ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Pusha
The fifth Aditya is Pusha who lives in the food grains. He is in all types of cereals. It is with his grace that nutrition and energy come into the food. Whatever flavor and juice are present in the grain, it comes from his majesty.
Pushan
Pushan is one of the twelve Adityas that reside in the heavens above with his parents, Sage Kashyap and Aditi. He wears his hair in braids, has a beard, and carries a golden sceptre. According to the Vishnu Purana, one of the Adityas would take the role of the sun every month and rule over the planets for that entire month. As per hymns in the Rig Veda, Pushan has a chariot pulled by rams, which can be interpreted as a symbolic way of representing the Mesh Rashi or Ram constellation preceding the Revati constellation that is ruled by Pushan. During the New Year, the two mentioned constellations appear just before sunrise, in the dim-lit winter sky in the northern hemisphere, and this astronomical event is creatively narrated through the symbolic story of Pushan’s chariot clearing the path for the sun god, Surya and his chariot pulled by the seven-headed horse, Uchchaihshravas.
Ancient Indians were pioneers in the realm of astronomy, and the abovementioned role of Pushan is a symbolic representation of the stars and constellations. This depiction of Pushan in the story can be further used to interpret the deity’s other duties. Pushan is considered the god of journeys and roads, and a protector of travellers. His golden sceptre is a symbol of his constant movement as the god of journeys. The same logic can be used to explain the deity’s role as a psychopomp, guiding departed souls on their journey to their afterlife. Pushan is also the god of meetings, a natural culmination of his status as god of journeys, because in order to have a successful meeting with someone, one must make a successful journey. He also plays the role of the god of nourishment, which is an aspect of the sun, as all living beings on earth rely on the sun for their survival, making Pushan the deity responsible for healthy crops, pasture and cattle.
However, even after playing so many essential roles as a deity, the prominence of Pushan is replaced by more important gods with similar roles. Even among his siblings, the Adityas, there are those that are considered more important such as Surya and Indra. Surya is the sun god and the king of all planets, overshadowing Pushan’s role as the deity of nourishment, whereas Indra is the god of rain and lightning, and the king of gods, overshadowing Pushan’s role as the god of crops and pastures. Pushan also shares his role as a psychopomp with another major deity, Agni, the god of fire, who is crucial in all major Hindu rituals. The prominence of Pushan’s role as the god of journeys is also diminished as this duty is in some way similar to Ganesha’s. The elephant-headed god is known as Vighnaharta, which literally means ‘the one who removes obstacles’. Ganesha’s father, Shiva, the God of destruction and one of the Trimurti, is also called Pashupati where he is seen as the king of all animals, overshadowing Pushan’s duty as the god of cattle.
Shiva and his family have been a source of trouble for Pushan previously as well. After Shiva’s wife, Sati immolated herself, Shiva was wreaking havoc at Prajapati Daksha’s yagna in the form of Veerabhadra, when he ended up knocking out all of Pushan’s teeth. The poor god’s teeth were smashed with such brute force that the broken teeth flew to outer space and are said to have become the stars in the milky way! This is the reason why the god of meeting can only consume liquid food, and is given curd or mashed food as an offering.
Who is Pushan?
Pushan is a Hindu god, part of the major pantheon, and discussed on numerous occasions in the Rig Veda. Pushan is the god of meeting, and his domain was the road. He is also prayed to for good luck in journeys, and by extension, in marriages.
At most marriage ceremonies, Pushan is invoked to give good luck to the newlyweds on the journey of their life. He is also tied to cattle and their feeding, an important role in Hindu culture. Pushan is a protective and kind god, looking after travelers on their journeys, guarding them against both wild beasts and cruel men, and helping them find the best route to happiness.
His role as a travelers’ god extends past the mortal world, as well, and he is often described as a guide to the departed souls, as well. In this role, he leads the deceased to the afterlife, one of what are known as psychopomps. Another important psychopomp in Hindu mythology is Agni, the fire god of the Hindu pantheon, and in later times the Buddha became viewed as a Hindu psychopomp as well.
Pushan is depicted as having no teeth, most often explained as the result of a fight with Shiva who is Rudra, and he carries a long golden lance, signifying his constant movement. He is seen as riding in a chariot pulled by goats, and is sometimes made a sort of sun god, hauling the sun in its course across the sky. His sister, Surya, is the avatar of the sun, and is often referred to as his lover, so his pulling of the sun can be seen as an ornate courtship ritual, as well.
The Rig Veda speaks of Pushan and the sun twice, in hymns 1:42 and 6:55, when it says: Come, burning child of the unharnessing, be for us the charioteer of order, best of charioteers, lord of great wealth; you are a stream of riches, a heap of gold. Pushan, who uses goats for horses in his chariot, the lover of his sister, the brother of Indra.
Offerings to Pushan are usually gruels of some sort, because he has no teeth. In the Taittriya Sahnhita, it is said that Rudra is responsible for this condition. It is said that a sacrifice was given to many of the gods, but that Rudra was not part of the list, and so was infuriated. In a rage, he shot an arrow into the sacrifice, simply as a way of venting his frustration. Not knowing this, Pushan bit into the sacrifice, and his teeth were shattered completely.
