Editing Varuna (section)

==In Itihasa-Puranas==
=== Mahabharata ===
[[File:Varuna with Varunani.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Varuna with his queen. Statue carved out of [[basalt]], dates back to 8th century CE, discovered in Karnataka. On display at the [[Prince of Wales museum]], Mumbai.]]
In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'' (c. 400 BCE - 400 CE), Varuna undergoes a notable transformation from his earlier Vedic portrayal. He is no longer depicted as the supreme sky god or an omnipotent sovereign administering cosmic order and morality, though his pairing with [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]] remains. The epic forgets his earlier associations with ''[[ṛta]]'' (cosmic order) and ethical oversight, emphasizing instead his role within a new mythological framework.<ref name=":Mbh">{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Dr Usha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HODWjwEACAAJ |title=Indra And Varuna In Indian Mythology |publisher=Nag Publishers |year=1978 |isbn=978-81-7081-034-6 |pages=153–163 |language=en |chapter=Varuṇa in the Mahābhārata}}</ref>

Varuna is still identified as the son of [[Aditi]] and fifth of the twelve [[Adityas]], but his status is reduced as one of the [[Lokapala|Lokapalas]], or guardians of the directions, specifically presiding over the western quarter—a symbolic alignment with the setting sun and perhaps with darkness and night. In this context, [[Kashyapa]], Varuna's father, installed Varuna as ''Salileśvara,'' the sovereign of all forms of water, including rivers, lakes, and oceans.<ref name=":Mbh" />

As a water-god, Varuna is described being handsome, having the splendor of [[Lapis lazuli|Lapis Lazuli]]. Unlike earlier texts where the waters (''[[Ap (water)|āpaḥ]]'') held deep philosophical and metaphysical significance, the ''Mahabharata'' presents them in a more literal sense. Varuna resides beneath the waters, in a grand palace of pure white colour situated in ''[[Nagaloka]]'', the oceanic realm (''[[samudra]]''), described vividly in the ''[[Udyoga Parva]]''. There, adorned in radiant attire and gleaming jewels, he sits enthroned beside his queen, surrounded by aquatic beings, including [[Nāga|nāgas]], [[Daitya|daityas]], [[Sadhyas|sādhyas]], and [[Rivers in Hinduism|river goddesses]] including [[Ganga (goddess)|Ganga]] and [[Yamuna in Hinduism|Yamuna]].  According to the ''[[Sabha Parva]]'', Varuna also attends celestial assembly of the creator god, [[Brahma]].<ref name=":Mbh" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/832/mode/2up?view=theater|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|isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0 }}</ref>

The ''Mahabharata'' expands Varuna's personal life. His chief-queen is most commonly identified as [[Varuni]], who is depicted alongside him in his underwater palace. The ''Udyoga Parva'' refers to his beloved-wife as Gauri, while the ''Adi Parva'' names his spouse as Jyeshtha or Devi, the eldest daughter of [[Shukra]]. With Jyeshtha, Varuna is said to have fathered a son, Bala, and a daughter [[Varuni|Sura]], the wine goddess. The ''[[Vana Parva|Vanaparva]]'' further mentions Vandin as another of Varuna’s sons. The ''Udyoga Parva'' adds another son, Pushkara, who married the daughter of the [[Chandra|Moon god]]. In the ''Udyoga Parva'', Varuna is also stated to have fathered the [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]] king—[[Shrutayudha]]—from the river goddess Parnasha. Varuna also granted Shrutayudha a divine mace in response to prayers by Parnasha.<ref name=":Mbh" /><ref name=":2" />

The ''Mahabharata'' also references Varuna’s iconic weapon, the ''[[Pasha (Hinduism)|pāśa]]'' (noose), though without the symbolic judicial weight it carried in the Vedic tradition. He is briefly mentioned as ''Pāśabhṛt'', ''Ugrapāśa'', ''Pāśin'', and ''Pāśavān'', with the noose appearing merely as one of his divine attributes.<ref name=":Mbh" />

