Mitra vishvAmitra varuNa vasiShTha

Source: TW

The rivalry between vishvAmitra& vasiShTha is mentioned in later H tradition. However, right in the R^igveda they show a peculiar theological inversion. vishvAmitra (RV 3) mentions mitra more often than varuNa & vasiShTha the reverse (RV 7). Others mention them roughly equally with varuNa>mitra

book mitra varuNa ratio
RV 1 101 110 0.9181818
RV 2 20 29 0.6896552
RV 3 24 14 1.7142857
RV 4 17 36 0.4722222
RV 5 60 62 0.9677419
RV 6 28 31 0.9032258
RV 7 68 123 0.5528455
RV 8 43 49 0.8775510
RV 9 22 26 0.8461538
RV 10 61 64 0.9531250

This original vasiShTha-vishvAmitra theological distinction did not find much traction in post-invasion India, with varuNa gradually fading away into his primarily watery function& mitra being absorbed into the Iranized saura cult. However, in the Iranic steppe we find greater mitra focality. Such a mitra-focal tradition was the likely precursor of western mithraism.