Vena | |
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Family |
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Children | Prithu and Nisada (born from his body after churning)[1] |
Vena (Sanskrit: वेन, romanized: Vena, lit. 'tormentor') is a king in Hinduism, notorious for his wickedness and misrule. A descendant of the first Manu, he bans all worship, offerings, and sacrifices upon his accession. After denying all petitions to restore these practices, Vena is slain by sages with their consecrated blades of grass. He is succeeded by the legendary king Prithu, who springs from his right arm.[2]
In the Rigveda (10.123), Vena is a personification of a celestial being, perhaps the rainbow. The name of the hymn is also Vena, as is the name of the author of RV 9.85.