Panis
Encyclopedia
The Panis are a class of demons in the Rigveda
, from , a term for "bargainer, miser," especially applied to one who is sparing of sacrificial oblations. The Panis appear in RV 10.108 as watchers over stolen cows. They are located behind the stream Rasā
, and sought out by Sarama
, the female dog belonging to Indra
. They boast towards Sarama that they are well-armed and will not yield the cows without battle, and that the cows are furthermore well hidden in a rocky chamber. Sarama threatens them with the might of Indra
and the Angirasas
who will recover the cows.
The "rocky treasure-chest" of the Panis is identical to Vala
, the stone split by Indra to liberate Dawn
. The myth is a variant of that of Indra slaying Vrtra, imagined as a stone serpent, liberating the blocked rivers
.
Graeco-Roman authors equated the Parthia
ns with a Scythian tribe called the Parni
(i.e. Greek Parnoi), which has been equated by some with the Panis. Strabo
(11.9.2) mentions that the Parnoi belonged to the Dahas ("Dahae
") and lived in Margiana and that they founded the Arsacid empire of Parthia
(Parpola 1988).
The Pannis were and important tribe of Afghanistan lasting to the time of Sikandar Lodi. Ahmed Abdulla in his books writes, "The most important Pakhtun tribes of the Division are Kakar, Panni, Tarin, Shirani and Achakzai all of whom are split up between Baluchistan and Afghanistan." It is further recorded in Sindh that, "According to native accounts, the Parni Afghans came to Sibi (Siwi) in 1470 AD." This same text writes that Parni Afghans are also known as "Panni".
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
, from , a term for "bargainer, miser," especially applied to one who is sparing of sacrificial oblations. The Panis appear in RV 10.108 as watchers over stolen cows. They are located behind the stream Rasā
Rasa
- Indian culture :* Rasa , a concept in the Indian performing arts* Rasa , a concept of taste or emotional rapture related to Krishna devotion* Rasā, a mythical river mentioned in the Rigveda...
, and sought out by Sarama
Sarama
In Hindu mythology, Sarama is a mythological being referred to as the bitch of the gods, or Deva-shuni . She first appears in one of Hinduism's earliest texts, the Rig Veda, in which she helps the god-king Indra to recover divine cows stolen by the Panis, a class of demons. This legend is alluded...
, the female dog belonging to Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
. They boast towards Sarama that they are well-armed and will not yield the cows without battle, and that the cows are furthermore well hidden in a rocky chamber. Sarama threatens them with the might of Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
and the Angirasas
Angiris
According to Hindu mythology, the Angiris are a group of celestial beings who are descendants of the Fire God, Agni and responsible for watching over humans performing Yagna and protecting the sacrificial fires...
who will recover the cows.
The "rocky treasure-chest" of the Panis is identical to Vala
Vala
Vala can refer to:Caste* Vala, a Rajput clan found in Gujarat in IndiaPeople* Numonius Vala, a Roman family name, or any of the men of that name* Vala , an Indo-Aryan name and surnameFiction...
, the stone split by Indra to liberate Dawn
Ushas
Ushas , Sanskrit for "dawn", is a Vedic deity, and consequently a Hindu deity as well.Sanskrit is an s-stem, i.e. the genitive case is . It is from PIE , cognate to Greek Eos and Latin Aurora....
. The myth is a variant of that of Indra slaying Vrtra, imagined as a stone serpent, liberating the blocked rivers
Rigvedic rivers
Rivers, such as the Sapta Sindhu , play a prominent part in the hymns of the Rigveda, and consequently in early Vedic religion...
.
Graeco-Roman authors equated the Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
ns with a Scythian tribe called the Parni
Parni
The Parni or Aparni were an east Iranian people of the Ochus River valley, southeast of the Caspian Sea...
(i.e. Greek Parnoi), which has been equated by some with the Panis. Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
(11.9.2) mentions that the Parnoi belonged to the Dahas ("Dahae
Dahae
The Dahae , or Dahaeans were a confederacy of three Ancient Iranian tribes who lived in the region to the immediate east of the Caspian Sea. They spoke an Eastern Iranian language.-Records:...
") and lived in Margiana and that they founded the Arsacid empire of Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
(Parpola 1988).
The Pannis were and important tribe of Afghanistan lasting to the time of Sikandar Lodi. Ahmed Abdulla in his books writes, "The most important Pakhtun tribes of the Division are Kakar, Panni, Tarin, Shirani and Achakzai all of whom are split up between Baluchistan and Afghanistan." It is further recorded in Sindh that, "According to native accounts, the Parni Afghans came to Sibi (Siwi) in 1470 AD." This same text writes that Parni Afghans are also known as "Panni".
- Parpola, Asko: 1988, The Coming of the Aryans to Iran and India and the Cultural and Ethnic Identity of the Dasas; The problem of the Aryans and the Soma.
- Sethna, K.D. 1992. The Problem of Aryan Origins. New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan.