Varuna
Varuna, in the Vedic phase of Hindu mythology, the god-sovereign, the personification of divine authority. He is the ruler of the sky realm and the upholder of cosmic and moral law (rita), a duty shared with the group of gods known as the Adityas (see Aditi), of whom he was the chief. He is often jointly invoked with Mitra, who
represents the more-juridical side of their sovereignty—the alliance between one human being and another—while Varuna represents the magical and speculative aspects—the relationship between gods and human beings. He
corresponds closely to the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazdā. In later Hinduism, Varuna plays a lesser role. He is guardian of the west and is particularly associated with oceans and waters. Thus, he is often attended by the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna.
Varuna; God of the sea and of the waters; guardian of the western quarter of the compass.
1. Varuna. One of the chief lay disciple's of Sumana Buddha. Bu.v.28.
2. Varuna. Son of Revata Buddha and also his chief disciple. His mother was Sudassanā (Bu.vi.18, 21; J.i.35). Once, when he was ill, large numbers of people came to see him, and he preached to them on the three signata, ordaining one hundred thousand persons by the "ehi bhikkhu" ordination. BuA.134.
3. Varuna. The personal attendant of Anomadassī Buddha. J.i.36; Bu.viii.22; DhA.i.88, etc.
4. Varuna. The personal attendant of Paduma Buddha. Bu.ix.21; J.i.36.
5. Varuna. Sixteen kappas ago there were eight kings of this name, all previous births of Malitavambha (Kumudadāyaka) Thera. ThagA.i.211; Ap.i.180.
6. Varuna. A disciple of Piyadassī Buddha. ThagA.i.75, 273.
7. Varuna. A brahmin, a former birth of Suppiya Thera. ThagA.i.93; Ap.ii.452.
8. Varuna. A king of fifty one kappas ago, a previous birth of Sayanadāyaka Thera. Ap.i.99.
9. Varuna. One hundred and sixty kappas ago there were two kings of this name, previous births of Sucintita Thera. Ap.i.115.
10. Varuna. A king of forty kappas ago, a previous birth of Ekasaññaka Thera. Ap.i.121.
11. Varuna. A king in the time of Atthadassī Buddha, a previous birth of Sīvalī (Ekāsaniya) Thera. Ap.i.149 calls him devarājā; ThagA.i.139 calls him ekarājā.
12. Varuna. A yavapāla who gave grass to Siddhattha Buddha for his seat. BuA.185.
13. Varuna. A brahmin village, residence of the brahmin Vasabha. BuA.172.
14. Varuna. A king of twenty five kappas ago, a former birth of Pilindavaccha Thera. ThagA.i.52; Ap.i.59.
15. Varuna. A Nāga king in the time of Anomadassī Buddha, a previous birth of Mahā Moggallāna. He played music to the Buddha and entertained him in his abode. Ap.i.31.
16. Varuna. An ascetic who, together with the hunter Sura, discovered intoxicating liquor. This came to be called Vārunī.
See; Kumbha Jātaka, J.v.12f.
17. Varuna. A Nāga king. His wife was Vimalā and their daughter was Irandatī. For details see Vidhurapandita Jātaka. Varuna is identified with Sāriputta. J.vi.329.
18. Varuna. A king of the devas, mentioned as the companion of Sakka, Pajāpati and Isāna. In battle against the Asuras, the devas of Tāvatimsa were asked to look upon the banner of Varuna in order to have all their fears dispelled (S.i.219).
In the Tevijja Sutta (D.i.244; cf. J.v.28; vi.20; also Mil. 22) Varuna is mentioned with Indra, Soma, Isāna, Pajāpati, Yama and Mahiddhi, as the gods invoked by brahmins.
In the ātānātiya Sutta (D.iii.204) he is mentioned with Indra and others as a Yakkha chief.
Buddhaghosa says (SA.i.262) that Varuna is equal in age and glory (vanna) with Sakka and takes the third seat in the assembly of devas.
See also; Varunā and Vārunī.
