fbpx
Wikipedia

Sharvara and Shyama

April 13, 2024

Sharvara (Sanskrit: शार्वर, romanized: Śārvara), also rendered Shabala (Sanskrit: शबल, romanized: Śabala)[1] and Shyama (Sanskrit: श्याम, romanized: Śyāma) are two Hindu mythological watchdogs belonging to Yama.[2]

Sharvara is identified with the constellation Canis Major, and Shyama with Canis Minor; together they guard the gates of the underworld, the domain of Yama.[3][4]

Etymology edit

The word sharvara means variegated or spotted.[5] In older Sanskrit, शर्वर is written as कर्वर (karvara).[6] Shyama is translated as black or dark-coloured.[7]

Mythology edit

Sharvara and Shyama are described to be two ferocious, four-eyed dogs that guard the entrance to the palace of Yama. The dead are required to get past these dogs in order to be rendered judgement by their master.[8] They are referred to as Mithūdṛśā, meaning that they are not both capable of sight at the same time.[9]

The dogs are first described in the Yamasukta section of the Rigveda. Named as the children of Sharama, departed souls are asked to venture beyond the two spotted four-eyed dogs in order to join their pitrs. They are also mentioned in a prayer to Yama, in which the dead are requested to be entrusted to their protection, and are extolled as the guardians of the road.[10]

The Atharvaveda describes the dogs as the messengers of Yama, designated with the role of seeking out individuals who are to die.[11]

Comparisons edit

Sharvara can be compared with the Greek Cerberus, the mythological dog of the Greeks with similar characteristics. However, there is no description of Cerberus having a companion, and he is usually depicted with three heads.[12] Scholars have concluded that the three heads were a Greek addition to the underlying Indo-Aryan myth.[13][14]

Shavara and Shyama can also be compared to Odin's wolves Geri and Freki in Norse mythology.[15] Odin (the all-father) just like Yama (the progenitor of all humans) sits on a chair guarded by two dogs.[16]

Tilak dates the Vedic antiquity using the assertion that the Milky Way (path of the dead) used to be guarded by Sharvara and a new year started upon the crossing of Milky Way by the sun. Using internal evidence he dated the timeframe of Vedic antiquity (Taittriya Samhita) to the time when at the vernal equinox the sun rose in the asterism of Orion (Mrigashiras).[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Dalal, Roshen (2014-04-15). The Vedas: An Introduction to Hinduism's Sacred Texts. Penguin UK. p. 343. ISBN 978-81-8475-763-7.
  2. ^ Walker, Benjamin (2019-04-09). Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L. Routledge. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-429-62421-6.
  3. ^ Tilak, Bal Gangadhar (1893). The Orion, or, Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas. Pune: Mrs. Radhabai Atmaram Sagoon. p. 42.
  4. ^ Byghan, Yowann (2020-03-12). Sacred and Mythological Animals: A Worldwide Taxonomy (in Bengali). McFarland. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4766-3887-4.
  5. ^ Tilak 1893, p. 108
  6. ^ Monier Williams Dictionary
  7. ^ Williams, Monier (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to Greek, Latin, Gothic, German, Anglo-Saxon, and other cognate Indo-European Languages By Monier Williams. At the Clarendon Press Sold by Macmillan. p. 1023.
  8. ^ Stookey, Lorena Laura (2004). Thematic Guide to World Mythology. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-313-31505-3.
  9. ^ Bhattacharji, Sukumari. the indian theogony. CUP Archive. p. 70.
  10. ^ Srivastava, Vinod Chandra (2008). History of Agriculture in India, Up to C. 1200 A.D. Concept Publishing Company. p. 296. ISBN 978-81-8069-521-6.
  11. ^ Mallory, J. P.; Adams, Douglas Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5.
  12. ^ Apolodorus and others indicate that he had three heads, but Hesiod with poetical hyperbole gives him fifty. Elton, Charles Abraham (1812). Hesiod, translated from the Greek into English verse, with a Preliminary Dissertation on the Writings, Life, and Æra of Hesiod. London: Lackington, Allen and Company. p. 267.
  13. ^ Elton 1812, p. 267
  14. ^ Bryant, Jacob (1809). A new system: or, An analysis of antient mythology. Vol. 2 (3rd ed.). J. Walker. pp. 118–119.
  15. ^ Geri and Freki, "Greedy" and "Voracious" Bloomfield, Maurice (1905). Cerberus, the Dog of Hades: The History of an Idea. Open Court Publishing. pp. 26–27.
  16. ^ Bloomfield 1905, p. 27
  17. ^ Tilak 1893, pp. 41–60

