Kalpurush or Mriga: The Multiple Tales of Orion in Indian Mythology

Indian mythology is full of stories about heavenly bodies, whether they are planets like Shani and Shukra or constellations like the revered Sapta Rishis. The hunter in the sky, or the Orion, also finds itself at the centre of many rich mythological Indian tales.

The Orion constellation in the night sky | The Planets

The cosmic sky has fascinated humans all around the world since time immemorial. The Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Greeks, Persians, and Egyptians, have all tried to make sense of the seamless skies overhead since the dawn of civilisations. Many of them also believed stars to be Gods. Naturally, then, the sun, moon, and stars have been a part of collective fascination since the dawn of humanity. Different people and civilisations have associated various planetary movements, stars and constellations, and other cosmic phenomena with different stories. One such story is of the hunter in the sky- the Orion. The constellation, named by the Greeks after the mythological hunter Orion, remarkably forms an outline of a celestial hunter ready to strike. Its seven brightest stars form a distinctive hourglass-shaped pattern in the night sky, that resembles the body of a hunter adorning a shield, a club or sword, and a three-starred belt across the waist.

'The Celestial Shepherd', 'Orion-the hunter', 'the Giant', 'the Archer'- and many more such descriptions mark the constellation across various cultures. Indian mythology too has many fables and stories associated with the warrior constellation.  The Orion Constellation is referred to as 'Mriga' in the Rigveda, which literally means 'the deer.' Nataraja, often referred to as 'the cosmic dancer,' is sometimes viewed as a portrayal of Orion. The constellation is also linked with Rudra, Shiva's Rigvedic form.

The legend of Mriga is closely linked with the myth of creation in early Hindu mythology. The story goes that Prajapati (the supreme creator) developed a yearning for his own daughter Usha. The other Gods were horrified by this incestuous relationship. The appalled Gods reached out to Rudra or Shiva in order to avoid this incest. Usha, on the other hand, was embarrassed by Prajapati's attention and kept changing her form. However, Prajapati adopted the equivalent male form of each of Usha's manifestations each time. In this traditional account, the Orion constellation takes the appearance of a deer (mriga) rather than a person. The three stars across the centre depict the three-knotted arrow with which the deer-impersonated Prajapati was killed or slain. The four stars in the four corners depict the deer's hooves. The constellation is also called Mrigashira, meaning the deer's head and the brightest star in the middle is often called the Kalapurush, meaning time personified.

The same story is mirrored in the sky as the legend of Orion-Taurus. Here, Prajapati, who has taken the form of an antelope, is represented by the sign of Taurus. It is Rudra who is represented by Orion, the hunter with a bow and arrow, who is attempting to prevent Prajapati from committing this transgression.

Another legend associated with the constellation includes the mighty God Shiva. In this narrative, Orion is a hunter who is waiting for a hunt on top of a tree when he spots a lovely deer. As he is about to shoot his arrow at the deer, she tells him that she has a little baby at home, and the deer would be thankful if he allowed her one final chance to see its baby before its death. Not expecting to see her again, the hunter lets her go. In the meantime, while sitting on the tree, the hunter unintentionally takes leaves off the Bilva tree and drops them on the ground onto a Shiva linga. To everyone's surprise, the deer, honouring its word, returns to perish at the behest of the hunter's arrow. Lord Shiva, pleased with the offering of Bilva leaves, and moved by this display of bravery, morality, and integrity, raises them to the skies as Orion and Taurus.

Another story is related to Shiva's warrior son, Skanda.  Skanda is both the god of war as well as the General of the gods. According to the Mahabharata, Orion was the warrior God, Skanda. The story goes that Skanda, riding his favourite mount, the peacock, thrust his spear into the White Mountain. The mountain's top split off into the sky, becoming the Milky Way or the Aakashganga.

A story also goes that the nearly invincible demon Tarakasura was wreaking havoc across realms. He could only be defeated by a seven-year-old child, as per a boon given to him by Lord Brahma. This child was Skanda, the son of Shiva-Parvati. Trained in martial arts since childhood, the scion of Shiva, armed with his divine spear, led the army of the Gods into a fierce battle. He killed the demon Tarakasura by thrusting his spear through his heart. This legend was immortalised in the stars as the Kalpurush*,* or the hunter, constellation.

Throughout history, the night sky has been a canvas for human imagination, with countless stories interwoven into the stars and celestial bodies. These ancient mythologies have created a captivating tapestry of tales, binding the stars together in an enigmatic storybook. Orion is one of the constellations that has particularly inspired the minds of people across cultures. The imagination of a hunter has inspired many tales surrounding the constellation, as the grouping of stars in Orion's form resembles that of a mighty hunter aiming his bow.  Be it the Kalpurush or the Mriga- the constellation has held a special place in the hearts and minds of Indian storytellers, astrologers, astronomers and sages too, since times immemorial.

Orion's enduring presence in cultural narratives reflects the deep connection between humanity and the universe, reminding us of our place in the vast expanse of space. These cosmic stories continue to pique our interest, fuelling our quest for knowledge and comprehension of the universe. The Orion constellation and the many tales around it are a timeless emblem of the human spirit's never-ending search for significance and adventure beyond Earth's boundaries.