Aranyani, the Hindu goddess of the woods and forest, has been worshipped in India for centuries as a representation of the highest expression of life and fertility. She governs the forests and is the protectress and the guardian of animals. She is the mother of them all.
Aranyani has been described as elusive, fond of quiet glades in the jungle, and fearless of remote places; She a rarely seen deity who is recognized in the sounds of the trees, particularly at dusk. Yet, Aranyani has the distinction of having one of the most descriptive hymns in the Rig Veda dedicated to Her.
Her worship has declined in modern day Hinduism, and it is rare to find a temple dedicated to Aranyani.
Goddess of wild and forest who seemest to vanish from the sight.
How is it that thou seekest not the village? Art thou not afraid?
What time the grasshopper replies and swells the shrill cicala's voice,
Seeming to sound with tinkling bells, the Lady of the Wood exults.
And, yonder, cattle seem to graze, what seems a dwelling-place appears:
Or else at eve the Lady of the Forest seems to free the wains.
Here one is calling to his cow, another there hath felled a tree:
At eve the dweller in the wood fancies that somebody hath screamed.
The Goddess never slays, unless some murderous enemy approach.
Man eats of savoury fruit and then takes, even as he wills, his rest.
Now have I praised the Forest Queen, sweet-scented, redolent of balm,
The Mother of all sylvan things, who tills not but hath stores of food.
Rig Veda Book 10
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