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{{Infobox deity
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| type = Hindu
| image = Vayu deva.JPG
| image = Vayu Deva.jpg
| caption = Vayu, on his mount, [[gazelle]]
| caption = Vayu (dikpala), on his mount, [[gazelle]]
| name = Vāyu
| name = Vāyu
| other_names = Anil, Pavan, Vyān, Vāta, Tanun, Mukhyaprana, Bharati Ramana, Bheema
| other_names = Anil, Pavan, Vyān, Vāta, Tanun, Mukhyaprana, Bheema
| Devanagari = वायु
| Devanagari = वायु
| Sanskrit_transliteration = ''Vāyu''
| Sanskrit_transliteration = ''Vāyu''
| affiliation = [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]], [[Mukhyaprana]] and [[Pavamana]]
| affiliation = [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]
| god_of = God of the [[Wind]] and [[Breath]]
| god_of = God of [[Air]], [[Wind]], and [[Breath]]
| member_of = the [[Pancha Bhoota]]
| member_of = the [[Pancha Bhoota]] and [[Dikpala]]
| abode = Pawanloka
| abode = Vayu Loka, [[Brahmaloka|Satya Loka]]
| mantra = Om Vayave namaha
| mantra = Om Vayave namaha
| weapon = [[Goad]]
| incarnations = [[Hanuman]], [[Bhima]], [[Madhva]]
| consort = Bharati or Svasti<ref>{{cite book|title=Purandara and the Haridasa Movement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MK5WAAAAMAAJ|page=200|author=M. V. Krishna Rao|publisher=Karnatak University|year=1966}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kindler|first=Babaji Bob|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UP5-AwAAQBAJ&q=Vayu&pg=PT128|title=Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali|date=1996-07-04|publisher=SRV Associations|isbn=978-1-891893-17-9|language=en}}</ref>
| siblings =
| parents =
| parents =
| mount = [[Gazelle]]
* Vishvapurusha <small>(according to the [[Rigveda]])<ref name="Mani">{{Cite book |last=Mani |first=Vettam |url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/849/mode/1up?view=theater |title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature |date=1975 |publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass |others=Robarts - University of Toronto |isbn=978-0-8426-0822-0}}</ref></small>
| children =[[Hanuman]] and [[Bhima]] (spiritual sons)
* [[Vishnu]] and [[Lakshmi]] <small>(according to [[Madvacharya|Madhva sect]])</small><ref>{{cite book|title=Texts in Context: Traditional Hermeneutics in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryswPhIBcZkC|page=113|author=Jeffrey R. Timm|publisher=SUNY Press|date=1 January 1992|isbn=9780791407967}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Dynamics of Faith: Comparative Religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UW1AAAAAIAAJ|page=209|author=Khagendranath Mitra|publisher=University of Calcutta|year=1952|quote=Brahmā and Vāyu are the sons of Vishnu and Lakshmi.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Hinduism, Religion and Way of Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lloqAAAAYAAJ|page=124|author=Satyavrata Ramdas Patel|publisher=Associated Publishing House|year=1980| isbn=9780686997788 |quote=The Supreme Being, Vishnu or Nārāyana, is the personal first cause. He is the Intelligent Governor of the world and lives in Vaikuntha along with Lakshmi, His consort. He and His consort Lakshmi are real. Brahma and Vāyu are His two sons.}}</ref>  
| children =  
*[[Hanuman]]
*[[Bhima]]
| weapon =  
*[[Gada (weapon)|Mace]] (Weapon of Mukhyaprana Vayu)
*[[Goad]] (Weapon of Dikpala Vayu)
| consort =  
* A daughter of [[Tvashta]]<ref name = "Mani" />
* Bharati <small>(according to [[Madvacharya|Madhva sect]])</small><ref>{{cite book|title=Studies in Indology and Medieval History: Prof. G. H. Khare Felicitation Volume|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8EtAQAAIAAJ|author1=Gaṇeśa Harī Khare|author2=Madhukar Shripad Mate|author3=G. T. Kulkarni|publisher=Joshi & Lokhande Prakashan|year=1974|page=244|quote=In Vayu and other Puranas, Vayudeva (different from Astadikpala Vayu), next to Brahma in grade, is also said to have five heads like Siva and Brahma and his consort is Bharatidevi.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Purandara and the Haridasa Movement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MK5WAAAAMAAJ|page=200|author=M. V. Krishna Rao|publisher=Karnatak University|year=1966}}</ref>
| mount = Chariot drawn by [[Horses]], [[Gazelle]]
}}
}}
'''Vayu''' ({{IPA-sa|ʋaːjʊ}}, {{lang-sa|[[wikt:वायु|वायु]]}}, {{IAST3|Vāyu}}) is a primary [[deva (Hinduism)|Hindu deity]], the lord of the winds as well as deity of breath and the spiritual father of [[Hanuman]] and [[Bhima]]. He is also known as '''Anila''' ('air, wind'), '''Vyāna''' ('air'), '''Vāta''' ('airy element'), '''Tanuna''' ('the wind'), '''Pavana''' ('the purifier'),<ref name="jansen1993">{{Citation | title=The book of Hindu imagery: The Gods and their Symbols |author1=Eva Rudy Jansen |author2=Tony Langham | year=1993 | publisher=Binkey Kok Publications | isbn=978-90-74597-07-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iASyoae8cMC | quote=God of the wind ... also known as Vata or Pavan ... exceptional beauty ... moves on noisily in his shining coach ... white banner ...}}</ref> and sometimes '''Prāṇa''' ('the [[Energy (esotericism)|life force]]').
'''Vayu''' ({{IPA-sa|ʋaːjʊ}}, {{lang-sa|[[wikt:वायु|वायु]]}}, {{IAST3|Vāyu}}), also known as '''Vata''' and '''Pavana''',<ref name="jansen1993">{{Citation | title=The book of Hindu imagery: The Gods and their Symbols |author1=Eva Rudy Jansen |author2=Tony Langham | year=1993 | publisher=Binkey Kok Publications | isbn=978-90-74597-07-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iASyoae8cMC | quote=God of the wind ... also known as Vata or Pavan ... exceptional beauty ... moves on noisily in his shining coach ... white banner ...}}</ref> is the [[deva (Hinduism)|Hindu god]] of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the ''[[Vedic scriptures]]'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with [[Indra]], the king of gods. He is mentioned to be born from the breath of Supreme Being Vishvapurusha and also the first one to drink [[Soma (drink)|Soma]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jamison |first1=Stephanie W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-PRAwAAQBAJ&dq=v%C4%81yu&pg=PA631 |title=The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India |last2=Brereton |first2=Joel P. |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-937018-4 |language=en}}</ref> The ''[[Upanishads]]'' praise him as ''Prana'' or 'life breath of the world'. In the later Hindu scriptures, he is described as a [[Dikpala]] (guardians of the direction), who looks over the North-west direction.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&q=Vayu | title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology | isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 | last1=Williams | first1=George M. | date=27 March 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Chandra">{{Cite book |last=Chandra |first=Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC&q=Vayu |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses |date=1998 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-039-9 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Hindu epics]] describe him as the father of the god [[Hanuman]] and [[Bhima]].<ref name = "D">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HMXN9h6WX0C&q=Vayu&pg=RA1-PA260 | title=The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series | isbn=9780892813544 | last1=Daniélou | first1=Alain | date=December 1991 }}</ref>
 
