Parjanya

Parjanya
Relationships
Parents	Dyaus and Prithvi
Siblings	Ushas, Ratri
Languages
Avestan	𐬟𐬭𐬀-𐬯𐬞𐬀𐬭𐬈𐬔𐬀
Sanskrit	पर्जन्य
Equivalents
Proto-Indo-European equivalent	*Perkwunos

Parjanya is the Hindu god of rain. He is sometimes considered as a form of Indra. He is the son of Dyaus and Prithvi.

Etymology

The word Parjanya comes from the Proto-Indo-Iranic word *pergʷenyo-, that evoluved from PIE word Perkʷūnos.

Mythology

Rig Veda hymns to Parjanya

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1 áchā vada tavásaṃ gīrbhír ābhí stuhí parjányaṃ námasâ vivāsa kánikradad vṛṣabhó jīrádānū réto dadhāty óṣadhīṣu gárbham Address the powerful one with these hymns. Praise Parjanya. With reverence seek to entice him here. The constantly roaring bull of lively drops deposits his semen as embryo in the plants. 2 ví vṛkṣân hanty utá hanti rakṣáso víśvam bibhāya bhúvanam mahâvadhāt utânāgā īṣate vŕṣṇyāvato yát parjánya stanáyan hánti duṣkŕtaḥ He smashes apart the trees and also smashes the demons. All creation fears him who has the mighty weapon. And (even) the blameless one shrinks from the one of bullish powers, when Parjanya, thundering, smashes those who do ill. 3 rathîva káśayâśvāṁ abhikṣipánn āvír dūtân kṛṇute varṣyāaàṁ áha dūrât siṁhásya stanáthā úd īrate yát parjányaḥ kṛṇuté varṣyàṃ nábhaḥ Like a charioteer lashing out at his horses with a whip, he reveals his rain-bearing messengers. From afar the thunderings of the lion rise up, when Parjanya produces his rain-bearing cloud. 4 prá vâtā vânti patáyanti vidyúta úd óṣadhīr jíhate pínvate svàḥ írā víśvasmai bhúvanāya jāyate yát parjányaḥ pṛthivîṃ rétasâvati The winds blow forth; the lightning bolts fly. The plants shoot up; the sun swells. Refreshment arises for all creation, when Parjanya aids the earth with his semen 5 yásya vraté pṛthivî nánnamīti yásya vraté śaphávaj járbhurīti yásya vratá óṣadhīr viśvárūpāḥ sá naḥ parjanya máhi śárma yacha At whose commandment the earth bobs up and down, at whose commandment the hoofed (livestock) quivers, at whose commandment the plants take on all forms—you, Parjanya— extend to us great shelter. 6 divó no vṛṣṭím maruto rarīdhvam prá pinvata vŕṣṇo áśvasya dhârāḥ arvâṅ eténa stanayitnúnéhy apó niṣiñcánn ásuraḥ pitâ naḥ Grant us rain from heaven, o Maruts; make the streams of the bullish stallion swell forth. (Parjanya,) come nearby with this thundering, pouring down the waters as the lord, our father. 7 abhí kranda stanáya gárbham â dhā udanvátā pári dīyā ráthena dŕtiṃ sú karṣa víṣitaṃ nyàñcaṃ samâ bhavantūdváto nipādâḥ Roar! Thunder! Set an embryo! Fly around with your water-bearing chariot. Drag the water-skin unleashed, facing downward. Let uplands and lowlands become alike. 8 mahântaṃ kóśam úd acā ní ṣiñca syándantāṃ kulyâ víṣitāḥ purástāt ghṛténa dyâvāpṛthivî vy ùndhi suprapāṇám bhavatv aghnyâbhyaḥ The great bucket—turn it up, pour it down. Let the brooks, unleashed, flow forward. Inundate Heaven and Earth with ghee. Let there be a good watering hole for the prized cows. 9 yát parjanya kánikradat stanáyan háṁsi duṣkŕtaḥ prátīdáṃ víśvam modate yát kíṃ ca pṛthivyâm ádhi When, o Parjanya, constantly roaring, thundering you smash those who do ill, all of this here, whatever is on the earth, rejoices in response. 10a ávarṣīr varṣám úd u ṣû gṛbhāyâkar dhánvāny átyetavâ u 10c ájījana óṣadhīr bhójanāya kám utá prajâbhyo 'vido manīṣâm You have rained rain: (now) hold it back. You have made the wastelands able to be traversed. You have begotten the plants for nourishment, and you have found (this?) inspired thought for the creatures. RV 5.83 in the translation of Jamison and Brereton.

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Buddhism

In the Pali Buddhist canon Parjanya is know as as Pajjuna. He is also the king of the vassavalāhaka devas, being the master who limited control over the clouds and weather. He has a daughter named Kokanadā.