Parjanya
Parjanya, (parjánya) according to the 1965 Sanskrit–English dictionary by Shri Vaman Shivram Apte gives the following meanings:
- Rain-cloud, thunder cloud, a cloud in general
- Rain (as referred in the Shloka from Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 14)
- The god (deva) of rain i.e. Indra
Two hymns of the Rigveda, 5.83 and 7.101, are dedicated to Parjanya. In Vedic Sanskrit Parjanya means "rain" or "raincloud". Prayers dedicated to Parjanya, to invoke the blessings of rains are mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
Parjanya was also one of the Saptarishi (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the fifth Manvantara. He is one of the 12 Adityas and according to the Vishnu Purana, the guardian of the month of Kartik, a Gandharva and a Rishi in the Harivamsa. The name may be cognate with Lithuanian Perkūnas "god of thunder", Finnish Perkele "god of thunder", Gothic fairguni "mountain", Mordvin language Pur’ginepaz, see Perkwunos.
Read more about Parjanya: Reference From Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 14, Rig Veda Hymns To Parjanya