Indian author Vanamali says, "[[Vaishnavite]]s or followers of [[Vishnu]], believe that the wind god Vayu underwent three incarnations to help Lord Vishnu. As [[Hanuman]] he helped [[Rama]], as [[Bhima]], he assisted [[Krishna]], and as [[Madhvacharya]] (1238 - 1317) he founded the Vaishnava sect called [[Dvaita]]".{{Sfn|Vanamali|2010|p=14}} [[Indologist]] and author G. R. Sholapurkar says, "It is said that the philosophy propounded by [[Madhvacharya]] was originally handed over by Vayu to his son [[Hanuman]], who gave it to [[Bheema]] and in the end was received by Anand Teertha or Madhvacharya.{{Sfn|Sholapurkar|1992|p=308}}
The followers of the 13th-century saint [[Madhva]] believe their guru as an [[avatar|incarnation]] of Vayu.<ref name = "DH" >{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkkFCwAAQBAJ|page=187|author=Jeffery D. Long|publisher=Scarecrow Press|date=9 September 2011| isbn=9780810879607 |quote=Born near Udipi in Karnataka, where he spent most of his life, Madhva is believed by his devotees to be the third incarnation or avatāra of Vāyu, the Vedic god of the wind (the first two incarnations being Hanuman and Bhīma).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Religious Debates in Indian Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V0hZEAAAQBAJ|page=176|author=Ravi Prakash|publisher=K.K. Publications|date=15 January 2022|quote=According to tradition, Madhvacarya is believed to be the third incarnation of Vayu (Mukhyaprana), after Hanuman and Bhima.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Gayatri: The Profound Prayer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-3blDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA90|page=90|author=R. K. Madhukar|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|date=1 January 2014|isbn=978-8178-22467-1|quote=Vayu is accorded the status of a deva, an important God in the ancient literature. Lord Hanuman, who is considered to be one of the avatars of Vayudeva, is described as Mukhyaprana.}}</ref> They worship the wind deity as '''Mukhyaprana''' and consider him as the son of the god [[Vishnu]].


