Aesir-Asura correspondence

Aesir-Asura correspondence is the relation between aesir (a Proto-Germanic word) and asura (an Sanskrit word).

Linguistics

Webster's Dictionary says that aesir is akin to asura, which is Webster's method of saying that they are both descended from a common root word. These words appear to dervied from Proto-Indo-European *ansu- 'breath, god'.

Meaning

Both words describe a family of gods, the Aesir is the pantheon of the principal Norse gods, and Asura are a group of Hindu gods. Each group is set up against another group of gods; the Aesir principally oppose the giants, wheras the Asura oppose the devas.

External links

• Ask A Linguist - Aesir >< Asura?