Liber ab Clementia (Book of Humanity)^403
Varaha—Male—Near East
Animal association: Boar
Plant associations: Nettle (greater and lesser),
Oak
Hindu third avatar of Vishnu. When
Hiranyaksha dragged the Earth beneath the
ocean, Vishnu incarnated into this third ava-
tar (a boar) to combat Hiranyaksha. After a
thousand-year battle, Varaha was successful
and restored the Earth to the surface.Varahini—Female—Near East
Husband: Vishnu
Hindu Earth goddess and avatar/incarnation
of Lakshmi.Vamana—Male—Near East
Hindu fifth avatar of Vishnu who appeared
in the form of a dwarf such that he could trick
Bali (a demon) to give up the Earth. First he
convinced Bali to give him a tiny plot of land
only three paces in size. Bali agreed, and
Vamana returned to the size of Vishnu. He then
counted the first place as Earth, the second as
Heaven, and the third he said Bali could keep.
There Bali remains today, in the Underworld.Varuna—Male—Near East
Father: Dyaus
Mother: Prithvi
Wife: Varuni
Animal associations: Cattle (cow), Horse
(white), Snake
Hindu god of sky and Water who is the
charge of law and order. He is the personifica-
tion of the Moon and a god with a heart, dis-
pensing justice only with mercy. One of the
eight Hindu guardians of the principle direc-
tions. Varuna is the guardian of the West. The
other seven are Indra, Agni, Yama, Surya,
Vayu, Kubera, Soma. Varuna is also one of the
Adityas. The Hindu month Bhardra (August
23–September 22) is sacred to Varuna. See
Adityas.Varuni—Female—Near East
Husband: Varuna
Animal association: Crow
Hindu goddess of liquor and intoxicating
beverages and brews of all order.Vaya—Male—Near East
Animal association: Deer
One of the eight Hindu guardians of the
principle directions. Vayu is the guardian of
the North West. The other seven are Indra,
Agni, Yama, Surya, Varuna, Kubera, Soma.Vediovis—Male—Mediterranean
(Also known as Vediovis)
Animal association: Goat
Elder Roman god of health and healing.
He is often depicted with his trusted goat.Vellamo—Female—Central Europe/North
Europe
Husband: Ahto
Finnish goddess of the sea who, with the
help of her husband Ahto, controls matters of
underwater fertility.Venus—Female—Mediterranean
Lover: Mercury
Animal associations: Heron, Cattle (bull),
Dove, Lion, Lynx, Snake, Sparrow, Swallow,
Swan, Turtle, Tortoise
Plant associations: Adam and Eve root,
Anemone, Angelica, Apple, Apricot, Aster,
Benzoin, Carnation, Cedar, Cinnamon, Clover
(red), Daisy, Elder, Frankincense, Heather,
Lily, Lime Tree, Mallow (blue, dwarf, musk),
Maidenhair, Marjoram, Mistletoe (European),
Myrtle, Orchid, Pine, Poppy, Quince, Rose,
Sandalwood (red, white), Sunflower, Vervain,
Violet
Roman goddess of Spring and Springtime
love. She is the mother of Cupid by either
Mercury (most often cited) or Mars. As deity,
she started off as a goddess of vegetation fer-
tility. Gradually she became goddess of the
vine (grape) and the fermentation thereof untilz WB Chap 17.p65 403 7/11/2003, 6:05 PM