उषस्

Sanskrit

Etymology

Wikipedia

From Proto-Indo-European *h₂usṓs, zero grade of *h₂ewsṓs (“dawn”), which was also personified as a goddess of dawn in Proto-Indo-European religion. Cognates include Latin Aurora/aurora, Ancient Greek Ἠώς (Ēōs)/ἠώς (hēōs) and possibly Old English Ēostre.

Noun

उषस् (uṣás) f

1. morning light, dawn, morning
   • RV 3.20.1

     अग्निमुषसमश्विना दधिक्रां वयुष्टिषु हवते वह्निरुक्थैः |

     सुज्योतिषो नः शर्ण्वन्तु देवाः सजोषसो अध्वरं वावशानाः |

     aghnimuṣasamaśvinā dadhikrāṃ vyuṣṭiṣu havate vahnirukthaiḥ |

     sujyotiṣo naḥ śṛṇvantu devāḥ sajoṣaso adhvaraṃ vāvaśānāḥ ||

     WITH lauds at break of morn the priest invoketh Agni, Dawn, Dadhikrās, and both the Aśvins.

     With one consent the Gods whose light is splendid, longing to taste our sacrifice, shall hear us.

2. Ushas (personified as the daughter of heaven and sister of the Adityas and the night)
   • RV 6.64.1

     उदु शरिय उषसो रोचमाना अस्थुरपां नोर्मयो रुशन्तः |

     कर्णोति विश्वा सुपथा सुगान्यभूदु वस्वी दक्षिणामघोनी ||

     udu śriya uṣaso rocamānā asthurapāṃ normayo ruśantaḥ |

     kṛṇoti viśvā supathā sughānyabhūdu vasvī dakṣiṇāmaghonī ||

     THE radiant Dawns have risen up for glory, in their white splendour like the waves of waters.

     She maketh paths all easy, fair to travel, and, rich, hath shown herself benign and friendly.

3. the evening light
4. name of a wife of Bhava or Rudra
5. (in dual) night and morning
   • RV 3.4.6

     आ भन्दमाने उषसा उपाके उत समयेते तन्वा विरूपे |

     यथा नो मित्रो वरुणो जुजोषदिन्द्रो मरुत्वानुत वा महोभिः ||

     ā bhandamāne uṣasā upāke uta smayete tanvā virūpe |

     yathā no mitro varuṇo jujoṣadindro marutvānuta vā mahobhiḥ ||

     Night and Dawn, lauded, hither come together, both smiling, different are their forms in colour,

     That Varuṇa and Mitra may accept us, and Indra, girt by Maruts, with his glories.

Noun

उषस् (uṣás) n

1. daybreak, dawn, twilight
2. the outer passage of the ear
3. the मालय (mālaya) range