Varuna appears in several narrative episodes throughout the epic. The ''[[Adi Parva]]'' recounts that during the burning of the [[Khandava Forest|Khandava forest]], Varuna gifted Arjuna the celestial bow [[Gandiva]], an inexhaustible quiver, and a monkey-bannered chariot, as well as the mace [[Kaumodaki]] to [[Krishna]]. Later, in the ''[[Mahaprasthanika Parva]]'', Arjuna returned the Gandiva by casting it into the sea, effectively returning it to Varuna.<ref name=":Mbh" /><ref name=":2" />

Another episode in the ''Adi Parva'' tells how Varuna abducted [[Bhadra]], the wife of the sage Utathya. In response, Utathya dried up the ocean until Varuna returned her. The same text also narrates that when Kashyapa took Varuna’s sacred cow (''homadhenu'') for a sacrifice, Varuna and [[Brahma]] cursed him to be reborn as a [[Vasudeva|cowherd]]. The ''[[Shalya Parva]]'' states that Varuna performed a [[rajasuya]] sacrifice at Yamunatirtha and later provided the war god [[Kartikeya|Skanda]] with an elephant and two followers named Yama and Atiyama.<ref name=":Mbh" /><ref name=":2" />

Other episodes include Varuna giving the sage Richika a thousand black-eared horses, testing King [[Nala]] alongside other deities, and granting Nala a boon that allowed him to assume any form, along with a garland of fragrant flowers.<ref name=":2" /> The ''[[Drona Parva]]'' also records that Varuna was once defeated in battle by Krishna, indicating the evolving hierarchy among deities in the epic tradition.<ref name=":Mbh" />

=== Ramayana ===
[[File:Rama-Varuna.jpg|thumb|''Rama vanquishing the pride of the ocean'' by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]. Varuna is depicted arising from the depth of the ocean and begging Rama for forgiveness.]]
As in the ''Mahabharata'', in the other major epic, the ''[[Ramayana]]'' (300 BCE - 300 CE), Varuna is depicted primarily as a [[Dikpala]] and as a water deity appointed by chief-god [[Brahma]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=Vishravas becomes the Protector of Wealth [Chapter 3] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424764.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Varuna appears weaker than in his earlier portrayals, being overpowered or sidelined by both the protagonist [[Rama]]—an avatar of [[Vishnu]]—and the antagonist [[Ravana]], the demon king.

One of the most well-known episodes involving Varuna occurs in the ''[[Ramayana|Yuddha Kanda]]'' when Rama, preparing to invade the island [[Lanka]] to rescue his abducted wife [[Sita]], seeks passage across the ocean. Rama performs a three-day penance to Varuna, the lord of oceans, but receives no reply. When Varuna initially remains silent, Rama, enraged, threatens to unleash his divine weapons, including the ''[[Brahmastra]]'', to evaporate the sea. Varuna then appears, recognizing Rama’s authority and righteousness. He explains that his role as a guardian of natural order prevents him from parting the ocean, as it would disrupt natural balance. Instead, Varuna suggests constructing a bridge and pledges to stabilize the waters to aid the effort. Following this counsel, Rama entrusts the [[vanara]] architect [[Nala (Ramayana)|Nala]] with building the bridge, known as ''[[Rama Setu (Ramayana)|Rama Setu]]''.<ref name="Menon2004p376">{{cite book |author=Ramesh Menon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEEXjAagUzsC |title=The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic |publisher=Macmillan |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-4668-2625-0 |pages=376–379}}</ref> Many sources claim it was [[Samudra]], the personification of the oceans, who met Rama not the water god Varuna.<ref name="Menon2004p376" />

