Varuna was a powerful god in early Hinduism, ruling over the ocean of gods and ensuring universal order. He was associated with water, rain, and the underworld, and depicted as a tall white man riding a sea monster. Varuna punished those who broke oaths and observed all that transpired on earth. In later traditions, his role as the god of rain became more important. In the Ramayana, Rama prayed to Varuna for assistance in crossing the ocean, and after attacking the water, Varuna appeared and allowed him to build a bridge.
Varuna is one of the most powerful gods of early Hinduism, later becoming a god of water. He was regarded as having dominion over the ocean of gods, ruling the sky, bringing rains, overseeing the underworld, and establishing universal law.
Varuna is seen as the most omniscient of the early Hindu gods, and is often regarded as omnipotent as well. His role was to ensure that order was maintained throughout the universe. He was considered the sacred guardian of the force of rta, which is the force that keeps the universe exactly as it should be. It was Varuna who ensured that the sun crossed the sky, separating day and night, and kept the earth fixed.
Varuna is usually depicted as a tall white man, wearing shining golden armor. He pushed his way on his mount, Makana or Makara, a strange sea monster. Sometimes Makara was seen as a sort of mix of crocodiles and dolphins, or occasionally as a huge fish with the head of an elephant. He often carried around a noose formed by a snake and was known as the Cosmic Executioner in his most vengeful role.
Varuna ensured that the laws were always observed. Not only the laws of nature, over which he presided, but also the laws and oaths of man. When a man broke an oath, it was Varuna who punished him. He was depicted as omniscient, and the nearly infinite stars were said to be his eyes, observing all that transpired on earth and in the minds of men. He was also associated with the underworld and together with Yama guided people there and supervised them in the afterlife, and he could choose to give them the boon of immortality if he wished.
Varuna was also accused of dominating the celestial ocean of the gods. It was from this ocean that all rain came to earth, and therefore he was responsible for the rains that fed the crops and made life possible. In later Hindu traditions this role gradually became more and more important for Varuna, as his omniscience and omnipotence were overshadowed by the gods of Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva.
One of the most famous myths involving Varuna comes from the Ramayana. In it, an avatar of the great god Vishnu, Rama, wishes to cross the mighty ocean of Lanka. He prays and offers sacrifices to Varuna, begging him to assist him. When Varuna doesn’t respond, Rama begins attacking the waters of the ocean itself, killing the creatures within and setting the water on fire. Finally Varuna appears, as Rama is about to use a weapon capable of destroying all creation and apologizes to Rama. He calms the waters, allowing you to build a bridge across the ocean. The account demonstrates the righteousness of Rama and also acts as a parable to say that violence can be justified after righteous holy deeds have been done and received no response from the gods.
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