Draft:Revanta - Revision history

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	\| mantra =		\| mantra =
	\| weapon = Sword		\| weapon = Sword
	\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]]		\| consort = {{bulleted list\|Lochana\|[[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]]\|[[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]]}}
	\| father = [[Surya]]		\| father = [[Surya]]
	\| mother = [[Saranyu]]		\| mother = [[Saranyu]]

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	\| mantra =		\| mantra =
	\| weapon = Sword		\| weapon = Sword
	\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi~~]], [[Draft: Bhanumati (goddess)\|Bhanumati~~]]		\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]]
	\| father = [[Surya]]		\| father = [[Surya]]
	\| mother = [[Saranyu]]		\| mother = [[Saranyu]]

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	\| mantra =		\| mantra =
	\| weapon = Sword		\| weapon = Sword
	\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]]		\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]], [[Draft: Bhanumati (goddess)\|Bhanumati]]
	\| father = [[Surya]]		\| father = [[Surya]]
	\| mother = [[Saranyu]]		\| mother = [[Saranyu]]

103.210.202.141 at 15:12, 6 December 2022

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	{{short description\|Hindu god}}		{{short description\|Hindu god}}
			''Revanta''' or '''Raivata''' (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity. According to the ''[[Rig-Veda]]'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god [[Surya]], and his wife [[Saranyu]]. Revanta is chief of the [[Guhyakas]], semi-divine and demonic class entities – like the [[Yakshas]] – who are believed to live as forest dwellers in the [[Himalayas]].<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0888-revatottara.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary: Revanta]</ref><ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0360-guruvyatha.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary:Guhyaka]</ref> Images and sculptures of Revanta often show him as a huntsman on a horse, with a bow and arrow.

			The worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval Eastern India ([[Bihar]] and [[Bengal]]) with many archaeological finds indicating the existence of a cult dedicated to him that began in the 6th century A.D.<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Jash \|first1=Pranabananda \|title=THE CULT OF REVANTA IN EASTERN INDIA \|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress \|date=1978 \|volume=39 \|pages=990-999 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139448}}</ref>
	{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->		{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
	\| type = Hindu		\| type = Hindu
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	\| siblings = [[Ashvins]], [[Yamaraja]], [[Yami]], [[Shani]], [[Tapati]] and [[Shraddhadeva Manu]]		\| siblings = [[Ashvins]], [[Yamaraja]], [[Yami]], [[Shani]], [[Tapati]] and [[Shraddhadeva Manu]]
	}}		}}
	'''Revanta''' or '''Raivata''' (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity. According to the ''[[Rig-Veda]]'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god [[Surya]], and his wife [[Saranyu]]. Revanta is chief of the [[Guhyakas]], semi-divine and demonic class entities – like the [[Yakshas]] – who are believed to live as forest dwellers in the [[Himalayas]].<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0888-revatottara.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary: Revanta]</ref><ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0360-guruvyatha.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary:Guhyaka]</ref> Images and sculptures of Revanta often show him as a huntsman on a horse, with a bow and arrow.

	The worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval Eastern India ([[Bihar]] and [[Bengal]]) with many archaeological finds indicating the existence of a cult dedicated to him that began in the 6th century A.D.<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Jash \|first1=Pranabananda \|title=THE CULT OF REVANTA IN EASTERN INDIA \|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress \|date=1978 \|volume=39 \|pages=990-999 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139448}}</ref>

	==Legends==		==Legends==

103.210.202.141 at 15:06, 6 December 2022

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	\| mantra =		\| mantra =
	\| weapon = Sword		\| weapon = Sword
	\| consort =		\| consort = Lochana, [[Draft:Vandana (goddess)\|Vandana]], [[Draft:Madhavi (goddess)\|Madhavi]]
	\| father = [[Surya]]		\| father = [[Surya]]
	\| mother = [[Saranyu]]		\| mother = [[Saranyu]]
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	'''Revanta''' or '''Raivata''' (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity. According to the ''[[Rig-Veda]]'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god [[Surya]], and his wife [[Saranyu]]. Revanta is chief of the [[Guhyakas]], semi-divine and demonic class entities – like the [[Yakshas]] – who are believed to live as forest dwellers in the [[Himalayas]].<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0888-revatottara.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary: Revanta]</ref><ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0360-guruvyatha.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary:Guhyaka]</ref> Images and sculptures of Revanta often show him as a huntsman on a horse, with a bow and arrow.		'''Revanta''' or '''Raivata''' (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] deity. According to the ''[[Rig-Veda]]'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god [[Surya]], and his wife [[Saranyu]]. Revanta is chief of the [[Guhyakas]], semi-divine and demonic class entities – like the [[Yakshas]] – who are believed to live as forest dwellers in the [[Himalayas]].<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0888-revatottara.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary: Revanta]</ref><ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0360-guruvyatha.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary:Guhyaka]</ref> Images and sculptures of Revanta often show him as a huntsman on a horse, with a bow and arrow.

