Tvastar
Encyclopedia
In Vedic religion
, , is the first born creator of the universe. In Yajurveda purusha suktha and in 10 mandala of Rg veda his character and attributes are merging with the concept like Hiranyagharbha/Prajapathy or Brahma.The term also transliterated as Tvaṣṭr, nominative , is the heavenly builder, the maker of divine implements, especially Indra
's Vajra
and the guardian of Soma
. Tvaṣṭṛ is mentioned 65 times in the Ṛgveda
and is the former of the bodies of men and animals,' and invoked when desiring offspring, called garbha-pati or the lord of the womb.
Tvaṣṭṛ is also referred to as Rathakāra
or the chariot maker and sometimes as Takṣā in Ṛgveda.The term Tvaṣṭṛ is mentioned in the Mitanni
treaty, which establishes him as a Proto-Indo-Iranian divinity.
As per Ṛgveda Tvaṣṭr known as Rathakāra belongs to clan of the Bhṛgus. Similarly, as mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata
, Tvaṣṭr or the Rathakāra is Śukrācārya's son, Śukrācārya (the mentor of the demons) is Bhṛgu's grandson and Vāruṇibhṛgu's son.
Tvaṣṭṛ is sometimes associated or identified with similar deities,such as Savitṛ
, Prajāpatī
, Viśvakarman and Puṣan
. He is the father of Saranyṇ
, who twice bears twins to Vivasvat (RV 8.26.21), Yama
and Yami
, also identified as the first humans. He is also the father of Viśvarūpa or Triśiras
who was killed by Indra, in revenge Tvaṣṭṛ created Vrtra
a fearsome dragon
. Surprisingly he is also inferred to as Indra's father.
Tvaṣṭṛ is a solar deity
in the epic of Mahābhārata and the Harivaṃśa
. He is mentioned as the son of Kāśyapa and Aditi
, and is said to have made the three worlds with pieces of the Sun
god Surya
.
Historical Vedic religion
The religion of the Vedic period is a historical predecessor of Hinduism. Its liturgy is reflected in the mantra portion of the four Vedas, which are compiled in Sanskrit. The religious practices centered on a clergy administering rites...
, , is the first born creator of the universe. In Yajurveda purusha suktha and in 10 mandala of Rg veda his character and attributes are merging with the concept like Hiranyagharbha/Prajapathy or Brahma.The term also transliterated as Tvaṣṭr, nominative , is the heavenly builder, the maker of divine implements, especially 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...
's Vajra
Vajra
Vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning both thunderbolt and diamond...
and the guardian of Soma
Soma
Soma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
. Tvaṣṭṛ is mentioned 65 times in the Ṛgveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
and is the former of the bodies of men and animals,' and invoked when desiring offspring, called garbha-pati or the lord of the womb.
Tvaṣṭṛ is also referred to as Rathakāra
Rathakara
Rathakāra or the Chariot maker is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures such as Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Saṃhitas etc. There are various types of Rathakāras mentioned in the texts, their social status varying from that of a Brahmin to that of a fallen or degraded Śudra.Ratha or the chariot...
or the chariot maker and sometimes as Takṣā in Ṛgveda.The term Tvaṣṭṛ is mentioned in the Mitanni
Mitanni
Mitanni or Hanigalbat was a loosely organized Hurrian-speaking state in northern Syria and south-east Anatolia from ca. 1500 BC–1300 BC...
treaty, which establishes him as a Proto-Indo-Iranian divinity.
As per Ṛgveda Tvaṣṭr known as Rathakāra belongs to clan of the Bhṛgus. Similarly, as mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Tvaṣṭr or the Rathakāra is Śukrācārya's son, Śukrācārya (the mentor of the demons) is Bhṛgu's grandson and Vāruṇibhṛgu's son.
Tvaṣṭṛ is sometimes associated or identified with similar deities,such as Savitṛ
Savitr
Savitr IAST: savitrIn Vedic religion, Savitr , Savitā is a solar deity and one of the Adityas i.e. off-spring of Vedic deity Aditi. His name in Vedic Sanskrit connotes "impeller, rouser, vivifier"...
, Prajāpatī
Prajapati
In Hinduism, Prajapati "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme God Viswakarma Vedic deities in RV 10 and in Brahmana literature...
, Viśvakarman and Puṣan
Pushan
Pushan is a Vedic solar deity and one of the Adityas. He is the god of meeting. Pushan was responsible for marriages, journeys, roads, and the feeding of cattle. He was a psychopomp, conducting souls to the other world. He protected travelers from bandits and wild beasts, and protected men from...
. He is the father of Saranyṇ
Saranyu
Saranya or Saraniya is the wife of Surya, and a goddess of the dawn and the clouds in Hindu mythology, and is sometimes associated with Demeter, Greek goddess of agriculture. According to Max Müller and A...
, who twice bears twins to Vivasvat (RV 8.26.21), Yama
Yama (Hinduism)
Yama is the lord of death in Hinduism, first recorded in the Vedas. Yama belongs to an early stratum of Indo-Iranian theology. In Vedic tradition Yama was considered to have been the first mortal who died and espied the way to the celestial abodes, thus in virtue of precedence he became the ruler...
and Yami
Yami
In Vedic beliefs, Yamī is the first woman, along with her twin brother, Yama. The Rig Veda, in the tenth Mandala, contains a hymn in which they sing to each other. They were children of Surya, the Sun god, in his form as Vivasvat, and his wife Saranya. She is also known as Yamuna. Another name for...
, also identified as the first humans. He is also the father of Viśvarūpa or Triśiras
Trisiras
Trisiras is the three-headed son of Tvashta in Hinduism. He was created by Tvashta to dethrone Indra. With one head, he ate; with another head, he observed his surroundings; with his last head, he read the Vedas. He grew so powerful that Indra became frightened of him, especially after Trisiras...
who was killed by Indra, in revenge Tvaṣṭṛ created Vrtra
Vritra
In the early Vedic religion, Vritra , is an Asura and also a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. Vritra was also known in the Vedas as Ahi...
a fearsome dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
. Surprisingly he is also inferred to as Indra's father.
Tvaṣṭṛ is a solar deity
Solar deity
A solar deity is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms...
in the epic of Mahābhārata and the Harivaṃśa
Harivamsa
The Harivamsha is an important work of Sanskrit literature, containing 16,374 verses, mostly in metre. The text is also known as . This text is believed as a khila to the Mahabharata and is traditionally ascribed to Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa...
. He is mentioned as the son of Kāśyapa and Aditi
Aditi
Aditi in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. In the Vedas Aditi is mother of the gods from whose cosmic matrix the heavenly bodies were born...
, and is said to have made the three worlds with pieces of the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
god Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
.