The wind is all around us, within us. It is invisible but not absent. Without Vaayu (wind, air, breeze), we can not survive for a minute. It is only logical then that when the ancient sages were thinking of divine beings, Vaayu Deva became one of the first Vedic gods, worshipped alongside Devaraja Indra, as Praan (breath) that keeps us alive, and as Brahman, the supreme being.
Coursing through Indian culture as an unseen force, Vaayu is the life-altering storm and the life-saving breeze, a guardian and a warrior. In this blog, we travel the aerial path with Vaayu Deva, known most popularly as the father of Hanuman and Bhima.
In the Rig Veda, the oldest among the 4 Vedas, Vaayu is a god who is equally as important as Indra. Since he controls the flow of air, storms, and wind pressure and has authority over the atmosphere of the sacrificial space (Yagya), the ritual experts worship Vaayu to ensure that the Yagya is completed without any weather interference.
Like all the deities associated with the cosmos- Surya, Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vaayu is one of the most widely revered gods in Vedic hymns. In the Rigveda 1.2, Vaayu is worshipped with Indra. He is also the first among the Deva-sabha of Indra to receive the Soma (drink made by grinding herbs), even before Devaraja.
Vaayu is the chariot or mount on which the sacred smoke and fragrance of the Yagya is spread in the atmosphere, which is why he is worshipped as “pavitra vahana” and is closely tied to the sacrifice, the most important ritual of the Vedic period.
Marut, the storm deities who are powerful entities in the Vedas, are mentioned to be born from the belly of Vaayu. The Marut ride white- and purple-colored horses, have white flags, are beautiful, and are the bringers of strong winds and storms, which is why they are feared and worshipped.
The Upanishads, where the philosophical threads of the Vedas were expanded to create the fabric of Indian philosophy, describe Vaayu as Praan, the primary among all the vitals (sight, speech, mind, hearing).
🔶Praan-Vaayu (life breath) is valued and worshipped as a force that allows humans to live. Control over Praan-vaayu, understanding its flow and function, is developed as a practical way to attain supreme wisdom, a tradition that became the origin of Yoga.
🔶The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions a contest between all the vital organs that live in a human being. To find who is the most important, the sense faculties- sight, speech, mind etc., decided to leave the body one by one. The human were able to survive without their power of speaking, thinking, or seeing. But when Praan-vaayu was getting ready to leave, it collected all the sense organs like the chraioteer collecting the reins of the horses. In that moment, the senses realized that without Praan (breath), the human could not survive for even a minute. Praan-Vaayu was then declared the supreme among all the vital senses.
🔶In the Prashna Upanishad, a short Upanishad text, Praan-Vaayu is identified in its five forms- Praana (air that we breathe), Apana (air that we exhale), Vyaana (air that moves inside the body), Udana (the air that cleanses bodily impurities), Samana (the wind that balances pressure inside the body).
🔶Praan is Brahaman. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions-
"कतम् एकः देवः इति? प्राणः इति।"
“Who is the one God? Praan (breath) is the one God.”
Simple yet profound, Praan, as Brahman, as described in Upanishadic philosophy, underlines the value of life-breath, as well as the spiritual wisdom that comes from managing their body and mind by controlling the flow of breath. This principle is the essence of Yoga and Pranayam.
Though ever-present in ancient Indian rituals and text, the persona of Vaayu as we know him became popular through his stories in the Mahabharata and Ramayana, where he comes as the father and guardian of two sons, as formidable as their divine father.
🔶Born to Anjana through the blessings of Vaayu, Hanuman is called Vaayuputra (son of Vaayu), Pawan-Putra (son of Pawan Deva, another name of Vaayu), and Maaruti-nandan (the nandan or son of Maarut, one of the names used for Vaayu).
🔶His strength, speed, and ability to leap across oceans are all gifts from Vaayu.
🔶When Hanuman was injured by Indra’s Vajra as he flew in the sky to eat the sun, it was the wrath of Vaayu Deva that threatened the world, and to calm him down, all the gods gathered to bless Hanuman.
🔶Queen Kunti used the mantra given to her by sage Durvasa and prayed to Vaayu Deva, who blessed her with Bhima, the powerful Pandava prince.
🔶The unmatched strength of Bhima that made him a heroic character in the epic comes from his father, Vaayu Deva.
A lesser-known fact about the Hindu god of wind, Vaayu, is his prominence in the Dvaita or dualism of Madhavacharya, a Vaishnava philosopher.
🔶Madhvacharya identifies Vaayu as the chief companion of Vishnu, who comes to the earth with every incarnation of the Lord.
🔶According to Dvaita tradition, Vaayu takes avatar in every Yuga:
🔆Hanuman in Treta Yuga – Devotee of Rama.
🔆Bhima in Dvapara Yuga – Devotee of Krishna.
🔆Madhvacharya himself in Kali Yuga – Devotee of Vishnu.
Marut, the powerful and violent gods of storms, are another rare entity associated with Vaayu Deva. Some see them as the sons of Vaayu, while others identify Marut as powers or emnations of Vaayu. In the Vedic traditions, Maruts are the companions of Indra, who ride with him into the battlefield, including the legendary war of Indra with Vritrasura.
🔶Maruts are described as potent beings whose violent noise matches the roar of the lion in the jungle. Their attribute is thunder- a golden and radiant weapon that they use to cut through clouds and make them rain thunderously.
🔶Marut, due to their wild and violent nature that destroys forests and human dwellings, are opposite to Vaayu’s role as Praan, which silently and subtly flows as a positive force that ensures the continuity of life. Marut and Praan are thus two sides of Vaayu, one chaotic and the other orderly, making him a supreme being who possesses divine duality.
