20000 Varuna|other uses}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Varunadeva.jpg
| caption = The God Varuna on his mount [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]], 1675–1700 Painted in: [[India]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Bundi]], placed in [[LACMA]] museum
| name = Varuna
| god_of = God of [[Water]] and [[Sky]]
| member_of =
| affiliation = [[Adityas]], [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]], [[Dikpala]]
| abode = Jal loka ([[Ocean]])
| mantra = Om Jala bimbhaya Vidhmahe Nila Purushaya Dheemahe 
Thanno Varuna Prachodayath and Om Varunaaya Namah
| weapon = [[Noose]], [[Varunastra]], [[Gandiva]]
| consort = [[Varunani]]{{efn|Varunani alias Gauri (Varuna's wife) and Varuni (Varuna's daughter) are different goddesses. Sometimes both are merged into one goddess, who is not considered as Varuna's daughter.}}<ref name="Mani 1975">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=http://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}</ref>
| mount = [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]]
| father = [[Kashyapa]]
| mother = [[Aditi]]
| children = [[Sushena]], [[Daksha Savarni Manu]], [[Vasishtha]] (sons) and [[Varuni#Varuna's daughter|Varuni]] (daughter)<ref name="Mani 1975" />
}}

'''Varuna''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ɜr|ʊ|n|ə|,_|ˈ|v|ɑː|r|ə|-}};<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/varuna "Varuna"]. ''[[Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary]]''.</ref> {{lang-sa|वरुण}}, {{IAST3|Varuṇa}}, [[Malay language|Malay]]: ''Baruna'') is a [[Vedas|Vedic]] deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as [[Ṛta]] (justice) and [[Satya]] (truth).<ref name="Williams2003p294" /><ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741">{{cite book |author=James G. Lochtefeld |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration |year=2002 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/741 741]}}</ref> He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of [[Hinduism]], such as hymn 7.86 of the ''[[Rigveda]]''.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741" /> He is also mentioned in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] grammar work ''[[Tolkāppiyam]]'', as Kadalon the god of sea and rain.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjoRAAAAYAAJ|title=Journal of Tamil Studies|date=1969|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|pages=131|language=en}}</ref> He is said to be the son of [[Kashyapa]] (one of the seven ancient sages).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=Kashyapa+Varuna&pg=PA274|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|isbn=9780143414216|last1=Dalal|first1=Roshen|year=2010}}</ref>

In the Hindu [[Puranas]], Varuna is the god of oceans, his vehicle is a [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]] (crocodile) and his weapon is a Pasha (noose, rope loop).<ref name="Williams2003p294" /><ref name="Snodgrass1992p121" /> He is the guardian deity of the western direction.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002p741" /> In some texts, he is the father of the Vedic sage [[Vasishtha]].<ref name="Williams2003p294">{{cite book |author=George Mason Williams |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068 |url-access=registration |year=2003 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-106-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/294 294]}}</ref>

Varuna is found in Japanese Buddhist mythology as [[Suijin|Suiten]].<ref name="Snodgrass1992p121">{{cite book |author=Adrian Snodgrass |title=The Symbolism of the Stupa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzqK8dDCM0UC |year=1992 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0781-5 |pages=120–122 with footnotes}}</ref> in [[Greek mythology|Greek]] mythology with misnomer [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]]. He is also found in [[Jainism]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Sehdev Kumar |title=A Thousand Petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan : Architecture & Iconography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSDACkmA_ukC&pg=PA18 |year=2001 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-348-9 |page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Kristi L. Wiley |title=The A to Z of Jainism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUz9o-EKTpwC&pg=PA248 |year=2009 |publisher=Scarecrow |isbn=978-0-8108-6821-2 |page=248}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
[[File:Rajarani Temple 03.jpg|thumb|Varuna iconography at the 11th-century Rajarani [[Hindu temple]].<ref name="Michell1977p45">{{cite book |author=George Michell |title=The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ajgImLs62gwC |year=1977 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0-226-53230-1 |pages=4, 44–45 with Figure 15}}</ref>]]
In Hindu tradition, the theonym ''Váruṇa'' ([[Devanagari]]: [[wikt:वरुण#Sanskrit|वरुण]]) is described as a derivation from the verbal root ''vṛ'' ("to surround, to cover" or "to restrain, bind") by means of a suffixal ''-uṇa-'', for an interpretation of the name as "he who covers or binds", in reference to the cosmological [[Oceanus|ocean or river]] encircling the world, but also in reference to the "binding" by universal law or ''[[Ṛta]]''.<ref name="Snodgrass1992p121" />