==Connotations==
==Connotations==
The word for [[air (classical element)|air]] (''vāyu'') or wind (''pavana'') is one of the [[Classical element#Classical elements in Hinduism|classical elements in Hinduism]]. The [[Sanskrit]] word ''Vāta'' literally means '[[:wikt:blown|blown]]'; ''Vāyu'', '[[:wikt:blower|blower]]' and ''Prāna'', '[[:wikt:breathing|breathing]]' (viz. the breath of life, cf. the *''an''- in [[:wikt:animate|''animate'']]). Hence, the primary referent of the word is the 'deity of life', who is sometimes for clarity referred to as Mukhya-Vāyu (the chief Vayu) or Mukhya Prāna (the chief of life force or vital force).<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Encyclopaedia, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSbgGLdGSRIC|page=7839|author=Subodh Kapoor|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|year=2002|isbn = 9788177552577|quote=Mukhya Prana - The chief vital air}}</ref>
The word for [[air (classical element)|air]] (''vāyu'') or wind (''pavana'') is one of the [[Classical element#Classical elements in Hinduism|classical elements in Hinduism]]. The [[Sanskrit]] word ''Vāta'' literally means '[[:wikt:blown|blown]]'; ''Vāyu'', '[[:wikt:blower|blower]]' and ''Prāna'', '[[:wikt:breathing|breathing]]' (viz. the breath of life, cf. the *''an''- in [[:wikt:animate|''animate'']]). Hence, the primary referent of the word is the 'deity of life', who is sometimes for clarity referred to as Mukhya-Vāyu (the chief Vayu) or Mukhya Prāna (the chief of life force or vital force).<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Encyclopaedia, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSbgGLdGSRIC|page=7839|author=Subodh Kapoor|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|year=2002|isbn = 9788177552577|quote=Mukhya Prana - The chief vital air}}</ref>


Sometimes the word ''vāyu'', which is more generally used in the sense of the physical air or wind, is used as a synonym for ''prāna''.<ref name=Raju1954>{{Citation | author = Raju, P.T. | year = 1954 | title = The concept of the spiritual in Indian thought | journal = Philosophy East and West | volume = 4 | issue = 3 | pages = 195–213 | jstor = 1397554| doi = 10.2307/1397554 | postscript = .}}</ref> Vāta, an additional name for the deity Vayu, is the root of ''vātāvaranam'', the Sanskrit and Hindi term for 'atmosphere'.<ref name="ghose1992">{{Citation | title=Tirtha, the treasury of Indian expressions |author1=Vijaya Ghose |author2=Jaya Ramanathan |author3=Renuka N. Khandekar | year=1992 | publisher=CMC Limited | isbn= 978-81-900267-0-3| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_v1tAAAAMAAJ | quote=... God of the winds ... Another name for Vayu is Vata (hence the present Hindi term for 'atmosphere, 'vatavaran). Also known as Pavana (the purifier), Vayu is lauded in both the ...}}</ref>
Sometimes the word ''vāyu'', which is more generally used in the sense of the physical air or wind, is used as a synonym for ''prāna''.<ref name=Raju1954>{{Citation | author = Raju, P.T. | year = 1954 | title = The concept of the spiritual in Indian thought | journal = Philosophy East and West | volume = 4 | issue = 3 | pages = 195–213 | jstor = 1397554| doi = 10.2307/1397554 | postscript = .}}</ref> Vāta, an additional name for the deity Vayu, is the root of ''vātāvaranam'', the Sanskrit, Hindi and Telugu term for 'atmosphere'.<ref name="ghose1992">{{Citation | title=Tirtha, the treasury of Indian expressions |author1=Vijaya Ghose |author2=Jaya Ramanathan |author3=Renuka N. Khandekar | year=1992 | publisher=CMC Limited | isbn= 978-81-900267-0-3| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_v1tAAAAMAAJ | quote=... God of the winds ... Another name for Vayu is Vata (hence the present Hindi term for 'atmosphere, 'vatavaran). Also known as Pavana (the purifier), Vayu is lauded in both the ...}}</ref>


