Aranyani (Sanskrit: अरण्यानि, romanized: Araṇyānī, lit. 'forest')[2] is the goddess of forests and the wild animals that dwell within them in Hinduism.[3]
Aranyani has the distinction of having one of the most descriptive hymns in the Rigveda dedicated to her. The Aranyani Suktam (Hymn 146 in the 10th mandala of the Rigveda)[4] describes her as being elusive, fond of quiet glades in the jungle, and fearless of remote places. In the hymn, the supplicant entreats her to explain how she wanders so far from the fringe of civilisation without becoming afraid or lonely. She wears anklets with bells, and though seldom seen, she can be heard by the tinkling of her anklets.[5] She is also described as a dancer. Her ability to feed both man and animals though she 'tills no lands' is what the supplicant finds most marvellous. The hymn is repeated in Taittiriya Brahmana and interpreted by the commentator of that work.[6]
Aranyani bears resemblance to latter day forest deities like Banbini in West Bengal, Vanadevata in Goa and Konkan region, Vanadurga in parts of South India. Her worship has declined in modern-day Hinduism, and it is rare to find a temple dedicated to Aranyani. However, there is one in Arrah, Bihar known as the Aranya Devi Temple.[7]
She is sometimes regarded to be the owner of Kalpavriksha, the divine tree.
References
^"Aranyani, Araṇyāni, Araṇyānī: 9 definitions". 28 December 2018.
^www.wisdomlib.org (27 August 2021). "Rig Veda 10.146.1 [English translation]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
^Murphy, Patrick D.; Gifford, Terry; Yamazato, Katsunori (1998). Literature of Nature: An International Sourcebook. Taylor & Francis. p. 317. ISBN978-1-57958-010-0.
^"Hymn to a Forest Nymph in the Rig Veda". from the original on 30 January 2020.
^Muir, John (1870). Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India. London: Trubner and Co. p. 422.
^Dalal, Roshen (2010). The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths. India: Penguin Books India. p. 28. ISBN9780143415176.
May 04, 2023
aranyani, sanskrit, अरण, romanized, araṇyānī, forest, goddess, forests, wild, animals, that, dwell, within, them, hinduism, goddess, forests, wild, animals, artwork, affiliationdevisymbolsanklets, trees, wild, animalsmounthorsetextsrigvedaliterature, edit, dis. Aranyani Sanskrit अरण य न romanized Araṇyani lit forest 2 is the goddess of forests and the wild animals that dwell within them in Hinduism 3 AranyaniGoddess of forests and wild animals 1 Artwork of Aranyani AffiliationDeviSymbolsAnklets trees wild animalsMountHorseTextsRigvedaLiterature EditAranyani has the distinction of having one of the most descriptive hymns in the Rigveda dedicated to her The Aranyani Suktam Hymn 146 in the 10th mandala of the Rigveda 4 describes her as being elusive fond of quiet glades in the jungle and fearless of remote places In the hymn the supplicant entreats her to explain how she wanders so far from the fringe of civilisation without becoming afraid or lonely She wears anklets with bells and though seldom seen she can be heard by the tinkling of her anklets 5 She is also described as a dancer Her ability to feed both man and animals though she tills no lands is what the supplicant finds most marvellous The hymn is repeated in Taittiriya Brahmana and interpreted by the commentator of that work 6 Aranyani bears resemblance to latter day forest deities like Banbini in West Bengal Vanadevata in Goa and Konkan region Vanadurga in parts of South India Her worship has declined in modern day Hinduism and it is rare to find a temple dedicated to Aranyani However there is one in Arrah Bihar known as the Aranya Devi Temple 7 She is sometimes regarded to be the owner of Kalpavriksha the divine tree References Edit Aranyani Araṇyani Araṇyani 9 definitions 28 December 2018 www wisdomlib org 27 August 2021 Rig Veda 10 146 1 English translation www wisdomlib org Retrieved 10 November 2022 Murphy Patrick D Gifford Terry Yamazato Katsunori 1998 Literature of Nature An International Sourcebook Taylor amp Francis p 317 ISBN 978 1 57958 010 0 Hymn to a Forest Nymph in the Rig Veda Archived from the original on 30 January 2020 The Hymns of the Rigveda Ralph T H Griffith 1973 Hymn CXLVI Page 640 Muir John 1870 Original Sanskrit Texts on the Origin and History of the People of India London Trubner and Co p 422 Dalal Roshen 2010 The Religions of India A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths India Penguin Books India p 28 ISBN 9780143415176 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aranyani amp oldid 1146673195, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