In the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'', in an event taking place much before Rama's interaction, when Ravana’s conquests spread across the realms, several deities assume animal forms to escape detection—Varuna takes the form of a swan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=The Gods assume a thousand Forms in fear of Ravana [Chapter 18] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424779.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Uttara Kanda'' ''also'' preserves the Vedic pairing of Varuna and [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]] in a myth recounting the birth of the sages [[Agastya]] and [[Vasishtha]], though Vasishtha’s role here is framed as a rebirth. After losing his original body, Vasishtha enters the vital essence of Mitra and Varuna. At that time, the celestial nymph [[Urvashi]] arrives in Varuna’s realm, where Mitra holds temporary sway. Varuna desires her, and Urvashi reciprocates but remains bound by her prior promise to Mitra. Respecting this, Varuna releases his seed into a vessel fashioned by Brahma, which sanctifies the act as a symbolic consummation. Later, due to Urvashi’s divided fidelity, Mitra’s seed falls from her womb into the same vessel. From this vessel, containing the combined seed of Mitra and Varuna, Agastya and Vasishtha emerge, restoring the latter's body.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-28 |title=The Cursing of the Nymph Urvashi [Chapter 56] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424827.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

It also records that once during Varuna's absence in his realm, attending a musical event in [[Brahmaloka]], Ravana confronts Varuna’s sons and grandsons, including Go and Pushkara, defeats them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-28 |title=Ravana's Struggle with the Sons of Varuna [Chapter 23] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424784.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Other children of Varuna mentioned in the ''Ramayana'' include the vanara Sushena, who was conceived with the purpose of aiding Rama in future,<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-11-12 |title=Ramayana: Chapter XVII |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana/d/doc365885.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> and the goddess of wine, referred to here as [[Varuni]] instead of Sura; she emerged during the [[Samudra Manthana|churning of the ocean]] and chose the companionship of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], as narrated in the ''[[Balakanda|Bala Kanda]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-11-23 |title=Ramayana: Chapter XLV |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana/d/doc365913.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== Puranas ===
[[File:Varuna_makara.jpg|thumb|Varuna on a [[Makara]] with attendants, gouache on paper, c. 1820]]
By the time of the ''[[Puranas]]'' (mostly composed between 300 CE and 1000 CE), ancient Vedic deities such as [[Indra]] and Varuna are often portrayed as having diminished in power and esteem. They are frequently shown as subordinate to other gods, particularly [[Vishnu]], [[Krishna]] and [[Shiva]], and are sometimes humiliated by the increasingly dominant and aggressive [[Asura|Asuras]], the term which, unlike in the ''Vedas'', now only denotes to malevolent beings. In the ''[[Puranas]]'' (mostly composed between 300 CE and 1000 CE), the portrayal of Varuna remains broadly consistent with his depiction in the epics, but his divine attributes and roles are further elaborated, sometimes alluding to his Vedic associations. He continues to be described as the regent of the western direction and the guardian of the water element.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Dr Usha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HODWjwEACAAJ |title=Indra And Varuna In Indian Mythology |publisher=Nag Publishers |year=1978 |isbn=978-81-7081-034-6 |pages=195–204 |language=en |chapter=Varuṇa in the Purāṇas}}</ref>

Despite his decline in stature in later mythology, Varuna retains considerable moral authority in the ''Puranas'', punishing transgressors and upholding truth and cosmic law. In one narrative, King [[Harishchandra]], having failed to fulfill a vow to Varuna after receiving a boon for a son, is afflicted with ''Mahodara'' (abdominal swelling) until the debt is resolved through a substitute offering. Similarly, Varuna punishes [[Nanda (Hinduism)|Nanda]] for entering sacred waters at an inauspicious time, but releases him upon Krishna’s intervention, acknowledging Krishna’s superior authority. The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' further portrays Varuna as a warrior subordinate to Krishna, participating in divine battles alongside Indra, equipped with nooses and a mace. In one episode, Varuna confronts Krishna after the latter retrieves the [[Parijata]] tree from Indra’s palace, only to retreat when defeated by Krishna’s mount, [[Garuda]]. Elsewhere, in battles against demons like [[Kalanemi]], Varuna is rendered motionless, likened to a drained ocean, while against Kujambha, he binds the demon’s arms with his noose and subdues him with his mace. He is also credited with binding the asura king [[Mahabali|Bali]].<ref name=":1" />