==Hindu texts and philosophy==
==Hindu texts and philosophy==
[[File:Kanishka I and Oado.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Kushan]] ruler [[Kanishka I]] with deity ''Oado'' (Vayu-Vata) on the reverse. Circa 120-150 CE]]
[[File:Kanishka I and Oado.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Kushan]] ruler [[Kanishka I]] with deity ''Oado'' (Vayu-Vata) on the reverse. Circa 120-150 CE]]
In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', Vayu is associated with the winds, with the Maruts being described as being born from Vayu's belly. Vayu is also the first god to receive [[Soma (drink)|soma]] in the ritual, and then he and Indra share their first drink.<ref>{{cite book|author=Stephanie Jamison|title=The Rigveda –– Earliest Religious Poetry of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LTRDwAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0190633394|page=47}}</ref>
In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', Vayu is associated with the winds, with the [[Maruts]] being described as being born from Vayu's belly. Vayu is also the first god to receive [[Soma (drink)|soma]] in the ritual, and then he and [[Indra]] share their first drink.<ref>{{cite book|author=Stephanie Jamison|title=The Rigveda –– Earliest Religious Poetry of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LTRDwAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0190633394|page=47}}</ref><ref>Rigveda,Mandala 1,Hymn 2</ref>


In the hymns, Vayu is 'described as having "exceptional beauty" and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or one-thousand white and purple horses. A white banner is his main attribute'.<ref name="jansen1993" /> Like the other atmospheric deities, he is a 'fighter and destroyer', 'powerful and heroic'.<ref name="bhattacharji1984">{{Citation | title=Literature in the Vedic age | author=Sukumari Bhattacharji | year=1984 | publisher=K.P. Bagchi | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7soAAAAYAAJ | quote=... The other atmospheric gods are his associates: Vayu-Vatah, Parjanya, the Rudras and the Maruts. All of them are fighters and destroyers, they are powerful and heroic ...}}</ref>
In the hymns, Vayu is 'described as having "exceptional beauty" and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or one-thousand white and purple horses. A white banner is his main attribute'.<ref name="jansen1993" /> Like the other atmospheric deities, he is a 'fighter and destroyer', 'powerful and heroic'.<ref name="bhattacharji1984">{{Citation | title=Literature in the Vedic age | author=Sukumari Bhattacharji | year=1984 | publisher=K.P. Bagchi | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v7soAAAAYAAJ | quote=... The other atmospheric gods are his associates: Vayu-Vatah, Parjanya, the Rudras and the Maruts. All of them are fighters and destroyers, they are powerful and heroic ...}}</ref>


In the [[Upanishads]], there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of Vayu. The ''[[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]'' says that the gods who control bodily functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest. When a deity such as that of vision would leave a man's body, that man would continue to live, albeit as a blind man and having regained the lost faculty once the errant deity returned to his post. One by one the deities all took their turns leaving the body, but the man continued to live on, though successively impaired in various ways.  Finally, when Mukhya Prāna started to leave the body, all the other deities started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, 'just as a powerful horse yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is bound'. This caused the other deities to realize that they can function only when empowered by Vayu, and can be overpowered by him easily. In another episode, Vayu is said to be the only deity not afflicted by demons of sin who were on the attack. The [[Chandogya Upanishad]] says that one cannot know [[Brahman]] except by knowing Vayu as the ''udgitha'' (the mantric syllable ''[[om]]'').<ref>Chandogya Upanishad, Adhyaya XVIII, Verse 4; http://www.swamij.com/upanishad-chandogya.htm</ref>
In the [[Upanishads]], there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of Vayu. The ''[[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]'' says that the gods who control bodily functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest. When a deity such as that of vision would leave a man's body, that man would continue to live, albeit as a blind man and having regained the lost faculty once the errant deity returned to his post. One by one the deities all took their turns leaving the body, but the man continued to live on, though successively impaired in various ways.  Finally, when Mukhya Prāna started to leave the body, all the other deities started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, 'just as a powerful horse yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is bound'. This caused the other deities to realize that they can function only when empowered by Vayu, and can be overpowered by him easily. In another episode, Vayu is said to be the only deity not afflicted by demons of sin who were on the attack. This Vayu is "Mukhya Prana Vayu".<ref>{{cite book|title=Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣadbhāṣya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mEpAAAAYAAJ|page=158|author1=Shoun Hino|author2=K. P. Jog|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|year=1995| isbn=9788120812833 |quote=Vāyu indicates Mukhya Prāṇa.}}</ref> The [[Chandogya Upanishad]] says that one cannot know [[Brahman]] except by knowing Vayu as the ''udgitha'' (the mantric syllable ''[[om]]'').<ref>Chandogya Upanishad, Adhyaya XVIII, Verse 4; http://www.swamij.com/upanishad-chandogya.htm</ref>


