Varuni – the Goddess of Wine

Our ancestors enjoyed life! The book “Dhanapala and His Times” by Ganga Prasad Yadava (see reference 1 for more details) talks about many different types of “madhu” ( a type of wine or liquor) enjoyed by people around the 9th to 10th centuries CE. Women apparently liked taking “varuni” wine.

The Wikipedia (2) page says:

“Varuni, also known as Varunani and Jaldevi, is the consort of Varuna, often depicted with her husband. She is goddess of wine. She is described in Rigveda.

According to the legend, Varuni was married to Varuna after she came out of the Samudra manthan, during the churning of the amṛta.”

Royal families went on picnics with the ladies of court on “Madhupanotsava” (“Drinking festival” would be a literal translation) where they were described as singing, dancing, muttering illegible words and abandoning themselves to the influence. (3)

“Dhanapala and his times” https://www.amazon.in/Dhanapala-His-Times-Socio-Cultural-Study/dp/0391027859
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varuni
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasollasa

  • 29th Apr, 2019
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