Ahirbudhnya

the serpent of the deep

TraditionVedic

The serpent coiled at the world's foundation, holding the depths steady.

Ahirbudhnya, the serpent of the depths, is a Vedic deity of the foundation of the atmosphere and the hidden waters, invoked in the Rigveda for blessing alongside other celestial powers. He is paired in the tradition with Aja Ekapada, and later texts count him among the Rudras. He stands for stability drawn from the deep, and for benevolent power that works unseen.

Presides over Uttara Bhadrapada .

Sparsely attested in the hymns; later tradition counts him among the Rudras and regards him as gentler than his counterpart Aja Ekapada.