Another telling, in the Mahabharata, makes Rudra even more directly responsible for Pushan’s toothlessness. This tale says that after the same sacrifice, Rudra was so angry he ran into the midst of the gods in a rage, striking out Bhaga’s eyes and kicking out Pushan’s teeth. This myth of Pushan and his teeth bears a number of similarities to other Indo-European myths, most notably the Greek myth of Eurynome and Ophion, in which Ophion, in a jealous rage, kicks out Eurynome’s teeth.
Lord Pushan
Pushan is the name of a sun-god to whom some hymns are exclusively addressed, and whose praise at other times is sung in connection with that of Indra and other gods. In these hymns his character is not very clearly defined. He is said to behold the entire universe; is addressed as the guide of travellers, and the protector of cattle. He is called upon to protect his servants in battle, and to defend them as of old. He is invoked in the marriage ceremonial, and asked to take the bride’s hand, to lead her away, and to bless her in her conjugal relations. He is said also to conduct the spirits of the departed from this world to the next. In one text he is called “the nourisher,” as Vishnu in later times was called “the preserver.” By far the greater number of prayers addressed to him seem to regard him as the guide and protector of travellers, both along the ordinary journeys of life and in the longer journey to the other world; and as he is supposed to be constantly travelling about, he is said to know the road by which they have to goThe following is a specimen of the hymns addressed to Pushan in the Rig-Veda:— “Conduct us, Pushan, over our road; remove distress, son of the deliverer; go on before us. Smite away from before us the destructive and injurious wolf which seeks after us. Drive away from our path the waylayer, the thief and the robber. Tread with thy foot upon the burning weapons of that deceitful wretch, whoever he be. O wonder-working and wise Pushan, we desire that help of thine wherewith thou didst favour our fathers! O god, who bringest all blessings, and art distinguished by the golden spear, make wealth easy of acquisition! Convey us past our opponents; make our paths easy to travel; gain strength for us here. Lead us over a country of rich pastures; let no new trouble (beset our) path. Bestow, satiate, grant, stimulate us; fill our belly. We do not reproach Pushan, we praise him with hymns; and we seek riches from the wonder-working god.” “May we, O Pushan! meet with a wise man who will straightway direct us and say, ‘It is this.’ May Pushan follow our kine; may he protect our horses; may he give us food. . . . Come hither, glowing god, the deliverer, may we meet.” In the Purānas Pushan occupies a far less exalted position. It seems almost like a burlesque to see him, who in the Vedas is reverently approached as the giver of good to his worshippers, described as being obliged to feed upon gruel, because his teeth have been knocked out of his mouth. The earliest form of the legend describing this event is found in the Taittiriya Sanhita. Rudra, the name by which Siva was then known, not being invited to a great sacrifice that Daksha, his father-in-law, was celebrating, in his anger shot an arrow which pierced the sacrificial victim. Pushan ate his share, and in doing so broke his teeth. In describing Daksha, an account of this sacrifice will be given. In the “Vishnu Purāna” Pushan appears as one of the Ādityas.
Lord Pushan is a Vedic solar deity and one of the Adityas. He was responsible for marriages, journeys, roads, and the feeding of cattle. He was a psychopomp (soul guide), conducting souls to the other world. He protected travelers from bandits and wild beasts, and protected men from being exploited by other men. He was a supportive guide, always leading his adherents towards rich pastures and wealth. He carried a golden lance, a symbol of activity.
He is praised in eight hymns in the Rig Veda, and is believed to guard livestock and protect travelers from bandits, wild beasts & other misfortunes.
Pushan – Revati Nakshatra
“Revati Nakshatra
Zodiac – 16° 40’ – 30° 00’ Pisces
Deity – Pushan (One of the 12 Adityas or Vedic Solar Deities) who represents the “Nourishing form of the Sun God”. He is the one who is usually invoked for Safe Travels. He is also the Protector of the Soul in its Journey to the next World
Shakti(Power) – Kshiradyapani Shakti (The Power to “Nourish, Protect, and Foster”, the Power of Nourishment is Symbolized by ‘Kshira’ which is Milk)
Favorable for – Initiations, Marriage, Sexuality, Transaction and Dealership of Goods, Music, Art, Occult, Spirituality, Healing, Leisure Actions and Gardening, Conclusions, Business or Financial Matters, Exchanging Goods, Music, Drama, and Creative Activities, Charity, Studying Spiritual or Occult Teachings, Healing and Treating Ailments, Activities for Leisure and Relaxation, ending or Completing an activity.
Unfavorable for – Activities requiring Severe Tactics or Bold Action, Overcoming Obstacles, Enmity, Calamities, Sharp Actions, Surgery, Physically Strenuous Activities, the Last Two Padas of Revati are not Supportive for Beginning a New Activity.
General Characteristics – This nakshatra indicates a journey, and may in fact represent our final journey from this life to the next, being the last and final nakshatra. It grants protection for safe travels. They are sweet caring responsible loving friends. They nourish and care for others. They have been known to provide foster care for others. They have an affinity or love towards small animals. They love humanity and society. They love to be social because they sincerely love connecting to other people. They don’t have a mean or jealous bone in their body. They love fine arts and they can be creative as well. Their caring for others can lead to co-dependency. There may be disappointment early in life, but this develops their compassion and sincere forgiveness of others. They are a bit weak and may be prone to childhood illnesses. They are mystics with complete faith in their beliefs and in the goodness of humanity. With their love of water, they usually benefit from living by the water. There is a deep devotion and faith to God. They are protected in all their travels especially the journey from this world to the next.”