Bagisht the River-Lord
Nuristani · deity · perennial (pre Islamic Kafiristan) · Recorded classification
One of the gods created by Imra (with Mon and Gish) in the standard account, though birth-myths make him son of Disani. River/wealth god; Kamviri bagíšt. parentId links to Disani per the birth-myth.
Parentage
- parent: Disani the Earth-Mother
Domains
- rivers and waters
- wealth and prosperity
Powers
- calms the river torrent at his birth
- grants the prosperity of flood-watered fields
- makes the irrigation channels run and the flood-fed fields prosper
Relations
- nephew of: Indra in southern Nuristani accountsMichael Witzel, Kalash Religion, extract from The Ṛgvedic Religious System (2004), §§1.5.1–1.5.3, pp.3–8 and n.4 (secondary)
Sources
- Bagisht, son of the goddess Disani, is the Nuristani Kafir god of river flood-waters and prosperity, born in the Prasun river current (which he calmed), with simple shrines set beside water and sacrificial meat at the agricultural festivals.: Robertson, G.S. (1896). The Kafirs of the Hindu-Kush. London: Lawrence & Bullen. (scholarship); Buddruss, G. (1974). Some Reflections on a Kafir Myth, in K. Jettmar & L. Edelberg (eds.), Cultures of the Hindukush. Wiesbaden: Steiner. (scholarship)