Mehrban मेहरबाँ مهربان
Meaning: Kind, Gentle, Compassionate, Friendly.
First post of this blog starts with a simple
word from Farsi and Urdu which has seeped into colloquial Hindi too. This word
is not only used as an adjective but also used as a proper noun.
The etymology of the word, 'Mehrban', though, tells a different story. This has enough power to give conservative Ayatollahs and Mullahs a few nightmares.
'Mehrban', literally means, 'Observant or Subservient to Mithra'. The meaning of the word was actually the traits of the god ‘Mithira’ or ‘Mitra’.
I wonder how many times people use this word without realizing that they are invoking an old Indo-Persian god and asking to be subservient to it. ‘Mitra/Mithra’ is a God out of old Hindu Vedic & Zoroastrianism traditions. They share many common characteristics and there is ample evidence that they are one or very close in their origins.
‘Mitra’ in Sanskrit means 'that which binds' and has come to mean 'a friend'. ‘Mithra/Mitra’ was known for its bravery and the power behind the Sun. However, its main traits remains that it is kind, compassionate and a great benefactor.
The etymology of the word, 'Mehrban', though, tells a different story. This has enough power to give conservative Ayatollahs and Mullahs a few nightmares.
'Mehrban', literally means, 'Observant or Subservient to Mithra'. The meaning of the word was actually the traits of the god ‘Mithira’ or ‘Mitra’.
I wonder how many times people use this word without realizing that they are invoking an old Indo-Persian god and asking to be subservient to it. ‘Mitra/Mithra’ is a God out of old Hindu Vedic & Zoroastrianism traditions. They share many common characteristics and there is ample evidence that they are one or very close in their origins.
‘Mitra’ in Sanskrit means 'that which binds' and has come to mean 'a friend'. ‘Mithra/Mitra’ was known for its bravery and the power behind the Sun. However, its main traits remains that it is kind, compassionate and a great benefactor.
The reason to start
here is that we would encounter ‘Mitra/Mithra’ again and again during this journey. He is probably
the most copied, borrowed and reassembled God. ‘Mitra’ and its associates ‘Varuna’ & ‘Soma / Haoma’ (Divine elixir) have
inspired more myth, gods and legends than any other cultural icon.
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