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The Ribhus

Also called: Ribhu, Vaja, Vibhvan, Ribhukshan, Saudhanvanas

Three brothers, Ribhu, Vaja and Vibhvan, sons of Sudhanvan, praised in eleven hymns of the Rigveda. Born mortal, they became gods by skill: they built the Ashvins' chariot, made Indra's bay horses, drew a cow from a hide, made their aged parents young and turned Tvashtri's one cup into four. Savitr gave them immortality and the third pressing of Soma is their share. They slept twelve days in the house of Agohya, the Sun. The Brahmanas say the gods shrank from their human scent; the Puranas do not continue their story.

craft merit immortality

Sources: Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer; Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897); Rigveda Brahmanas: the Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas, tr. A. B. Keith (1920) · see The Ribhus's web

Relations 8

The Ribhus child of

  • Indra (God)
    The Ribhus are once addressed together as the son of Indra (RV 4.37.4). Their usual name is sons of Sudhanvan.
  • Manu (Sage)
    The Ribhus are once called children of Manu (RV 3.60.3). Their usual name is sons of Sudhanvan.

The Ribhus received a boon from

The Ribhus rival of

  • Tvashtri (God) · The Ribhus make four cups from one
    They make his one cup into four; he hides and threatens them in RV 1.161.
  • Tvashtri (God)
    When the Ribhus made four cups out of his one, Tvashtri hid among the goddesses and wished to kill them (RV 1.161.4-5).

The Ribhus sibling of

  • Agni (God)
    The Ribhus address Agni as their brother (RV 1.161.1, 3).

The Ribhus taught by

Stories 2

Cited