[[pii-gods]] *** # THE MAGIC (`*māyā`) KNOWING (`*mazdʰáH` ) LORD (`*Hásuras`) ## Forms Iranian **Ahura Mazdā** Vedic **Váruṇa** ## Characteristics Scholars use to see him as a sky god, and mistakenly linked Váruṇa with Greek [[ouranos]]. Later scholars, including [[lincoln1981]]p57- saw them as follows: - concerned with sovereignty - connected to, but not identical with, the [[sky]]. Highest and thus all seeing and thus all knowing - **Wise/Knowledgeable**. Ahura Mazdā means literally "Knowing Lord" and Váruṇa is characterized as Skt. *medhira-* "knowing/wise" and *pracetā* "wise". What specific kind of knowledge is meant? Magic (Skt. māyā, Av. hu-māyā) that was used to create the world. ## Narratives [[narrative-pii-creation]]