[[Georges Dumézil]] (1934) made a cautious case for the identity of Varuna and the Greek god ''[[Uranus (mythology)|Ouranos]]'' at the earliest [[Indo-European mythology|Indo-European]] cultural level.<ref>Dumézil, ''Ouranós-Váruna: Étude de mythologie comparée indo-européenne'' (Paris:Maisonneuve 1932).</ref><ref name="Dumézil">Georges Dumézil, ''Ouranos-Varuna – Essai de mythologie comparée indo-européenne'' (Paris: G.-P. Maisonneuve, 1934).</ref>
The etymological identification of the name ''Ouranos'' with the Sanskrit ''Varuṇa'' is based in the derivation of both names from the [[PIE root]] ''*ŭer'' with a sense of "binding" – the Indic king-god ''Varuṇa'' binds the wicked, the Greek king-god ''Ouranos'' binds the Cyclopes. While the derivation of the name ''Varuṇa'' from this root is undisputed,{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} this derivation of the Greek name is now widely rejected in favour of derivation from the root *''wers-'' "to moisten, drip" (Sanskrit vṛṣ "to rain, pour").<ref>[[Manfred Mayrhofer]], ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch des Altindoarischen'', vol. 2, s.v. "Váruṇa" (Heidelberg: Carl Winter, 1996), 515–6.
[[Edgar Charles Polomé|Edgar C. Polomé]], "Binder-god", in ''[[Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture]]'' (London–Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997), 65.</ref>

== Hindu texts ==
=== Vedas ===
In the earliest layer of the ''Rigveda'', Varuna is the guardian of moral law, one who punishes those who sin without remorse, and who forgives those who err with remorse.<ref name="dhavamony167">{{cite book |author=Mariasusai Dhavamony |title=Classical Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD0w_IMFA8gC |year=1982 |publisher=Gregorian |isbn=978-88-7652-482-0 |pages=167–168 with footnotes}}</ref><ref name="Griffiths1991p132">{{cite book |author=John Gwyn Griffiths |title=The Divine Verdict: A Study of Divine Judgement in the Ancient Religions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QDbjjKglE1kC&pg=PA132 |year=1991 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-09231-5 |pages=132–133}}</ref> He is mentioned in many Rigvedic hymns, such as 7.86–88, 1.25, 2.27–30, 8.8, 9.73 and others.<ref name="dhavamony167" /><ref name="Snodgrass1992p121" /> His relationship with waters, rivers and oceans is mentioned in the Vedas.Rig veda 10.123 says Hiranyapaksha (golden winged bird) as the messenger of Varuna.The golden winged messenger bird of Varuna may not be a mythical one but most probably flamingos because they have colourful wings and the sukta further describes Vulture as the messenger of Yama, the beaks of both these birds have similar morphology and flamingos are seen nearby seashores and marshlands<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/hymnsrigveda00unkngoog/page/n574/mode/2up|title=The Hymns of the Rigveda|year=1897|publisher=E.J. Lazarus & co.}}</ref><ref name="Oldenberg1988p104">{{cite book |author=Hermann Oldenberg |title=The Religion of the Veda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKeubCiBOPQC |year=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0392-3 |page=104}}</ref>

Varuna and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] are the gods of the societal affairs including the [[oath]], and are often twinned ''[[Mitra-Varuna]]''.<ref name="Oldenberg1988p95">{{cite book |author=Hermann Oldenberg |title=The Religion of the Veda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uKeubCiBOPQC&pg=PA95 |year=1988 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0392-3 |pages=95–98}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=David Leeming |title=The Oxford Companion to World Mythology |url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont0000leem |url-access=registration |year=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-028888-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordcompaniont0000leem/page/200 200]}}</ref> Both Mitra and Varuna are classified as [[Asura (Hinduism)|Asuras]] in the Rigveda (e.g. [[Mandala 5|RV 5]].63.3), although they are also addressed as [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] as well (e.g. [[RV 7]].60.12).<ref name="Bane 2012">{{cite book |last=Bane |first=Theresa |title=Encyclopedia of Demons in World Religions and Cultures |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-7864-8894-0 |oclc=774276733 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=njDRfG6YVb8C&pg=PA323 |page=323 |access-date=2018-12-06}}</ref> Varuna, being the king of the Asuras, was adopted or made the change to a Deva after the structuring of the primordial cosmos, imposed by Indra after he defeats Vrtra.<ref>F. B. J. Kuiper (1975), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1061926 The Basic Concept of Vedic Religion], History of Religions, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Nov., 1975), pp. 107–120</ref>