==Avatars==
==Avatars==
[[File:Vayu, the god of wind Statue at Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple Premises, Gokarna, Kathmandu.jpg|thumb|Vayu sculpture, Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, Gokarna, Kathmandu]]
[[File:Vayu, the god of wind Statue at Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple Premises, Gokarna, Kathmandu.jpg|thumb|Vayu sculpture, Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, Gokarna, Kathmandu]]
American Indologist [[Philip Lutgendorf]] says, "According to [[Madhva]] whenever [[Vishnu|Lord Vishnu]] incarnates on earth, Mukhya Prana/Vayu accompanies him and aids his work of preserving dharma. Hanuman the friend and helper of [[Rama]] in the [[Treta Yuga|treta yuga]], the strongman [[Bhima]] in [[Mahabharata]], set at the end of [[Dwapara Yuga|dwapara yuga]] and [[Madhva]] in the [[Kali Yuga|kali yuga]]. Moreover, since the Lord himself does not appear on earth until the end of kali age, the incarnate Vayu/[[Madhva]] serves during this period as the sole 'means' to bring souls to salvation".{{Sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|p=67}}
American Indologist [[Philip Lutgendorf]] says, "According to [[Madhva]] whenever [[Vishnu|Lord Vishnu]] incarnates on earth, Mukhya Prana/Vayu accompanies him and aids his work of preserving dharma. Hanuman the friend and helper of [[Rama]] in the [[Treta Yuga]], the strongman [[Bhima]] in [[Mahabharata]], set at the end of [[Dvapara Yuga]] and [[Madhva]] in the [[Kali Yuga]]. Moreover, since the Lord himself does not appear on earth until the end of kali age, the incarnate Vayu/[[Madhva]] serves during this period as the sole 'means' to bring souls to salvation".{{Sfn|Lutgendorf|2007|p=67}}


Pavana played an important role in [[Añjanā|Anjana]]'s begetting Hanuman as her child so Hanuman is also called Pavanaputra 'son of Pavana' and Vāyuputra. Today, Pavan is a fairly common [[Hindu]] name.
Pavana played an important role in [[Añjanā|Anjana]]'s begetting Hanuman as her child so Hanuman is also called Pavanaputra 'son of Pavana' and Vāyuputra. Today, Pavan is a fairly common [[Hindu]] name.
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* The first [[avatar]] of Vayu is considered to be [[Hanuman]]. His exploits are elucidated in ''[[Ramayana]]''.
* The first [[avatar]] of Vayu is considered to be [[Hanuman]]. His exploits are elucidated in ''[[Ramayana]]''.
* The second avatar of Vayu is [[Bhima]], one of the [[Pandavas]] appearing in the epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII}}</ref>
* The second avatar of Vayu is [[Bhima]], one of the [[Pandavas]] appearing in the epic the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01068.htm | title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII}}</ref>
* [[Madhvacharya]], is considered as the third avatar of Vayu. Madhva declared himself as an avatar of Vayu and showed the verses in [[Rigveda]] as a proof.<ref>''History of the Dvaita School and Its literature'', pg 173</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://raghavendramutt.org/articles/balittha-suktha-text|publisher=raghavendramutt.org|title=Balittha Suktha -Text From Rig Veda|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924052648/http://raghavendramutt.org/articles/balittha-suktha-text|archive-date=24 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Author C. Ramakrishna Rao says, "Madhva explained the Balitha Sukta in the Rigveda as referring to the three forms of Vayu".<ref>{{cite book|title=Madhva and Brahma Tarka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eiA1AAAAIAAJ|page=9|author=Chintagunta Ramakrishna Rao|publisher=Majestic Press|year=1960}}</ref>
* [[Madhvacharya]], is considered as the third avatar of Vayu. Madhva declared himself as an avatar of Vayu and showed the verses in [[Rigveda]] as a proof.<ref>''History of the Dvaita School and Its literature'', pg 173</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://raghavendramutt.org/articles/balittha-suktha-text|publisher=raghavendramutt.org|title=Balittha Suktha -Text From Rig Veda|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924052648/http://raghavendramutt.org/articles/balittha-suktha-text|archive-date=24 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Philosophy & Culture, Volume 15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xz9VcNLuyhsC|page=24|publisher=The Institute|year=1970}}</ref> Author C. Ramakrishna Rao says, "Madhva explained the Balitha Sukta in the Rigveda as referring to the three forms of Vayu".<ref>{{cite book|title=Madhva and Brahma Tarka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eiA1AAAAIAAJ|page=9|author=Chintagunta Ramakrishna Rao|publisher=Majestic Press|year=1960}}</ref>


== Buddhism ==
== Buddhism ==
In East Asian Buddhism, Vayu is a ''[[dharmapāla]]'' and often classed as one of the {{interlanguage link multi|Twelve Devas|ja|十二天}} ({{lang-ja|十二天|translit=Jūniten}}) grouped together as directional guardians. He presides over the northwest direction.<ref>[http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)] Nara National Museum, Japan</ref>
In East Asian Buddhism, Vayu is a ''[[dharmapāla]]'' and often classed as one of the {{interlanguage link multi|Twelve Devas|ja|十二天}} ({{lang-ja|十二天|translit=Jūniten}}) grouped together as directional guardians. He presides over the northwest direction.<ref>[http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100031/000/000?mode=detail&d_lang=en Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas)] Nara National Museum, Japan</ref>


