| Tvashtr | |
|---|---|
The Heavenly Builder The Maker of Divine Implements Lord of the Womb | |
| Affiliation | Deva |
| Weapon | Metal Axe |
| Texts | Purusha Sukta,Mahabharata,Puranas |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Kasyapa andAditi(according to the epics andPuranas) |
| Consort | Rechana |
| Children | Children includingSaranyu,Visvarupa andVritra |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Hephaistos |
| Norse | Völund |
| Roman | Vulcanus |
| Slavic | Svarog |
Tvashtr (Sanskrit:त्वष्टृ,IAST:Tvaṣṭṛ) orTvashta (Sanskrit:त्वष्टा,IAST:Tvaṣṭā) is aVedicHindu artisan god or fashioner. He is mentioned as anAditya (sons of goddessAditi) in later Hindu scriptures like theMahabharata andPuranas, though his significance gets reduced. Tvashtr is sometimes identified with another artisan deity namedVishvakarma.[1]
In theRigveda, Tvashtr is stated to be a skillful craftsman who created many implements, includingIndra's bolt, the axe ofBrihaspati, and a cup for divine food and drink. He is stated to be the creator of forms, and is often stated to be the crafter of living beings and wombs. He is also considered a universal father, and an ancestor of humans through his daughterSaranyu.[2][3] He is the father ofBṛhaspati, and likely Indra's father as well.[2][4][3] He wields a metal axe,[5][2] and rides a chariot pulled by two fallow baymares.[2][6]
He is the guardian ofSoma, and his son Vishvarupa is the guardian of cows. Indra has a conflict with his likely father Tvashtr, with him stealing Tvashtr's soma and trying to possess Vishvarupa’s cattle. Indra is consistently victorious in the conflict, and Tvashtr is stated to fear Indra. In theTaittiriya Samhita andBrahmanas, Vishvarupa is killed by Indra, and so Tvashtr does not allow Indra to attend his Soma sacrifice. Indra however, steals and drinks the soma through his strength.[2][4] In order to have revenge for the murder of his son Vishvarupa, Tvashtr creates a demon calledVritra. However, when wishing him into existence, Tvashtr makes a mispronunciation in his incantation, which allows Indra to defeat Vritra.[7] In the Mānava Purana, he took rebirth as Arjuna's son,Babhruvahana.
Tvashtr is associated with many other deities,Pushan,Savitr,Dhatr,Prajapati, andVishvakarman, due to his role as a fashioner.[2]
Tvashta Dev mentioned in the RigVed 1.61.6 as below:
अस्मा इदु त्वष्टा तक्षद्वज्रं स्वपस्तमं स्वर्यं रणाय ।वृत्रस्य चिद्विदद्येन मर्म तुजन्नीशानस्तुजता कियेधाः
Translation: Tvashtadeva prepared for Indra a powerful thunderbolt that penetrates the target well. With that thunderbolt, Indradev, the mighty destroyer of enemies, struck Vritra and killed him with it
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help) | ThisHindu mythology–related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |