Divine Beings

Pushan

पूषन्

The Aditya Whose Teeth Were Broken

Who was Pushan?

Pushan (पूषन्): The Aditya Whose Teeth Were Broken, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. One of the twelve Adityas born of Kasyapa, a solar deity gratified by offerings of ghee and lord of the regions won by givers of kine.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Pushan
Sanskrit nameपूषन्
Title / EpithetThe Aditya Whose Teeth Were Broken
FactionDivine Beings
Key traitsSolar, Nourishing, Unwarlike, Maimed
Notable relationshipsBroke His Teeth: Shiva, Fellow Aditya: Bhaga, Fellow Aditya: Surya, Father: Kashyapa
Featured in1 story

About Pushan

One of the twelve Adityas born of Kasyapa, a solar deity gratified by offerings of ghee and lord of the regions won by givers of kine. When the gods held their sacrifice without assigning Rudra a share, Rudra built a bow out of the four kinds of sacrifice, broke Savitri's arms, tore out Bhaga's eyes and knocked out Pushan's teeth, and returned them all only when he was given his portion. The epic remembers him chiefly in that title, which the hymns to Mahadeva repeat.

In Their Words

We knew him not, and so we gave him nothing. That was the whole of our offence.

Pushan

Traits

  • Solar
  • Nourishing
  • Unwarlike
  • Maimed

Story Appearances

Character Arc

  1. The OmissionShares in a sacrifice from which Rudra is left out
  2. The BreakingHis teeth are struck away by the bow of the excluded god

Key Relationships

Places in Pushan's Story

Drawn from the story Pushan appears in.

Others counted among the Divine Beings.