	The worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval Eastern India ([[Bihar]] and [[Bengal]]) with many archaeological finds indicating the existence of a cult dedicated to him that began in the 6th century A.D.<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Jash \|first1=Pranabananda \|title=THE CULT OF REVANTA IN EASTERN INDIA \|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress \|date=1978 \|volume=39 \|pages=990-999 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139448}}</ref>		The worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval Eastern India ([[Bihar]] and [[Bengal]]) with many archaeological finds indicating the existence of a cult dedicated to him that began in the 6th century A.D.<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Jash \|first1=Pranabananda \|title=THE CULT OF REVANTA IN EASTERN INDIA \|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress \|date=1978 \|volume=39 \|pages=990-999 \|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139448}}</ref>

	==Legends==		==Legends==

103.210.202.141: Created page with "{{short description|Hindu god}} {{Infobox deity | type = Hindu | image = The_Hindu_God_Revanta_and_Companions_LACMA_M.73.87.1_(1_of_9).jpg | caption = 7th century statue of Revanta from Sarnath, Eastern Uttar Pradesh | name = Revanta | affiliation = Guhyakas | god_of = The divine master of horses | abode = Himalaya | mantra = | weapon = Sword | consort = | father =..."

2022-12-06T15:04:45Z

Created page with "{{short description|Hindu god}} {{Infobox deity | type = Hindu | image = The_Hindu_God_Revanta_and_Companions_LACMA_M.73.87.1_(1_of_9).jpg | caption = 7th century statue of Revanta from Sarnath, Eastern Uttar Pradesh | name = Revanta | affiliation = Guhyakas | god_of = The divine master of horses | abode = Himalaya | mantra = | weapon = Sword | consort = | father =..."

New page

{{short description|Hindu god}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = The_Hindu_God_Revanta_and_Companions_LACMA_M.73.87.1_(1_of_9).jpg
| caption = 7th century statue of Revanta from [[Sarnath]], Eastern [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| name = Revanta
| affiliation = Guhyakas
| god_of = The divine master of horses
| abode = Himalaya
| mantra =
| weapon = Sword
| consort =
| father = [[Surya]]
| mother = [[Saranyu]]
| mount = Horse
| siblings = [[Ashvins]], [[Yamaraja]], [[Yami]], [[Shani]], [[Tapati]] and [[Shraddhadeva Manu]]
}}
'''Revanta''' or '''Raivata''' (Sanskrit: रेवन्त, lit. "brilliant") is a minor [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity. According to the ''[[Rig-Veda]]'', Revanta is the youngest son of the sun-god [[Surya]], and his wife [[Saranyu]]. Revanta is chief of the [[Guhyakas]], semi-divine and demonic class entities – like the [[Yakshas]] – who are believed to live as forest dwellers in the [[Himalayas]].<ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0888-revatottara.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary: Revanta]</ref><ref>[http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0360-guruvyatha.jpg Monier-Williams Dictionary:Guhyaka]</ref> Images and sculptures of Revanta often show him as a huntsman on a horse, with a bow and arrow.

The worship of Revanta was especially common in medieval Eastern India ([[Bihar]] and [[Bengal]]) with many archaeological finds indicating the existence of a cult dedicated to him that began in the 6th century A.D.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jash |first1=Pranabananda |title=THE CULT OF REVANTA IN EASTERN INDIA |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |date=1978 |volume=39 |pages=990-999 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139448}}</ref>

==Legends==

The tale of Revanta's birth is narrated in scriptures like the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Markandeya Purana]]''. Once, Sanjna ([[Saranyu]]), the daughter of celestial architect [[Vishvakarma]] and wife of Surya, unable to take the fervour of the Sun-god, repaired to the forests to engage in devout austerities in the form of a mare. She placed her shadow [[Chhaya]], who looked just like Sanjna in her position as Surya's wife. When Surya realised that Chhaya was not the real Sanjna, he searched for Sanjna and finally found her in the forests of Uttar Kuru. There, Surya approached Sanjna disguised as a horse. Their union produced the twin-[[Ashvins]] and Revanta.<ref>{{harvnb|Singh|1997|pp=2605–6}}</ref> In the ''[[Kurma Purana]]'' and the ''[[Matsya Purana]]'', the mother of Revanta is named [[Ratri]] (Rajni), another wife of Surya. While in another chapter of the ''Markandeya Purana'', he is son of Chhaya and his brothers are the Saturn-god [[Shani]], [[Tapati]] and [[Savarni Manu]].<ref>{{Citation |title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism |first=Alain |last=Danielou | author-link=Alain Danielou |pages=96 |publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Company |isbn=0-89281-354-7 |year=1991 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C}}.</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=A Talaqdar of Oudh|title=The Matsya Puranam: Part I|series=The Sacred books of the Hindus|volume=18|year=2008|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=978-81-307-0532-3|page=32|chapter=XI}}</ref>