April 13, 2024
sharvara, shyama, sharvara, sanskrit, वर, romanized, Śārvara, also, rendered, shabala, sanskrit, शबल, romanized, Śabala, shyama, sanskrit, romanized, Śyāma, hindu, mythological, watchdogs, belonging, yama, sharvara, identified, with, constellation, canis, majo. Sharvara Sanskrit श र वर romanized Sarvara also rendered Shabala Sanskrit शबल romanized Sabala 1 and Shyama Sanskrit श य म romanized Syama are two Hindu mythological watchdogs belonging to Yama 2 Sharvara is identified with the constellation Canis Major and Shyama with Canis Minor together they guard the gates of the underworld the domain of Yama 3 4 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Mythology 2 1 Comparisons 3 ReferencesEtymology editThe word sharvara means variegated or spotted 5 In older Sanskrit शर वर is written as कर वर karvara 6 Shyama is translated as black or dark coloured 7 Mythology editSharvara and Shyama are described to be two ferocious four eyed dogs that guard the entrance to the palace of Yama The dead are required to get past these dogs in order to be rendered judgement by their master 8 They are referred to as Mithudṛsa meaning that they are not both capable of sight at the same time 9 The dogs are first described in the Yamasukta section of the Rigveda Named as the children of Sharama departed souls are asked to venture beyond the two spotted four eyed dogs in order to join their pitrs They are also mentioned in a prayer to Yama in which the dead are requested to be entrusted to their protection and are extolled as the guardians of the road 10 The Atharvaveda describes the dogs as the messengers of Yama designated with the role of seeking out individuals who are to die 11 Comparisons edit Sharvara can be compared with the Greek Cerberus the mythological dog of the Greeks with similar characteristics However there is no description of Cerberus having a companion and he is usually depicted with three heads 12 Scholars have concluded that the three heads were a Greek addition to the underlying Indo Aryan myth 13 14 Shavara and Shyama can also be compared to Odin s wolves Geri and Freki in Norse mythology 15 Odin the all father just like Yama the progenitor of all humans sits on a chair guarded by two dogs 16 Tilak dates the Vedic antiquity using the assertion that the Milky Way path of the dead used to be guarded by Sharvara and a new year started upon the crossing of Milky Way by the sun Using internal evidence he dated the timeframe of Vedic antiquity Taittriya Samhita to the time when at the vernal equinox the sun rose in the asterism of Orion Mrigashiras 17 References edit Dalal Roshen 2014 04 15 The Vedas An Introduction to Hinduism s Sacred Texts Penguin UK p 343 ISBN 978 81 8475 763 7 Walker Benjamin 2019 04 09 Hindu World An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism In Two Volumes Volume I A L Routledge p 330 ISBN 978 0 429 62421 6 Tilak Bal Gangadhar 1893 The Orion or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas Pune Mrs Radhabai Atmaram Sagoon p 42 Byghan Yowann 2020 03 12 Sacred and Mythological Animals A Worldwide Taxonomy in Bengali McFarland p 21 ISBN 978 1 4766 3887 4 Tilak 1893 p 108 Monier Williams Dictionary Williams Monier 1872 A Sanskrit English Dictionary Etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to Greek Latin Gothic German Anglo Saxon and other cognate Indo European Languages By Monier Williams At the Clarendon Press Sold by Macmillan p 1023 Stookey Lorena Laura 2004 Thematic Guide to World Mythology Greenwood Publishing Group p 203 ISBN 978 0 313 31505 3 Bhattacharji Sukumari the indian theogony CUP Archive p 70 Srivastava Vinod Chandra 2008 History of Agriculture in India Up to C 1200 A D Concept Publishing Company p 296 ISBN 978 81 8069 521 6 Mallory J P Adams Douglas Q 1997 Encyclopedia of Indo European Culture Taylor amp Francis p 265 ISBN 978 1 884964 98 5 Apolodorus and others indicate that he had three heads but Hesiod with poetical hyperbole gives him fifty Elton Charles Abraham 1812 Hesiod translated from the Greek into English verse with a Preliminary Dissertation on the Writings Life and AEra of Hesiod London Lackington Allen and Company p 267 Elton 1812 p 267 Bryant Jacob 1809 A new system or An analysis of antient mythology Vol 2 3rd ed J Walker pp 118 119 Geri and Freki Greedy and Voracious Bloomfield Maurice 1905 Cerberus the Dog of Hades The History of an Idea Open Court Publishing pp 26 27 Bloomfield 1905 p 27 Tilak 1893 pp 41 60 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sharvara and Shyama amp oldid 1218223977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.