In Japan, he is called '''Fūten([[:ja:風天|風天]])'''. He is included with the other eleven devas, which include Taishakuten ([[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra/Indra]]), Katen ([[Agni]]), Enmaten ([[Yama]]), Rasetsuten ([[Nirṛti (god)|Nirṛti]]/[[Rakshasa|Rākṣasa]]), Ishanaten ([[Ishana|Īśāna]]), Bishamonten ([[Vaiśravaṇa|Vaiśravaṇa/Kubera]]), Suiten ([[Varuṇa]]) Bonten ([[Brahmā]]), Jiten ([[Pṛthivī]]), Nitten ([[Sūrya|Sūrya/Āditya]]) and Gatten ([[Candra]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=juuniten 十二天 |url=http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/j/juuniten.htm |website=JAANUS |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>
In Japan, he is called '''Fūten([[:ja:風天|風天]])'''. He is included with the other eleven devas, which include Taishakuten ([[Śakra (Buddhism)|Śakra/Indra]]), Katen ([[Agni]]), {{proper name|Enmaten}} ([[Yama]]), Rasetsuten ([[Nirṛti (god)|Nirṛti]]/[[Rakshasa|Rākṣasa]]), Ishanaten ([[Ishana|Īśāna]]), Bishamonten ([[Vaiśravaṇa|Vaiśravaṇa/Kubera]]), Suiten ([[Varuṇa]]) Bonten ([[Brahmā]]), Jiten ([[Pṛthivī]]), Nitten ([[Sūrya|Sūrya/Āditya]]) and Gatten ([[Candra]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=juuniten 十二天 |url=http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/j/juuniten.htm |website=JAANUS |access-date=23 January 2019}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 61: Line 71:
* [[List of wind deities]]
* [[List of wind deities]]
* [[Maruts]]
* [[Maruts]]
* [[Rudras]]  
* [[Rudras]]
* [[Rudra]], the Vedic wind or storm God.
* [[Rudra]], the Vedic wind or storm God
* [[Vayu Purana]]
* [[Vayu Purana]]
* [[Vayu-Vata]]
* [[Vayu-Vata]]
* [[Nusa Bayu]]
* [[Fūjin]], Shinto ''Kami'' of winds
* [[Aeolus (Odyssey)|Aeolus]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 09:58, 29 December 2022


For other uses, see Vayu (disambiguation).

Vāyu
God of Air, Wind, and Breath
Member of the Pancha Bhoota and Dikpala
Vayu (dikpala), on his mount, gazelle
Other namesAnil, Pavan, Vyān, Vāta, Tanun, Mukhyaprana, Bheema
Devanagariवायु
Sanskrit transliterationVāyu
AffiliationDeva
AbodeVayu Loka, Satya Loka
MantraOm Vayave namaha
Weapon
  • Mace (Weapon of Mukhyaprana Vayu)
  • Goad (Weapon of Dikpala Vayu)
MountChariot drawn by Horses, Gazelle
Personal information
Parents
Consort
Children

Vayu (Sanskrit pronunciation: [ʋaːjʊ], Sanskrit: वायु, IAST: Vāyu), also known as Vata and Pavana,[7] is the Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the Vedic scriptures, Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king of gods. He is mentioned to be born from the breath of Supreme Being Vishvapurusha and also the first one to drink Soma.[8] The Upanishads praise him as Prana or 'life breath of the world'. In the later Hindu scriptures, he is described as a Dikpala (guardians of the direction), who looks over the North-west direction.[9][10] The Hindu epics describe him as the father of the god Hanuman and Bhima.[11]

The followers of the 13th-century saint Madhva believe their guru as an incarnation of Vayu.[12][13][14] They worship the wind deity as Mukhyaprana and consider him as the son of the god Vishnu.