[[File:Varuna with Varunani.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Varuna with Varunani. Statue carved out of [[basalt]], dates back to 8th century CE, discovered in Karnataka. On display at the [[Prince of Wales museum]], Mumbai.]]
According to [[Doris Meth Srinivasan|Doris Srinivasan]], a professor of Indology focusing on religion, Varuna-Mitra pair is an ambiguous deity just like [[Rudra]]-[[Shiva]] pair.<ref name="Srinivasan1997p48" /> Both have wrathful-gracious aspects in Indian mythology.<ref name="Macey2010p2" /> Both Varuna and Rudra are synonymous with "all comprehensive sight, knowledge", both were the guardian deity of the north in the Vedic texts (Varuna later gets associated with west), both can be offered "injured, ill offerings", all of which suggest that Varuna may have been conceptually overlapping with Rudra.<ref name="Srinivasan1997p48" /> Further, the Rigvedic hymn 5.70 calls Mitra-Varuna pair as ''rudra'', states Srinivasan.<ref name="Srinivasan1997p48">{{cite book |author=Doris Srinivasan |title=Many Heads, Arms, and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZheP9dIX9wC&pg=PA48 |year=1997 |publisher=BRILL Academic |isbn=90-04-10758-4 |pages=48–49}}</ref> According to Samuel Macey and other scholars, Varuna had been the more ancient Indo-Aryan deity in 2nd millennium BCE, who gave way to Rudra in the Hindu pantheon, and Rudra-Shiva became both "timeless and the god of time".<ref name="Macey2010p2">{{cite book |author=Samuel L. Macey |title=Patriarchs of Time |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_z_R89DaPkC&pg=PA2 |year=2010 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-3797-5 |pages=2–3, 165}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=J. P. Mallory |author2=D. Q. Adams |title=The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iNUSDAAAQBAJ |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-928791-8 |pages=430–432}}</ref>

In ''Vajasaneyi Samhita'' 21.40 (''[[Yajurveda]]''), Varuna is called the patron deity of physicians, one who has "a hundred, a thousand remedies".<ref name="Srinivasan1997p48" /> His capacity and association with "all comprehensive knowledge" is also found in the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' (~1000 BCE).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Srinivasan |first=Doris |title=The Religious Significance of Divine Multiple Body Parts in the Atharva Veda |journal=Numen |publisher=Brill Academic Publishers |volume=25 |issue=3 |year=1978 |doi=10.1163/156852778x00245 |pages=198–200, context: 193–225}}</ref> Varuna also finds a mention in the early [[Upanishad]]s, where his role evolves. In verse 3.9.26 of the ''[[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]'' (~800 BCE), for example, he is stated to be the god of the western quarter, but one who is founded on "water" and dependent ultimately on "the heart" and the fire of soul.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Early Upanishads: Annotated Text and Translation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lsp18ZvstrcC |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-535242-9 |pages=98–101}}</ref> In the ''[[Katha Upanishad]]'', [[Aditi]] is identified to be same as the goddess earth. She is stated in the Vedic texts to be the mother of Varuna and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] along with other Vedic gods, and in later Hindu mythology she as mother earth is stated to be mother of all gods.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Early Upanishads: Annotated Text and Translation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lsp18ZvstrcC |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-535242-9 |page=478}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Arthur Anthony Macdonell |title=Vedic Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7Meabtj8mcC |year=1898 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1113-3 |pages=120–124, 30–34, 45–46}}</ref>

In [[Yajurveda]] it is said: "In fact Varuna is [[Vishnu]] and Vishnu is Varuna and hence the auspicious offering is to be made to these deities." || 8.59 || <ref name="Pandey">{{cite book |last=Pandey |first=R. |title=Yajurveda |year=2020 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Limited |isbn=978-81-288-2284-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmhpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 |access-date=6 December 2018 |page=48}}</ref>

=== Upanishads ===
Varuna, addressed as Varuni explained [[Brahman]] in [[Taittiriya]] Upanishad to sage [[Bhrigu]]. First six anuvakas of Bhrigu Valli are called ''Bhargavi Varuni Vidya'', which means "the knowledge Bhrigu got from (his father) Varuni". It is in these anuvakas that sage Varuni advises Bhrigu with one of the oft-cited definition of Brahman, as "that from which beings originate, through which they live, and in which they re-enter after death, explore that because that is Brahman".<ref name="pauldeussen311">Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 241-246</ref> This thematic, all encompassing, eternal nature of reality and existence develops as the basis for Bhrigu's emphasis on introspection, to help peel off the outer husks of knowledge, in order to reach and realize the innermost kernel of spiritual Self-knowledge.<ref name="pauldeussen311" />

