Hymns On Usha

The central and recurring metaphor in this hymn to Ushas is that of harnessing tawny cows or bay horses to her chariot, in which she is to bring all riches to the men who worship her. The hymns say that the dawn comes through the eastern half of the sky and adorns and anoints them with sunlight for balm. The red-gold lights of the dawn have flown up freely. The dawns spread their webs in the ancient way; the tawny ones have set forth the glowing light.

They sing like women busy at their tasks, coming from a distant place with a single harnessed team bringing refreshing food day after day to the man of good actions, the man of generosity, the man who sacrifices and presses the Soma.

Like a dancing girl the dawn puts on bright ornaments; she uncovers her breast as a cow reveals her swollen udder. Creating light for the whole universe, Dawn has opened up the darkness as cows break out from their enclosed pen. The brilliant flame of the dawn becomes visible once more when she spreads herself out, driving back the formless black abyss.

The hymns addressing the dawn or to Goddess Usha says that the dawn sing like women busy at their tasks, coming from a distant place with a single harnessed team bringing refreshing food day after day to the man of good actions, the man of generosity, the man who sacrifices and presses the Soma. It says that the dawn smiling like a lover who wishes to win his way shines forth and with her lovely face awakens the worshippers to happiness.

It has been mentioned in the hymns that dawn or Usha is the shinning daughter of the sky. She is the one who shines with the victory of prize and fame of achievements. The hymns dedicated to goddess Usha says that gazing out over all creatures, the goddess shines from the distance facing straight towards every eye. It is said that the dawn spreads out her rays like cattle, like a river in full flood the brightly coloured one shines from the distance. The fortunate goddess does not break the laws of the gods but becomes visible, appearing by the rays of the sun.

The hymn on Usha or the dawn ends saying that which is a brightly coloured power with the help of which generations are established one after another. Usha is considered the resplendent giver of gifts. She has the capacity to bring good fortunes to all her worshippers.