The ''Markandeya Purana'' further adds he was assigned the duty as chief of Guhyakas by Surya and to protect mortals "amid the terrors of forests and other lonely places, of great conflagration, of enemies and robbers." Sometimes, Revanta is depicted as combating robbers in reliefs.<ref>{{Citation |title=Religious Beliefs and Practices of North India During the Early Mediaeval Period |author=Vibhuti Bhushan Mishra |year=1973 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=90-04-03610-5 |page=37}}.</ref>

Another tale from the ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'' has a passing reference to Revanta. Once when Revanta – riding on the seven headed horse [[Uchaishravas]] – went to [[Vishnu]]'s abode, Vishnu's wife [[Lakshmi]] was mesmerized with the horse and ignored a question asked by Vishnu. Thus, she was cursed by her husband to become a mare.<ref>{{Citation |title=Women, androgynes, and other mythical beasts |first=Wendy |last=Doniger O'Flaherty |page=218 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=0-226-61850-1 |year=1980}}.</ref>

==Iconography==
[[File:Revanta.jpg|thumb|11th century statue of Revanta from Bengal]]
Markandeya Purana describes Revanta as "holding a sword and bow, clad in an armour, riding on horseback, and carrying arrows and a quiver".<ref name="Singh 2606">{{harvnb|Singh|1997|p=2606}}</ref> Kalika Purana describes him carrying a sword in right hand and a whip in his left, seated on a white horse. Thus he is called ''Haya-[[Vahana]]'', one who rides a horse. [[Varahamihira]] describes him as accompanied by attendants for hunting.<ref name="Singh 2606"/>

In sculpture, Revanta is often depicted with the Guhyakas, whose chief he is, in scenes of hunting. Apart from the attributes described in texts like the sword, bow; he sometimes also carries a cup of wine in his hand. Revanta is often depicted wearing long [[Boot|boots]] reaching up to the calves, unlike other Hindu divinities – except Surya – who are depicted barefoot.<ref>{{harvnb|Singh|1997|pp=2611, 2613}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Art of Osian Temples: Socio-Economic and Religious Life in India, 8th-12th Centuries A.D. |first=Asha |last=Kalia |year=1982 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=0-391-02558-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/artofosiantemple00kali/page/119 119–120] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/artofosiantemple00kali/page/119 }}.</ref> Revanta is depicted seated on a horse and accompanied by a hunting dog. Revanta's attendants are depicted with various hunting weapons like lances and swords. Some of them are shown blowing a [[conch]] or beaming [[drum]]s or holding an umbrella over the head of their lord, the umbrella being the symbol of royalty.<ref name = "Zoroastrianism">''A History of Zoroastrianism'' by Mary Boyce, Frantz Grenet, Roger Beck pp.485-6</ref> Also, some of them are depicted as flying or holding wine or water jars. Sometimes, an attendant carries a dead boar in his shoulder or the dog chasing a boar.<ref>{{harvnb|Singh|1997|pp=2606–14}}</ref>

==Worship==

Revanta was worshipped as guardian deity of warriors and horses, protector from the dangers of forests and the patron god of hunting.<ref name = "Zoroastrianism"/> The worship of Revanta is closely associated with [[Saura (Hinduism)|Saura]], cult of Surya. Often, scriptures like [[Vishnudharmottara Purana]] and [[Kalika Purana]] recommend worship of Revanta alongside Surya or according to the rituals of [[Sun worship]].<ref name="Singh 2606"/> [[Shabha-kalpa-druma]] records Revanta's worship after Surya's, in the Hindu month of [[Ashvin]] by warriors.<ref name="Singh 2607">{{harvnb|Singh|1997|pp=2607}}</ref> [[Nakula]], the fourth [[Pandava]], is believed to have written ''Ashavashastram'' on horses. He suggests worship of Raivata to protect horses from ghosts.<ref name="Singh 2607"/>

The worship of Revanta was popular in the early-mediaeval period, particularly in [[Rajasthan]]. Revanta is mostly depicted in [[Vaishnava]] and Surya temples.<ref>{{harvnb|Singh|1997|p=2609}}</ref> There is a stone inscription that talks about a temple to Revanta, as the principal deity, in Vikranapur (modern [[Kotgaph]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]) built by the [[Kalachuris of Ratnapura|Kalachuri]] king [[Ratnadeva]] II.<ref>{{harvnb|Singh|1997|pp=2615–16}}</ref>

==Notes==

{{Reflist|2}}

==References==

{{Refbegin}}

* {{Citation |last=Singh |first=Nagendra Kumar |year=1997 |title=Encyclopaedia of Hinduism |volume=44 |chapter=Revanta in Puranic Literature and Art |pages=2605–19 |publisher=Anmol Publications  |isbn=81-7488-168-9}}.
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==

* ''Iconography of Revanta'' by Brijendra Nath Sharma, Published 1975, Abhinav Publications,86 pages, {{ISBN|0-7128-0116-2}}.
* M. L. Carter (1988), ''Revanta, an Indian Cavalier God'', Annali dell'Istituto Orientale di Napoli, vol. 48, fasc. 2 (1988)

{{HinduMythology}}

{{Good article}}

[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Hunting gods]]
[[Category:Horses in Hinduism]]