Verethragna

Yazata of victory and war who appears in ten incarnate forms; the smasher of resistance and giver of triumph.

Domains

• victory
• war might

Powers

• Smash every obstacle and break the enemy's resistance
• Take ten incarnate forms to deliver victory to worshippers
• Bestow strength, virility, and keen vision on the faithful

Epithets

• Vǝrǝθraγna avestan · Verethragna · hymnicSmasher of resistance / victory; the yazata of triumphBahram Yasht (Yasht 14), enumerating his ten incarnate forms (primary)
• vǝrǝθrajan avestan · verethrajan · hymnicVictorious / overcomer of obstacles; the giver of warlike mightBahram Yasht (Yasht 14.1, 14.40) (primary)
• Vārəγna avestan · Varengna · avestaThe bird Vārəγna (falcon/raven); the swift winged form, one of his ten incarnationsBahrām Yašt (Yašt 14.19–21) (primary)

Relations

• equated with: Orlagno
• companion: MithraIn boar shape Verethragna runs before Mithra's chariot, mowing down the breakers of covenant.Avesta, Mihr Yasht (Yt. 10.70) (primary)
• equated with: VahagnVahagn is the Armenian reflex of Verethragna (via Parthian *Warhagn). Preserves the victory-god core; the Armenian god gains a native dragon-slayer epic and fiery reed-birth hymn absent in the Avesta.J. R. Russell, Zoroastrianism in Armenia (1987) (secondary)

Sources

• existence: Avesta, Yasht 14 (Bahram Yasht) (primary)