Ushas (उषः úṣas-), Sanskrit for "dawn", is a Vedic deity. She is the chief goddess (sometimes imagined as several goddesses, Dawns) exalted in the Rig Veda. She is portrayed as a beautifully adorned, sexually attractive young woman riding in a chariot.
Twenty out of 1028 hymns in the Rig Veda are dedicated to Dawn: Book 7 has seven hymns, books 4–6 have two hymns each, and the younger books 1 and 10 have six and one respectively.
E. g. RV 6.64.1-2 (trans. Griffiths ):
- 1. The radiant Dawns have risen up for glory, in their white splendour like the waves of waters.
- She maketh paths all easy, fair to travel, and, rich, hath shown herself benign and friendly.
- 2. We see that thou art good: far shines thy lustre; thy beams, thy splendours have flown up to heaven.
- Decking thyself, thou makest bare thy bosom, shining in majesty, thou Goddess Morning.
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