Iconographically, Varuna is depicted as riding the mythical sea creature ''[[Makara]]'' and holding a noose (''pasha'') in his hand. He often appears adorned with a white umbrella—said to have emerged during the churning of the ocean—and is described as having a conch-like or crystalline complexion, wearing garlands and bracelets. The ''[[Matsya Purana]]'' devotes considerable detail to Varuna’s iconography. His idol is to be worshipped in rites such as ''Vastupasamanam'' before the construction of palaces, and he is invoked in the ''Graha Shanti'' rite through offerings of pearls, lotus flowers, and [[kusha grass]]. He is said to be propitiated with ''avabhritha'' baths and other ceremonial acts. In the ''Hayasirsha Pancharatra'', Varuna is described as seated on a swan, with two arms—one offering protection and the other holding a serpent-noose—surrounded by aquatic beings. Varuna is revered as a deity responsible for ensuring good and timely rainfall. Varuna's abode is described as being situated in the western direction on the summit of Mount Manasa, near the divine lake of Sukhi (according to the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'') or Sushila (in the ''[[Matsya Purana]]''). This location lies on the Puskara island, beneath which the sun’s chariot rotates around Mount Meru. At midnight in Samyamani, the sun is said to set in Varuna’s city. The ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]'' attests his capital city as ''Śraddhāvatī''.<ref name=":2" /> Varuna's celestial garden, Ritumat, is described in the ''Puranas'' as a place of great beauty located on the Trikuta mountain. The garden is adorned with flowering trees and also features a resplendent lake filled with golden lotuses, lilies, and other aquatic flowers.<ref name=":1" />

Regarding his family, the ''Bhagavata Purana'' names Charsani as Varuna’s beloved-wife and the mother of the sage [[Bhrigu]]. Other sources continue to name Varunani, Gauri or Jyeshtha as his consorts. Varuna's other children include Sushena, Vandi, [[Varuni]], Bala, Sura, Adharmaka, [[Daksa Savarni Manu|Dakshasavarni]] (the ninth Manu), Pushkara, and [[Valmiki]], the latter born from Varuna’s semen on a termite mound.<ref name=":2" /> Although much reduced, Varuna's Vedic pairing with [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]] persists, notably in the  vivid depiction of their shared infatuation with the celestial apsara [[Urvashi]], portraying sages [[Agastya]] and [[Vasistha]] here as their reborn sons, either similar to the Vedic or the ''Ramayana'' version. Varuna’s link to progeny is further emphasized in narratives like [[Vaivasvata Manu]]’s sacrifice invoking Mitra and Varuna for [[Ila (Hinduism)|offspring]], and Harishchandra’s prayer to Varuna for a son, which leads to the aforementioned vow and punishment.<ref name=":1" />

Varuna’s broader mythological roles encompass divine benefaction and protection. He is associated with hidden treasures and performed a [[rajasuya]] sacrifice, a standard for [[Yudhishthira]]’s own in the ''Mahabharata''. His gifts include a water-sprinkling white umbrella for King [[Prithu]]’s coronation, a thousand white horses with black ears for Sage Richika to wed Satyavati, Varuni wine for [[Balarama]], and ''nagapasha'' for Shiva’s marriage to [[Parvati]], where Varuna appears as a divine dignitary. During the [[Samudra Manthana|churning of the ocean]], Varuna continues to play a significant role, aligning with his aquatic dominion. The ''Bhagavata Purana'' credits him with protecting Kraumcha-dvipa, beyond Kusha-dvipa, surrounded by an ocean of milk. Its central mountain, Kraumcha, remains unscathed by Kartikeya’s weapons due to Varuna’s guardianship and the washing of its slopes by sacred waters.<ref name=":1" />