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'''Vala''' (''{{IAST|valá-}}''), meaning "enclosure" in [[Vedic Sanskrit]], is a demon of the [[Rigveda]] and the [[Atharvaveda]], the brother of [[Vritra|Vrtra]].{{dubious|date=July 2015}}{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}.

Historically, it has the same origin as the Vrtra story, being derived from the same root, and from the same root also as [[Varuna]], ''*val-/var-'' (PIE ''*wel-'') "to cover, to enclose" (perhaps cognate to ''[[veil]]'').

Parallel to Vrtra "the blocker", a stone serpent slain by [[Indra]] to liberate the rivers, Vala is a stone cave, split by Indra (intoxicated and strengthened by [[Soma (drink)|Soma]], identified with [[Brhaspati]] in 4.50 and 10.68 or [[Trita]] in 1.52, aided by the [[Angiris|Angiras]]as in 2.11), to liberate the cows and [[Ushas]], hidden there by the [[Panis]].

Already in 2.24, the story is given a mystical interpretation, with warlike Indra replaced by [[Brahmanaspati]], the lord of prayer, who split Vala with prayer (''[[brahman]]'') rather than with the thunderbolt.

Vala is mentioned 23 times in the Rigveda, Vala appears in hymns [[Mandala 1|RV 1]].11, 52, 62, [[Mandala 2|RV 2]].11, 12, 14, 15, 24, [[Mandala 3|RV 3]].30, 34, [[Mandala 4|RV 4]], 50, [[Mandala 6|RV 6]].18, 39, [[Mandala 8|RV 8]].14, 24, [[Mandala 10|RV 10]].67, 68, 138.

Central verses of the story (trans. Griffith):
:2.12.3 ''Who slew the [[Vrtra|Dragon]], freed the [[Sapta Sindhu|Seven Rivers]], and drove the kine forth from the cave of Vala, ''
:'' Begat the fire between two stones, the spoiler in warriors' battle, He, O men, is Indra.''

:2.15.8 ''Praised by the Angirases he slaughtered Vala, and burst apart the bulwarks of the mountain.''
:''He tore away their deftly-built defences. These things did Indra in the [[Soma (drink)|Soma]]'s rapture.''

:8.14.7 ''In Soma's ecstasy Indra spread the firmament and realms of light, when he cleft Vala limb from limb.'' (compare to this description the [[Purusha sukta]])

:10.68.6 ''Brhaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the weapon of reviling Vala,''
:''Consumed him as tongues eat what teeth have compassed: he threw the prisons of the red cows open.''

:1.11.5 ''[[thunder god|Lord of the thunder]], thou didst burst the cave of Vala rich in cows.''
:''The Gods came pressing to thy side, and free from terror aided thee,''

:1.62.4 ''Mid shout, loud shout, and roar, with the Navagvas, seven singers, hast thou, heavenly, rent the mountain;''
:''Thou hast, with speeders, with Dasagvas, Indra, Shakra, with thunder rent obstructive Vala.''

==References==
*Janda, M., ''Eleusis, das indogermanische Erbe der Mysterien'' (1998).

{{Rigveda}}
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]

Vala (Vedic) - Revision history

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