Mitra (Hindu god)

Mitra
God of friendship, oaths and the morning sun
Member of Adityas
A possible wooden depiction of Mitra from Tajikistan
Devanagari	मित्र
Sanskrit transliteration	mitrá
Affiliation	Varuna, Deva, Adityas
Abode	Devaloka
Mantra	Om Mitraya Namah
Weapon	Sword
Mount	Horse
Personal information
Parents	Kashyapa (father) Aditi (mother)
Consort	Revati
Children	Vashishtha and Agastya (from Urvashi) Utsarga, Arishta and Pippala (from Revati)

Mitra (Sanskrit: मित्र IAST: Mitrá) is a Hindu god and generally one of the Adityas (the sons of the goddess Aditi), though his role has changed over time. In the Mitanni inscription, Mitra is invoked as one of the protectors of treaties. In the Rigveda, Mitra appears primarily in the dvandva compound Mitra-Varuna, which has essentially the same attributes as the god Varuna alone,^[1] e.g. as the principal guardian of ṛtá "Truth, Order". In the late Vedic texts and the Brahmanas, Mitra is increasingly associated with the light of dawn and the morning sun (while Varuna becomes associated with the evening, and ultimately the night). In the post-Vedic texts – in which Mitra practically disappears^[2] – Mitra evolved into the patron divinity of friendship, and because he is "friend", abhors all violence, even when sacred.^[3]