Connotations[edit | edit source]

The word for air (vāyu) or wind (pavana) is one of the classical elements in Hinduism. The Sanskrit word Vāta literally means 'blown'; Vāyu, 'blower' and Prāna, 'breathing' (viz. the breath of life, cf. the *an- in animate). Hence, the primary referent of the word is the 'deity of life', who is sometimes for clarity referred to as Mukhya-Vāyu (the chief Vayu) or Mukhya Prāna (the chief of life force or vital force).[15]

Sometimes the word vāyu, which is more generally used in the sense of the physical air or wind, is used as a synonym for prāna.[16] Vāta, an additional name for the deity Vayu, is the root of vātāvaranam, the Sanskrit, Hindi and Telugu term for 'atmosphere'.[17]

Hindu texts and philosophy[edit | edit source]

Kushan ruler Kanishka I with deity Oado (Vayu-Vata) on the reverse. Circa 120-150 CE

In the Rigveda, Vayu is associated with the winds, with the Maruts being described as being born from Vayu's belly. Vayu is also the first god to receive soma in the ritual, and then he and Indra share their first drink.[18][19]

In the hymns, Vayu is 'described as having "exceptional beauty" and moving noisily in his shining coach, driven by two or forty-nine or one-thousand white and purple horses. A white banner is his main attribute'.[7] Like the other atmospheric deities, he is a 'fighter and destroyer', 'powerful and heroic'.[20]

In the Upanishads, there are numerous statements and illustrations of the greatness of Vayu. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says that the gods who control bodily functions once engaged in a contest to determine who among them is the greatest. When a deity such as that of vision would leave a man's body, that man would continue to live, albeit as a blind man and having regained the lost faculty once the errant deity returned to his post. One by one the deities all took their turns leaving the body, but the man continued to live on, though successively impaired in various ways. Finally, when Mukhya Prāna started to leave the body, all the other deities started to be inexorably pulled off their posts by force, 'just as a powerful horse yanks off pegs in the ground to which he is bound'. This caused the other deities to realize that they can function only when empowered by Vayu, and can be overpowered by him easily. In another episode, Vayu is said to be the only deity not afflicted by demons of sin who were on the attack. This Vayu is "Mukhya Prana Vayu".[21] The Chandogya Upanishad says that one cannot know Brahman except by knowing Vayu as the udgitha (the mantric syllable om).[22]

Avatars[edit | edit source]

Vayu sculpture, Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, Gokarna, Kathmandu

American Indologist Philip Lutgendorf says, "According to Madhva whenever Lord Vishnu incarnates on earth, Mukhya Prana/Vayu accompanies him and aids his work of preserving dharma. Hanuman the friend and helper of Rama in the Treta Yuga, the strongman Bhima in Mahabharata, set at the end of Dvapara Yuga and Madhva in the Kali Yuga. Moreover, since the Lord himself does not appear on earth until the end of kali age, the incarnate Vayu/Madhva serves during this period as the sole 'means' to bring souls to salvation".[23]

Pavana played an important role in Anjana's begetting Hanuman as her child so Hanuman is also called Pavanaputra 'son of Pavana' and Vāyuputra. Today, Pavan is a fairly common Hindu name.

In the Mahabharata, Bhima was the spiritual son of Vayu and played a major role in the Kurukshetra War. He utilised his huge power and skill with the mace for supporting Dharma.

  • The first avatar of Vayu is considered to be Hanuman. His exploits are elucidated in Ramayana.
  • The second avatar of Vayu is Bhima, one of the Pandavas appearing in the epic the Mahabharata.[24]
  • Madhvacharya, is considered as the third avatar of Vayu. Madhva declared himself as an avatar of Vayu and showed the verses in Rigveda as a proof.[25][26][27] Author C. Ramakrishna Rao says, "Madhva explained the Balitha Sukta in the Rigveda as referring to the three forms of Vayu".[28]

Buddhism[edit | edit source]

In East Asian Buddhism, Vayu is a dharmapāla and often classed as one of the Twelve Devas [ja] (Japanese: 十二天, romanized: Jūniten) grouped together as directional guardians. He presides over the northwest direction.[29]

In Japan, he is called Fūten(風天). He is included with the other eleven devas, which include Taishakuten (Śakra/Indra), Katen (Agni), Enmaten (Yama), Rasetsuten (Nirṛti/Rākṣasa), Ishanaten (Īśāna), Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa/Kubera), Suiten (Varuṇa) Bonten (Brahmā), Jiten (Pṛthivī), Nitten (Sūrya/Āditya) and Gatten (Candra).[30]

See also[edit | edit source]

