ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
MANYU
Manyu is considered to the lord of war. He fights and slays the enemy and removes evil. He is fierce and strong and gives wealth and safety to the people.
Manyu in Vedas – About Vedic God Manyu
Manyu is a deity in mentioned in the Vedas especially in the Rig Veda. He is a personification of anger or wrath. Two hymns in Rig Veda are exclusively dedicated to Manyu. But in later Vedic texts the deity has lost his relevance and is on of the names of Agni or the fire god.
It is said that he glows like fire. He protects all his devotees and destroys their enemies. He also grants his devotees with wealth and treasure.
He is associated with the thunderbolt too.
Basically he is propitiated in the battle against fierce enemies.
A Prayer to Lord Narasimha
Manyu primarily means anger or rage. It also stands for zeal or passion. The term Manyu has also been identified with Rudra, Agni and Kama in different contexts in the vedas and puranas. But in popular use today, Manyu Suktam is chanted as a prayer to Lord Narasimha. In his commentary on the Mahabharatha, Sri Madhvacharya (renowned Hindu philosopher; 1238-1317 CE) has suggested that Manyu Suktam is a hymn addressed to Lord Narasimha. He has affirmed that Bhima invoked Lord Narasimha through this hymn when he killed Dushasana in the Mahabharata war.
An Excerpt from the Rig Veda
Manyu Suktam is actually an excerpt from the Rig Veda. It comprises 14 mantras (verses) – 7 mantras each from hymns 83 and 84 in the 10th mandala (chapter) of the Rig Veda. The rishi (seer of the hymn) is Manyustapasa (i.e., Manyu, son of Tapas). The deity or devata addressed to is Manyu. The chandas (prosody) used in the verses are Trishtup and Jagati.
A Variant in the Atharva Veda
Manyu Suktam also appears in Atharva Veda (hymns 31 and 32 in the fourth kanda, (i.e., fourth canto), with minor differences in the wordings. However, the order of the two hymns is reversed, i.e., hymn 31 in the Atharva Veda is hymn 84 in the Rig Veda, and hymn 32 in the Atharva Veda is hymn 83 in the Rig Veda. In the Atharva Veda, hymn 31 is referred to as sena nirikshana sukta (hymn for observing or reviewing the army) and hymn 32 is identified as senasamyojana sukta (hymn for organizing or bringing the army together). Here, the rishi is mentioned as Brahmaskanda. However, the version in the Rig Veda is what is most commonly in use today.
Meanings and Interpretations
When we consider the literal meaning, in essence, Manyu Suktam praises the all-powerful deity Manyu and seeks his help in defeating one’s enemies in battle. It would appear from the content of this hymn that Manyu is seen as the god of war or as the presiding deity of anger. It is said that this hymn was used by the rishi Manyu to help a king in winning a battle against his enemies. In today’s circumstances, it is often recommended to be chanted as an aid to winning court cases. It is also proposed as a prayer for winning over one’s enemies or adversaries in general – both external and internal (such as greed, anger, jealousy, etc.), and even to overcome diseases and ailments that are otherwise difficult to cure. The practice of conducting Manyu Sukta Homa (a ritual involving the making of offerings to a deity through a consecrated fire) is also in vogue.
In conclusion, there are two broad approaches to comprehending and appreciating Manyu Suktam. Firstly, it can be understood based on its literal meaning; where again, the term Manyu can be construed in different ways, thus leading to alternative interpretations. Manyu Suktam can also be seen as an allegory, with a much deeper meaning, where the real intent is to conquer enemies, overcome one’s own weaknesses or to come out of adverse circumstances, by gaining the required mental and spiritual strength, with the support of the relevant cosmic power.