=== Ramayana ===
[[File:Rama-Varuna.jpg|thumb|Varuna himself arose from the depth of the ocean and begged Rama for forgiveness.]]
Rama interacts with Varuna in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. For example, faced with the dilemma of how to cross the ocean to [[Lanka]], where his abducted wife [[Sita]] is held captive by the demon king [[Ravana]], [[Rama]] (an [[Avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]) performs a ''pravpavesha'' (prayer, [[tapasya]]) to Varuna, the Lord of Oceans, for three days and three nights, states Ramesh Menon.<ref name="Menon2004p376" /> Varuna does not respond, and Rama arises on the fourth morning, enraged. He states to his brother Lakshamana that "even lords of the elements listen only to violence, Varuna does not respect gentleness, and peaceful prayers go unheard".<ref name="Menon2004p376">{{cite book |author=Ramesh Menon |title=The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEEXjAagUzsC |year=2004 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-1-4668-2625-0 |pages=376–379}}</ref>

With his bow and arrow, Rama prepares to attack the oceans to dry up the waters and create a bed of sand for his army of monkeys to cross and thus confront Ravana. Lakshmana appeals to Rama, translates Menon, that he should return to "peaceful paths of our fathers, you can win this war without laying waste the sea".<ref name="Menon2004p376" /> Rama shoots his weapon sending the ocean into flames. As Rama increases the ferocity of his weapons, Varuna arises out of the oceans. He bows to Rama, stating that he himself did not know how to help Rama because the sea is deep, vast and he cannot change the nature of sea. Varuna asked Rama to remember that he is "the soul of peace and love, wrath does not suit him". Varuna promised to Rama that he will not disturb him or his army as they build a bridge and cross over to Lanka. Although,
most of the sources claim it was [[Samudra]], the god of the oceans who met Rama not the water god Varuna<ref name="Menon2004p376" />

=== In Tolkappiyam ===
The [[Tolkāppiyam]], a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] grammar work from 3rd century BCE divides the people of ancient [[Tamilakam]] into 5 [[Sangam landscape]] divisions: ''kurinji, mullai, paalai, marutham'' and ''neithal''.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uP7LHS3cDMC&q=sangam+landscape&pg=PT124 |title=Tamil Oratory and the Dravidian Aesthetic: Democratic Practice in South India |last=Bate |first=Bernard |date=2010-06-01 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-51940-3 |pages=100 |language=en}}</ref> Each landscape are designated with different gods. ''Neithal'' is described as a seashore landscape occupied by fishermen and seatraders, with the god of sea and rain, ''Varunan'' or ''Kadalōn''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Trade, ideology, and urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300|last=Champakalakshmi|first=Radha|date=1996|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=78|language=en}}</ref> "Varuna" means water which denotes the ocean in the [[Tamil language]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIQOAAAAYAAJ|title=A glimpse of Tamilology|last1=Manickam|first1=Valliappa Subramaniam|last2=Nadu|first2=Academy of Tamil Scholars of Tamil|date=1968|publisher=Academy of Tamil Scholars of Tamil Nadu|pages=174|language=en}}</ref>

==Festivals==
{{main|Cheti Chand|Chalio}}
[[Jhulelal (Hinduism)|Jhulelal]] is considered an avatar of Varuna by Sindhi Hindus. The festivals of [[Cheti Chand]] and [[Chalio]] are dedicated to Jhulelal.

