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Chapter 10 (Appendix 3)
SaramA and the PaNis : A Mythological Theme in the Rigveda
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The myth of SaramA and the PaNis is found in the Rigveda X.108.
The hymn, as Griffith notes, “is a colloquy between SaramA, the messenger of the Gods or of Indra… and the PaNis or envious demons who have carried off the cows or rays of light which Indra wishes to recover”.1
But, according to Macdonell, the hymn is about “the capture by Indra of the cows of the PaNis… (who) possess herds of cows which they keep hidden in a cave far beyond the RasA, a mythical river. SaramA, Indra’s messenger, tracks the cows and asks for them in Indra’s name, but is mocked by the PaNis.”2
Clearly, there is a basic difference in the above descriptions of the myth: Griffith’s description suggests that the cows were stolen by the PaNis, and are sought to be recovered by Indra; Macdonell’s description suggests that the cows belong to the PaNis and are coveted by Indra.
The myth is a complex one, which has developed many shades and facets in the Rigveda itself. We will examine this myth as follows:
I. Development of the Vedic myth.
II. The PaNis in Teutonic Mythology.
III. SaramA and the PaNis in Greek Mythology.
IV. Mythology and History.
Footnotes :
1. HOR, fn.X.108.
2. VM, p.63
Author : Shrikant G. Talageri
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