BRIHASPATI

brihaspati, or brahmanaspati ("god of strength"), a deity of importance in early hindu mythology. in the rigveda he is represented as the god of prayer, aiding indra in his conquest of the cloud-demon, and at times appears to be identified with agni, god of fire. he is the offspring of heaven and earth, the two worlds; is the inspirer of prayer and the guide and protector of the pious. he is pictured as having seven mouths, a hundred wings and horns and is armed with bow and arrows and an axe. he rides in a chariot drawn by red horses. in the later scriptures he is represented as a rishi or seer. see a.a. macdonell, _vedic mythology_ (strassburg, 1897).