Lexicon

of Rig Veda

saramā, Sarama

The word is derived from sṛ and means running, speeding. It is the name of the Goddess Intuition, one of the perceptual abilities of direct perception of Truth. Sri Aurobindo wrote about Sarama, “We may note, however, that neither in this hymn, nor in the others we have noticed is there the least indication of the figure of the divine hound which was attributed to Sarama in a possibly later development of the Vedic imagery. It is surely the shining fairfooted goddess by whom the Panis are attracted and whom they desire as their sister,— not as a dog to guard their cattle, but as one who will share in the possession of their riches. The image of the hound of heaven is, however, exceedingly apt and striking and was bound to develop out of the legend.” (CWSA.– Vol.15.– Pondicherry, 1998, p.220.)