grated society, which could not function without
any of its constituents, became the religious justi-
fication for the later concept of caste. Caste itself is
a Portuguese word adopted into English; the more
proper word for this type of social class is jati, or
“birth.” Nothing in this Vedic verse implies that
varna is fixed at birth or that people can never
alter their varna. It is well known, for instance,
that the RISHI (seer) Vishvamitra, though born a
warrior, became a Brahmin.
Further reading: Bharat Jhunjhunwala, Varna Vyavastha:
Governance through Caste System (Jaipur: Rawat, 1999);
Laurie L. Patton, ed., Authority, Anxiety and Canon:
Essays in Vedic Interpretation (Albany: State University
of New York Press, 1994); Brian K. Smith, The Ancient
Indian Varna System and the Origins of Caste (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1994).
Varuna
Varuna is a sky god of the VEDAS who has many,
sometimes contradictory traits. He is the Indian
counterpart of the Greek Ouranos. Varuna is
paired with several deities in rituals and hymns,
most commonly with MITRA. By himself, Varuna
is seen as a guardian over the cosmic order. He is
called the sovereign ruler of the universe, but this
is said of other Vedic gods. Later he becomes the
Indian god of the ocean.
Further reading: John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary
of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History,
and Literature, 12th ed. (Ludhiana: Lyall Book Depot,
1974); Alfred Hillebrandt, Vedic Mythology, 2 vols.
(Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1990); Heinrich Luders,
Varuna, 2 vols. (Gottingen: Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht,
1951–59); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and
Puranic, 2d ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).
Vasanta Panchami
Vasanta Panchami festival, literally “The ‘Fifth
Day of the Moon’ in the Springtime,” is celebrated
on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar
month of Magha (January–February), the begin-
ning of spring in India. It is dedicated to the wor-
ship of SARASVATI, the goddess of learning and fine
arts. The worship is performed to a fashioned clay
image, which is then put into a body of water such
as a river or a tank. This festival is particularly
popular in Bengal.
Some call this festival Sri Panchami and equate
Sarasvati (who is usually the wife of Brahma) with
LAKSHMI or Sri, the wife of VISHNU. Part of the day’s
observance is a preparation for the HOLI festival,
which falls 40 days later. The devotee places a
flammable image of the demoness Holika (after
whom Holi is supposedly named) on a log, with
an inflammable image of PRAHLADA (the great
devotee of VISHNU) on her lap. During the 40 days
people throw twigs and other flammable objects
on the log, which is set on fire before the Holi
festival commences.Further reading: Swami Harshananda, Hindu Festivals
and Sacred Days (Bangalore: Ramakrishna Math, 1994);
H. V. Shekar, Festivals of India: Significance of the Cel-
ebrations (Louisville, Ky.: Insight Books, 2000).Vasudeva
In Hindu mythology Vasudeva is the father of
KRISHNA. He was particularly popular in the Jain
tradition (see JAINISM), whose PURANAS abound
with stories about his life. Krishna himself is
known by the epithet Vasudeva (with a long a as
the second letter, indicating that he is the son of
Vasudeva).
Vasudeva was the chief minister of the evil
king Kamsa of Mathura. Kamsa had learned that
Vasudeva’s wife, DEVAKI, was destined to bear a
son who would eventually kill him. He kept the
couple under constant guard and had their first
six children killed. The seventh child, BALARAMA,
was miraculously transferred to the womb of
Vasudeva’s other wife, Rohini. When the eighth
child, KRISHNA, was born, a profound slumber fellVasudeva 479 J