RATRI
Real Name: Ratri
Identity/Class: Hindu God
Occupation: Goddess of love, former goddess of night
Group Membership: Hindu Gods (Daevas)
Affiliations: Mahdi
Enemies: British Empire
Known Relatives: Dyaus (father), Prithivi (mother), Indra, Vayu, Surya, Agni, Tvashtri (brothers), Ushas (sister), Hanuman, Soma, Yama, Chandra (nephews), Arjuna, Kartikeya (nephews, deceased), Saranyu (niece), Ganga, Indrani (sisters-in-law), Varuna (grandfather), Gaea (great-grandmother, alias Aditi), Purusha (great-grandfather)
Aliases: Atri
Base of Operations: Nirvana
First Appearance: Amazing High Adventure#5 (December 1986)
Powers/Abilities: Ratri possesses the conventional attributes of the Hindu Gods including superhuman strength (Class 25), longevity, resistance to injury and several powers mystical in nature.
History: (Hindu Myth) Ratri is one of the ancient Vedic Gods who existed before the Hindu Pantheon. The personification of darkness, she and her sister, Ushas, the dawn-goddess, were often pursued by Surya, the sun-god. Ratri was also perceived as the guardian of law and order in the universe and the waves of time. She is generally a benign entity who offers rest and renewed vigor and who was also invoked to ensure safety through hours of darkness. She deposited the gift of morning dew as well as the harbinger of a bleaker aspect of one who brings gloom and barrenness.
In the new Hindu Pantheon, Ratri was relegated to a new position
as goddess of love replacing Lakshmi-Sri, the wife of Vishnu.
(Amazing High Adventure#5/3) <1870's> An Indian rebel
called the Mahdi, seeking to destroy the British army, prayed to the Hindu
gods, demanding the power to fight the British. In a vision, Yama (god of
the dead), Ratri (goddess of night), Agni (god of fire, two-headed), Maya
(goddess of dreams), and Kali granted the Mahdi powers and weapons to fight
the British. From Yama, the Mahdi gained a fiery sword, from Ratri the power
of "the night's shadows", from Agni sacrificial flame, from Maya the power
to drive his enemies to despair with illusions, and from Kali the wheel of
destruction. The Mahdi then used these powers in battle-only to discover
too late that he had offended the gods by trying to order them around. The
Mahdi's weapons were only illusions, and he died in battle.
Comments: Adapted by Bill Mantlo and Steve
Purcell.
An odd mistake on the part of the author of the
Amazing High Adventures concept. The concept of a
Mahdi is a Muslim, not a Hindu concept. The Mahdi will
serve as an assistant to Jesus when Muslims believe
Jesus will return to stop the Anti-Christ, protect
Muslims, and kill all pigs.
--John McDonagh
PROFILE BY: Thor2000 and Per Degaton
CLARIFICATIONS: Ratri is not to be confused
with:
Appearances:
Amazing High Adventures#5 (December, 1986) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Steve Purcell (pencils), Del Barras (inks), Carl Potts (editor)
Last updated: 02/06/11
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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