in the Vedic phase of Hindu mythology, the god-sovereign, the personification of divine authority. He is the ruler of the sky realm and the upholder of cosmic and moral law (ṛta), a duty shared with the group of gods known as the Ādityas, of whom he was the chief. He is often jointly invoked with Mitra, who represents the more juridical side of their sovereignty, or the alliance between man and man, while Varuṇa represents the magical and speculative aspects, or the relationship between god and man. In later Hinduism, Varuṇa plays a lesser role. He is guardian of the west and is particularly associated with oceans and waters. Thus he is often attended by the river goddesses Gaṅgā and Yamunā. He corresponds closely to the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazdā.