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Rig Veda III.4.2, dedicated to Āprīs, says as follows:

यं देवासस्त्रिरहन्नायजन्ते दिवे-दिवे वरुणो मित्रो अग्निः | सेमं यज्ञं मधुमन्तं कर्धी नस्तनूनपाद घर्तयोनिं विधन्तम ||

yaṃ devāsastrirahannāyajante dive-dive varuṇo mitro aghniḥ | semaṃ yajñaṃ madhumantaṃ kṛdhī nastanūnapād ghṛtayoniṃ vidhantam ||

Tanūnapāt whom the deities - MITRA, VARUNA and AGNI, worship daily thrice a day, render this our sacred rain-engendering sacrifice productive of water.

The translation is of H.H. Wilson.

tanun indicates the wind or vAyu

napāt indicates grand son or descendant

So it might indicate grandson or descendant of vAyu.

My questions are:

  1. Who is the Tanūnapāt whom the deities - MITRA, VARUNA and AGNI, worship daily thrice a day?

  2. Was worship of 3 times mentioned in this mantra, a precursor to performing of Sandhyavandana 3 times a day?

Srimannarayana K V
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  • Google search shows Tanūnapāt is a manifestation of Agni. I am sure you must have searched this. Do you find this explanation unsatisfactory? –  Dec 06 '19 at 15:50
  • I checked this. My doubt is why Agni worships himself 3 times. Please check translation again.@I will close your question – Srimannarayana K V Dec 06 '19 at 15:54
  • Check Griffith translation. Seems to make more sense. –  Dec 06 '19 at 15:54
  • Yes I checked before posting the question. Let me wait for others response:-) @I will close your question – Srimannarayana K V Dec 06 '19 at 16:01
  • While you wait for a response, Yaska might give a clue. –  Dec 06 '19 at 16:15
  • Do you have link to that clue? @I will close your question – Srimannarayana K V Dec 06 '19 at 16:18
  • Please check - https://archive.org/details/nighantuniruktao00yaskuoft I would have checked myself if I were using my laptop. It is very tedious to check in mobile. By the way, ctrl F might work ( I am not sure though) –  Dec 06 '19 at 16:24
  • This seems better - https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/nighantu-and-the-nirukta-ebook.html Download here and go to pg no. 549 in pdf. Searchable file. –  Dec 06 '19 at 16:39
  • @Iwillcloseyourquestion: It gives the meaning of descendant. However, meaning is still not understandable. – Srimannarayana K V Dec 06 '19 at 16:49
  • It also gives Agni as one of the meanings. Please check. –  Dec 06 '19 at 16:51
  • @Iwillcloseyourquestion: Yes, Agni was an indirect meaning. Still Why Agni should worship himself, along with Varuna and Mitra? Either HH Wilson got it wrong or something is missing? – Srimannarayana K V Dec 06 '19 at 16:56
  • Griffith translation does not say Agni worships Tanunapat. –  Dec 06 '19 at 16:58
  • May its says of arghyam of water should be given thrice a day with your hand (astha) the pada chedam is done with hand unto pada of the svatiru that is vishnu.. or sun rays.. – Prasanna R Jan 06 '20 at 09:58

1 Answers1

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  1. In Bṛhaddevatā (page.77), it was mentioned that Agni is also called as Tanūnapāt

  2. Sandhyavandanam was used to be done 2 times a day, as sandhya - twilight time occurs twice daily. Subsequently, another time at midday was added at a later date.

Srimannarayana K V
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