===Cheti Chand===
The [[Cheti Chand]] festival in the Hindu month of [[Chaitra]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-09|title=Jhulelal Jayanti 2021 (Cheti Chand) [Hindi]: जानिए झूलेलाल जी को विस्तार से|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/cheti-chand-jhulelal-jayanti/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US}}</ref> marks the arrival of spring and harvest, but in Sindhi Hindu community, it also marks the mythical birth of Uderolal in the year 1007.<ref name=falzon159/><ref name=kumar120>{{cite book|author=P. Pratap Kumar|title=Contemporary Hinduism|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=7Wd_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA120|year= 2014|publisher= Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-54636-8|pages= 120–124}}</ref><ref name="Ramey2008p8">{{cite book|author=S. Ramey|title=Hindu, Sufi, or Sikh: Contested Practices and Identifications of Sindhi Hindus in India and Beyond|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bv2ADAAAQBAJ|year=2008|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-61622-6|pages=8, 36}}</ref> Uderolal morphed into a warrior and old man who preached and reprimanded Mirkhshah that Muslims and Hindus deserve the same religious freedoms. He, as Jhulelal,<ref name="Ramey2008p8"/> became the saviour of the Sindhi Hindus, who according to this legend, celebrate the new year as Uderolal's birthday.<ref name="Ramey2008p8"/><ref name=falzon159>{{cite book|author=Mark-Anthony Falzon|title=Cosmopolitan Connections: The Sindhi Diaspora, 1860–2000|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ljbS-I5Y8WMC&pg=PA59|year=2004|publisher=BRILL|isbn=90-04-14008-5|pages=58–60}}</ref>

===Chaliya saheb===
[[Chalio]] or Chaliho, also called Chaliho Sahib, is a forty-day-long festival celebrated by Sindhi Hindus<ref name=a>[http://www.festivalsofindia.in/Chaliho/ Chaliho festival] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916224736/http://www.festivalsofindia.in/Chaliho/ |date=September 16, 2011 }}</ref><ref name=b>[http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-sindhis-celebrate-chalio-festival-2272672.html Sindhis celebrate Chalio festival]</ref><ref name=d>[http://www.thesindhuworld.com/chaliho.html Sindhi Festivals > Chaliho] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425020539/http://www.thesindhuworld.com/chaliho.html |date=April 25, 2012 }}</ref> to express their gratitude to Jhulelal for saving them from their impending conversion to Islam. The festival is observed every year in the months of July to August; dates vary according to [[Hindu calendar]].<ref name=a/><ref name=b/> It is a thanksgiving celebration in honor of Varuna Deva for listening to their prayers.<ref name=a/><ref name=b/>

===Narali Poornima===
{{Main article|Narali Poornima}}
Nārali Poornima is a ceremonial day observed by Hindu fishing communities in [[Maharashtra]], [[India]] particularly around [[Mumbai]] and the [[Konkan coast]]. It is held on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of [[Shravan month|Shravan]] which falls around July or August. On this day offerings such as rice, flowers and coconuts as offered to Lord Varuna, the god of ocean and waters.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Narali Purnima 2021: All hail Varuna Dev, the lord of oceans |language=en |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/spirituality/narali-purnima-2021-all-hail-varuna-dev-the-lord-of-oceans |access-date=2021-08-24}}</ref>

== In other cultures ==
=== Sindhi Hindus ===
[[File:Jhulelal hindu deity.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Jhulelal (Hinduism)|Jhulelal]] is considered an incarnation of Varuna by [[Sindhi people|Sindhi Hindus]].]]
Jhulelal is believed by Sindhi Hindus to be an incarnation of Varuna.<ref name="Dalal2010p178">{{cite book |author=Roshen Dalal |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC |year=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |page=178}}</ref> They celebrate the festival of [[Cheti Chand]] in his honor. The festival marks the arrival of spring and harvest, but in Sindhi community it also marks the birth of Uderolal in year 1007, after they prayed to Hindu god Varuna to save them from the persecution by tyrannical Muslim ruler named Mirkhshah.<ref name="falzon159" /><ref name="kumar120">{{cite book |author=P. Pratap Kumar |title=Contemporary Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Wd_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA120 |year=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-54636-8 |pages=120–124}}</ref><ref name="Ramey2008p8">{{cite book |author=S. Ramey |title=Hindu, Sufi, or Sikh: Contested Practices and Identifications of Sindhi Hindus in India and Beyond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bv2ADAAAQBAJ |year=2008 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-61622-6 |pages=8, 36}}</ref> Uderolal morphed into a warrior and old man who preached and reprimanded Mirkhshah that Muslims and Hindus deserve the same religious freedoms. He, as Jhulelal,<ref name="Ramey2008p8" /> became the champion of the people in Sindh, from both religions. Among his [[Sufi]] Muslim followers, Jhulelal is known as "Khwaja Khizir" or "Sheikh Tahit". The Hindu Sindhi, according to this legend, celebrate the new year as Uderolal's birthday.<ref name="Ramey2008p8" /><ref name="falzon159">{{cite book |author=Mark-Anthony Falzon |title=Cosmopolitan Connections: The Sindhi Diaspora, 1860–2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ljbS-I5Y8WMC&pg=PA59 |year=2004 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-14008-5 |pages=58–60}}</ref>

===Buddhism ===

====Theravada====

The [[Pali Canon]] of the [[Theravada]] school recognizes Varuṇa (Sanskrit; Pali: Varuna) as a king of the devas and companion of [[Śakra (Buddhism)|Sakka]], [[Prajapati|Pajāpati]] and [[Ishana|Isāna]]. In the battle against the [[Asura (Buddhism)|Asuras]], the devas of [[Trāyastriṃśa|Tāvatiṃsa]] were asked to look upon the banner of Varuna in order to have all their fears dispelled (S.i.219).