Template:Classic element

Notes[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mani, Vettam (1975). Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature. Robarts - University of Toronto. Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-0-8426-0822-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  2. ↑ Jeffrey R. Timm (1 January 1992). Texts in Context: Traditional Hermeneutics in South Asia. SUNY Press. p. 113. ISBN 9780791407967.
  3. ↑ Khagendranath Mitra (1952). The Dynamics of Faith: Comparative Religion. University of Calcutta. p. 209. Brahmā and Vāyu are the sons of Vishnu and Lakshmi.
  4. ↑ Satyavrata Ramdas Patel (1980). Hinduism, Religion and Way of Life. Associated Publishing House. p. 124. ISBN 9780686997788. The Supreme Being, Vishnu or Nārāyana, is the personal first cause. He is the Intelligent Governor of the world and lives in Vaikuntha along with Lakshmi, His consort. He and His consort Lakshmi are real. Brahma and Vāyu are His two sons.
  5. ↑ Gaṇeśa Harī Khare; Madhukar Shripad Mate; G. T. Kulkarni (1974). Studies in Indology and Medieval History: Prof. G. H. Khare Felicitation Volume. Joshi & Lokhande Prakashan. p. 244. In Vayu and other Puranas, Vayudeva (different from Astadikpala Vayu), next to Brahma in grade, is also said to have five heads like Siva and Brahma and his consort is Bharatidevi.
  6. ↑ M. V. Krishna Rao (1966). Purandara and the Haridasa Movement. Karnatak University. p. 200.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Eva Rudy Jansen; Tony Langham (1993), The book of Hindu imagery: The Gods and their Symbols, Binkey Kok Publications, ISBN 978-90-74597-07-4, God of the wind ... also known as Vata or Pavan ... exceptional beauty ... moves on noisily in his shining coach ... white banner ...
  8. ↑ Jamison, Stephanie W.; Brereton, Joel P. (2014). The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-937018-4.
  9. ↑ Williams, George M. (27 March 2008). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
  10. ↑ Chandra, Suresh (1998). Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-039-9.
  11. ↑ Daniélou, Alain (December 1991). The Myths and Gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series. ISBN 9780892813544.
  12. ↑ Jeffery D. Long (9 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. Scarecrow Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780810879607. Born near Udipi in Karnataka, where he spent most of his life, Madhva is believed by his devotees to be the third incarnation or avatāra of Vāyu, the Vedic god of the wind (the first two incarnations being Hanuman and Bhīma).
  13. ↑ Ravi Prakash (15 January 2022). Religious Debates in Indian Philosophy. K.K. Publications. p. 176. According to tradition, Madhvacarya is believed to be the third incarnation of Vayu (Mukhyaprana), after Hanuman and Bhima.
  14. ↑ R. K. Madhukar (1 January 2014). Gayatri: The Profound Prayer. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 90. ISBN 978-8178-22467-1. Vayu is accorded the status of a deva, an important God in the ancient literature. Lord Hanuman, who is considered to be one of the avatars of Vayudeva, is described as Mukhyaprana.
  15. ↑ Subodh Kapoor (2002). Indian Encyclopaedia, Volume 1. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 7839. ISBN 9788177552577. Mukhya Prana - The chief vital air
  16. ↑ Raju, P.T. (1954), "The concept of the spiritual in Indian thought", Philosophy East and West, 4 (3): 195–213, doi:10.2307/1397554, JSTOR 1397554.
  17. ↑ Vijaya Ghose; Jaya Ramanathan; Renuka N. Khandekar (1992), Tirtha, the treasury of Indian expressions, CMC Limited, ISBN 978-81-900267-0-3, ... God of the winds ... Another name for Vayu is Vata (hence the present Hindi term for 'atmosphere, 'vatavaran). Also known as Pavana (the purifier), Vayu is lauded in both the ...
  18. ↑ Stephanie Jamison (2015). The Rigveda –– Earliest Religious Poetry of India. Oxford University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0190633394.
  19. ↑ Rigveda,Mandala 1,Hymn 2
  20. ↑ Sukumari Bhattacharji (1984), Literature in the Vedic age, K.P. Bagchi, ... The other atmospheric gods are his associates: Vayu-Vatah, Parjanya, the Rudras and the Maruts. All of them are fighters and destroyers, they are powerful and heroic ...
  21. ↑ Shoun Hino; K. P. Jog (1995). Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣadbhāṣya. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 158. ISBN 9788120812833. Vāyu indicates Mukhya Prāṇa.
  22. ↑ Chandogya Upanishad, Adhyaya XVIII, Verse 4; http://www.swamij.com/upanishad-chandogya.htm
  23. ↑ Lutgendorf 2007, p. 67.
  24. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section LXVII".
  25. ↑ History of the Dvaita School and Its literature, pg 173
  26. ↑ "Balittha Suktha -Text From Rig Veda". raghavendramutt.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016.
  27. ↑ Indian Philosophy & Culture, Volume 15. The Institute. 1970. p. 24.
  28. ↑ Chintagunta Ramakrishna Rao (1960). Madhva and Brahma Tarka. Majestic Press. p. 9.
  29. ↑ Twelve Heavenly Deities (Devas) Nara National Museum, Japan
  30. ↑ "juuniten 十二天". JAANUS. Retrieved 23 January 2019.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

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