Dyaus (Sanskrit: द्यौष्, IAST: Dyáuṣ) or Dyauspitr (Sanskrit: द्यौष्पितृ, IAST: Dyáuṣpitṛ́) is the Rigvedic sky deity. His consort is Prthvi, the earth goddess, and together they are the archetypal parents in the Rigveda.[8]
| Dyaus | |
|---|---|
God of the Sky | |
| Other names | Akasha |
| Affiliation | Deva, Pancha Bhuta |
| Abode | Dyuloka, Sky (ākāśa, आकाश) |
| Texts | Rigveda |
| Consort | Prithvi |
| Offspring | Indra, Surya, Ushas, and the other gods |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Kronos[1] Zeus (mainly etymological)[7] |
| Roman equivalent | Saturnus (by identification with Kronos) Jupiter (mainly etymological) |
| Indo-European equivalent | Dyēus |
Dyauṣ stems from Proto-Indo-Iranian *dyā́wš, from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) daylight-sky god *Dyēus, and is cognate with the Greek Διας - Zeus Patēr, Illyrian Dei-pátrous, and Latin Jupiter (from Old Latin Dies piter Djous patēr), stemming from the PIE Dyḗus ph₂tḗr ("Daylight-sky Father").[9]
The noun dyaús (when used without the pitṛ́ 'father') refers to the daylight sky, and occurs frequently in the Rigveda, as an entity. The sky in Vedic writing was described as rising in three tiers, avamá, madhyamá, and uttamáortṛtī́ya.[10]
Dyáuṣ Pitṛ́ appears in hymns with Prithvi Mata 'Mother Earth' in the ancient Vedic scriptures of Hinduism.[11]
In the Ṛg·veda, Dyáuṣ Pitṛ́ appears in verses 1.89.4, 1.90.7, 1.164.33, 1.191.6, 4.1.10. and 4.17.4[12] He is also referred to under different theonyms: Dyavaprithvi, for example, is a dvandva compound combining 'heaven' and 'earth' as Dyauṣ and Prithvi.
Dyauṣ's most defining trait is his paternal role.[13] His daughter, Uṣas, personifies dawn.[14] The gods, especially Sūrya, are stated to be the children of Dyauṣ and Prithvi.[15] Dyauṣ's other sons include Agni, Parjanya, the Ādityas, the Maruts, and the Angirases.[13][15] The Ashvins are called "divó nápāt", meaning offspring/progeny/grandsons of Dyauṣ.[13][16] Dyauṣ is often visualized as a roaring animal, often a bull, who fertilizes the earth.[13] Dyauṣ is also known for the rape of his own daughter, which, according to Jamison and Brereton (2014), is vaguely but vividly mentioned in the Rigveda.[15]
Dyauṣ is also stated to be like a black stallion studded with pearls in a simile with the night sky.[13][17]
Indra's separation of Dyauṣ and Prithvi is celebrated in the Rigveda as an important creation myth.[15]