The [[Tevijja Sutta]] mentions him among [[Indra]], [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], [[Ishana|Isāna]], [[Prajapati|Pajāpati]], [[Yama]] and [[Mahiddhi]] as gods that are invoked by the [[brahmins]].

The [[Atanatiya Sutta|Ātānātiya Sutta]] lists him among the [[Yaksha|Yakkha]] chiefs.

Buddhaghosa states (SA.i.262) that Varuna is equal in age and glory (vanna) with Sakka and takes the third seat in the assembly of devas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Varuna |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/varuna#buddhism |website=Wisdom Library |date=June 2008 |access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref>

====Mahayana====

[[File:Sui Ten Varna TOJI12TEN.JPG|thumb|Painting of Varuna ([[Kyoto]], [[Japan]])]]

In [[East Asian Buddhism]], Varuna is a [[dharmapāla]] and often classed as one of the [[Twelve Devas]] (Japanese: [[:ja:十二天|Jūniten]], 十二天). He presides over the western direction.<ref>[http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)] Nara National Museum, Japan</ref>

In Japan, he is called "Suiten" (水天 lit. "water [[Deva (Buddhism)|deva]]"). He is included with the other eleven devas, which include Taishakuten ([[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra/Indra]]), Fūten([[Vāyu]]), Emmaten ([[Yama]]), Rasetsuten ([[Nirṛti (god)|Nirṛti]]/[[Rakshasa|Rākṣasa]]), Ishanaten ([[Ishana|Īśāna]]), Bishamonten ([[Vaiśravaṇa|Vaiśravaṇa/Kubera]]), Katen ([[Agni]]), Bonten ([[Brahmā]]), Jiten ([[Pṛthivī]]), Nitten ([[Sūrya|Sūrya/Āditya]]), and Gatten ([[Chandra]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=juuniten 十二天 |url=http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/j/juuniten.htm |website=JAANUS |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Shinto ===

[[File:Tokyo Suitengu 201604a.jpg|thumb|left|[[Suitengū (Tokyo)]] is a [[Shinto shrine]] to Varuna.]]

Varuna is also worshipped in Japan's [[Shinto]] religion. One of the Shinto shrines dedicated to him is the [[Suitengū (Tokyo)|''Suitengū'']] ("Palace of Suiten") in [[Tokyo]]. After the Japanese emperor issued the ''[[Shinbutsu bunri]]'', the separation of Shinto and Buddhist practices as part of the [[Meiji Restoration]], Varuna/Suiten was identified with the Japanese supreme God, [[Amenominakanushi]].<ref>"Tokyo Suitengu monogatari" 1985 Kodansha, {{ISBN|406202117X}}</ref>

== See also ==

{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM 'Een priester biedt de zeegod Baruna een offer aan tijdens het reinigingsfeest 'Melis' op Bali.' TMnr 10001219.jpg
| width1 = 170
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Parshuramsaraswats.jpg
| width2 = 226
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: A [[Balinese Hinduism|Balinese Hindu]] offering prayers to Varuna on Indonesian beach; Right: Vishnu avatar [[Parashurama|Parasurama]], asking Varuna to create new land known as [[Tulunad|Parashuram Sristi]].
}}

* [[Ādityas]]
* [[Apam Napat]]
* [[Asura (Buddhism)|Asura]]
* [[Guardians of the directions]]
* [[Hindu deities]]
* [[Mitra (Vedic)]]
* [[Paravar]]
* [[Rigvedic deities]]
* [[Shukra]]
* [[The king and the god]]
* [[Veles (god)]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41688830 Asura Varuna], R. N. Dandekar (1939)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/24048422 Great Vayu and Greater Varuna], Mary Boyce (1993)

{{Hindudharma}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Asura]]
[[Category:Adityas]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Lokapala]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Sea and river gods]]
[[Category:Sky and weather gods]]
[[Category:Underworld gods]]
[[Category:Justice gods]]
[[Category:Water and Hinduism]]

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Varuna