Hymns on Night

The hymns dedicated to Night is the only Rig Vedic hymn dedicated to the goddess of night, sister of Dawn and, like Dawn the goddess of night is also a bright creature, full of coloured stars, in contrast with the feared darkness of black night that is banished.

The hymns dedicated to the goddess of night say that the goddess Night draws near, looking about on many sides with her eyes. She puts on all her glories. The immortal goddess fills the wide space, the depths and the heights and she stems the tide of darkness with her light. The goddess draws near, pushing aside her sister the twilight. Darkness, gives way gradually and envelopes the entire surrounding.

As the darkness moves in or comes near mankind all turns homeward to rest in peace in their respective homes. The nature becomes calm and serene and all hustle and bustle of the day time comes to an end. For instance the birds also go back to their nests in order to rest.

Village people also get back to their homes to rest so that they can a start a new day afresh. Similarly animals with feet and animals with wings all stop their work for the day and go for a rest. The hymns say that with the fall of night the universe comes to such a standstill that even the ever-searching hawk abates its activity of constant search for its prey. Thus it can be said that during the night the energy of mankind for various activities are used more for the purpose of resting.

The hymns addressed to goddess of night have a prayer on the part of the worshippers. They have prayed with bowed heads that night should ward off the she-wolf and the wolf. Mankind should be free of thieves and all turbulent waves of the night should be kept at bay in order to protect mankind. Rather it can be said that the prayer to the goddess of night is to keep away all kinds of dangers and evils from the worshippers. The hymn also says that darkness of the night is palpable, black, and painted and if it falls on an individual the dawn should banish it away like a debt.

The worshipper with the help of the hymns say that he has sung the hymn to the goddess of night just as a herdsman drives cows and has asked the goddess of night or the daughter of the sky to accept the prayer and grant protection to mankind in totality.