MR J. MUIR ON THE PRINCIPAL DEITIES OF THE RIGVEDA. 567 



times said to be drawn by one, sometimes by several, sometimes by seven, horses. 

 His path is prepared by the Adityas, Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuna. The god 

 Pushan goes as his messenger, with his golden ships, which sail in the aerial 

 ocean. Surya is the preserver, the soul, of all things, moving or stationary ; the 

 vivifier of men ; the upholder of the sky. He rolls up darkness like a hide. He 

 is far-seeing, and by an image common, I suppose, to most literatures (and which 

 we find in Homer and ^Eschylus),* he is said to be all-seeing, beholding all 

 worlds, and the good and bad deeds of men. He is the eyef of Mitra and Varuna. 

 In many passages, however, his dependent position is asserted. Thus, he is said 

 to have been produced, or placed in the sky, or caused to shine, by Indra, or by 

 some other deity. Ushas, the Dawn, is in one place said to be his wife. In 

 another passage the Dawns are, by a natural figure, said to produce him. 



The name Savitri is derived from a Sanskrit root su, to propel, stimulate, or 

 inspire ; and may therefore be taken to denote the sun in his character of stimulator 

 or inspirer. This signification of the name is frequently referred to in the Veda, and 

 is coupled with the constant use, in various other forms, of the verb from which 

 it is derived, to denote the functions attributed to this god. As described in the 

 Rigveda, Savitri is pre-eminently the brilliant and golden deity. He is golden- 

 eyed, golden-handed, golden-tongued ; he is surrounded by a golden lustre ; he 

 mounts a golden car, drawn by radiant horses ; he stretches out his golden arms, 

 which infuse energy into all creatures, and reach to the utmost ends of the sky. 

 He is also called broad-handed, beautiful-handed, beautiful-tongued. He beholds 

 all things ; he illuminates the atmosphere and all the regions of the earth. His 

 ancient paths in the sky are said to be free from dust. He is called a divine 

 spirit (asicm). His will and independent dominion cannot be resisted, even by 

 Indra, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman, Rudra, or any other being. The waters fall and 

 the winds blow by his ordinance. His praises are celebrated by the Vasus, by 

 Aditi, by the royal Varuna, by Mitra, and by Aryaman. He is the lord of crea- 

 tures, the supporter of the world and of the sky. In one place he is even said, 

 whether literally or figuratively, to bestow on the gods the gift of immortality. 

 It would appear to result from all this, that Savitri was at one time the object of 

 a very enthusiastic adoration in India ; and in fact the holiest text in the Veda 

 (ill. 62. lOj, that which is called par excellence tJie gdyatri, is addressed to him. 

 This verse is thus rendered by Mr Colebrooke (Misc. Ess. i. 30) — " Let us meditate 

 on the adorable light of that divine ruler {Savitri) : may it guide our intellects." 

 Professor H. H. Wilson translates it thus : " We meditate on that desirable light 

 of the divine Savitri, who influences our pious rites." Professor Benfey, in his 



* Iliad, iii. 277, xiv. 344 f . ; Odyssey, viii. 270; and^sch. Prom. 91. Compare Ovid. Met., 

 'iv. 171 f.; 195 fF. 



f Compare Hesiod, Opp. et dies : iravra Sduv A/ig ofSa'X/ihi xa'i iravra. vo^gag. % r >. 



VOL. XXIII. PART III. 7 



