Dadikravsn

 

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Dadhikravan: Flying Horse!!

Dadhikravan is mentioned in 20 Richas in four Mandalas 3,4,7,10 of the Rig Veda.

It is translated as horse bird.

This is ostrich which existed in India in 12,000 BCE, says one of the researchers. But some may find it hard to believe.

Dadhikras (RV3-20-1) is a mythical being described as a kind of divine horse, and probably a personification of the morning sun, says Griifith. He is invoked in the morning together with Agni, Ushas and the Asvins. But the translation of the hymn contains descriptions of a bird. Other interpreters say that it is the Hayagriva form of Lord Vishnu.

One may wonder why the seers sing about a flying horse and that too comparing it with the birds. Brahmins recite a mantra about this mysterious flying horse thrice a day in their Sandhyavandhana mantra.

 

dadhikrAvNNo akArsham

jishNo: ashvasya vAjina: |

surabhi no mukhAkarat

praNa AyugmshitArishat ||

 

Dadhikras is identified with the eternal law of the universe and with all types or forms of the supreme being. He is the Hamsa, the swan of heaven, or the sun , the Vasu in mid-air or the wind, Agni as the priest and guest of men.

 

 

4th Mandala HYMN XL. Dadhikravan

1. LET us recite the praise of Dadhikravan: may all the Mornings move me to exertion;

Praise of the Lord of Waters, Dawn, and Agni, Brhaspati Son of Angiras, and Surya.

 

2.    

2 Brave, seeking war and booty, dwelling with the good and with the swift, may he hasten the food of Dawn.

 

3.    

May he the true, the fleet, the lover of the course, the bird-like Dadhikravan, bring food, strength, and light.

 

4. His pinion, rapid runner, fans him m his way, as of a bird that hastens onward to its aim,

 

5.    

And, as it were a falcon's gliding through the air, strikes Dadhikravan's side as he speeds on with might.

 

6. Bound by the neck and by the flanks and by the mouth, the vigorous Courser lends new swiftness to his speed.

Drawing himself together, as his strength allows, Dadhikras springs along the windings of the paths.

 

 

7. The Hamsa homed in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the priest beside the altar, in the house the guest,

Dweller in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born of flood, kine, truth, mountain, he is holy Law.

flying-swan

Occurance in Vedic texts:

"dadhikrAviNNo akArsham" occurs in Rig veda 4.39.6 . It reappears in Taittriya samhita

Khanda I, prapAThaka V, (i.5.11). It reappears in TS in Khanda VII,

prapAThaka IV (vii.4.19). It appears in Kautuma Samaveda (Book 4,

Chapter 2, Decade 2, mantra 7), and in Shaunaka atharva veda

20.137.4. It appears in maitrayaNIya yajus samhita 2.1.3, while

discussing the protocols for agni surabhimati rite. It again appears

in Shathapatha brAhmaNa during the discussion of ashvamedha (Book 14

I guess & similar to khanda 7 of TS).

 

Translations:

"Of Dadhikravan have I sung,

The swift strong horse.

May he make our mouths fragrant;

May he lengthen our days." 

 

- from Keith's translation of Taittriya Samhita

 

"I with my praise have glorified strong Dadhikravan, 

conquering steed

Sweet may he make our mouths: 

may he prolong the days we have to live!"

 

- from Griffith's translation of Samaveda

 

The forts destroyed by Indra are described as forts in the sky! The demos described in the Rig Veda are described as sky dwellers. So we should not trust the foreigners who described demons as Dravidians driven out by the Aryans. One will easily conclude that all this as nonsense if they read about the Indus valley and the Rig Veda.