The Vaayu Purana, one of the oldest Mahapuranas, is named after the Hindu god of wind. It presents Vaayu as a primordial element, a Panchamahabhuta, who is at the core of creation.
An interesting story of Vaayu is mentioned in Bharatamuni’s Natyashastra. When Lord Brahma and the gods once visit the Nataya-manpdapa, which is constructed by the architect of the gods, Vishwakarma, Brahma appointed the Maruts to protect the 4 corners of the Mandapa (pavillion). From this point on, Maruts are worshipped to keep vighna (obstacles) away from auspicious occasions.
In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, Vaayu (Vata dosha) is one of the three fundamental bodily humors. It is also the life force, the basis of all existence, and thus, controlled and healthy Vaayu is essential for the life and vitality of human beings.
🔶Vata controls movements within the body, the functioning of the nervous system, breathing (exhale and inhale), and the elimination of bodily impurities.
🔶Just like the wind that blows all around us, wind or Vata inside the body is drying, light, cool, fine, and ever-moving.
🔶An imbalance in Vata can lead to emotional turmoil, body aches and dryness, and dehydration. A balance of Vata with other elements leads to creativity, clarity, and an energetic nature.
According to the Vaastu traditions, Vaayu is among the Ashtadikpalas or guardians of the eight directions. The northwest kon or corner is known as Vayaveeya (Vayu’s) corner. Residing in his divine palace, Gandhavati, Vaayu governs this kon and keeps obstacles and negative energies away.
As one of the Panchamahabhuta that make this cosmos, Vaayu is worshipped and established in the base of the plan of any building construction to pray for his blessings and protection of the structure and people who reside in that home.
Vaayu’s imagery is explained in the sacred Vishnudharmottara
🔶Vaayu is shown as a divine being, seated on an antelope or deer- animals that embody swiftness.
🔶The iconographical description suggests that Vaayu should be shown with flowing garments to highlight his movement and energy.
🔶White and blue colors are associated with Vaayu.
The reverence of Vaayu as the supreme being is most visible in the hymns of the Vedic texts, where he is described in a powerful manner. Vaayu as Praan is the supreme being or Brahman in these verses-
ऋग्वेद संहिता – मण्डल १, सूक्त २, मन्त्र १वायव आ याहि दर्शतउत त्वा प्रथमो दैव्यः सवर्धृशः।इन्द्रस्य याहि धुरि हि प्रिया त्वंवायो बृहतीरिह श्रुष्टाः॥
"O Vaayu, come here, you who are glorious to our eyes!”You are the first among all the gods to drink the Soma nectarYou are cherished by Indra; come and ride in his chariotYou are the one worthy of all our praises.”
"वायव आ याहि" – "O Vaayu, come!" – a direct invocation."दर्शत" – "visible", "radiant", suggesting a god who can be seen through human senses."प्रथमो दैव्यः" – "first among the gods", underlining Vaayu’s primacy among all gods."सवर्धृशः" – "worthy of heaven", describing the status of Vaayu as a heavenly being."इन्द्रस्य धुरि हि प्रिया त्वं" – "you are dear to Indra, yoked to his chariot", linking Vaayu with Indra's power and movement."बृहतीरिह श्रुष्टाः" – "you are praised with great hymns", a poetic description of Vaayu’s ritual significance.
प्राणो देवाना मसुरत्वमेकंप्राणो राजाऽमृतो मर्त्येषु।प्राणं सर्वा: पश्यवो जीवन्तिप्राणं नाध्माति किम् चनान्यम्॥
“Praan is the one divine being among the gods,He is the immortal one among the mortalsAll beings live through PraanWithout Praan, nothing can breathe or move.”
प्राणः – Life-breath, the vital force.देवानाम् असुरत्वम् एकम् – "Among the gods, Praan is the supreme power (asuratva)" – enhancing the status of Praan as the supreme being.राजा अमृतः मर्त्येषु – "He is king and immortal among mortals" – even among those who die, Praan remains eternal.सर्वाः पश्यवः प्राणं जीवन्ति – "All animals live through Praan" – All life depends on this life force.प्राणं न अध्माति किम् चन अन्यम् – "Without Praan, nothing breathes or swells" – nothing is alive in the absence of Praan.
प्राणः पिता जनिता विश्वजन्मनोनान्यं जनं प्रिणति क्षेत्रसं सदा। यदेतद्विश्वं भुवनं विवेति तस्मै प्राणाय नमोऽस्तु वायवे॥
“Praan is the father of all beings in the creationNo one other than Praan can sustain living beingsHe is the one who creates and universe live and moveTo that Praan, to the Vaayu, we offer our salutations.”
"As all the spokes of a wheel are held together in the hub and the rim, so are all beings held together in praan." Here, praan or Vaayu is the one who binds the universe and the self together.
Praan is called the eldest and greatest of the senses. Even the mind and speech accept its supremacy. Praan is declared the chief among the senses because when it leaves, the human body collapses.
"This praan, the fire within, rises upward through one of the naadis and leads the soul to higher worlds." Praan is the spiritual guide, and through Praan-vaayu (breathing), a being can reach the primordial wisdom- the Param Brahman.
The name Vaayu has the root “va” as its origin, which means “move” or “he who moves”. Vaayu describes a divine being, the Hindu god of wind, who is ever-moving in every corner of the world.
There are several names of Vaayu Deva-
🔆Vaayu (वायु) – The most common name, meaning air or wind.
🔆Pavana (पवन) – He who purifies, symbolizing the cleansing nature of the wind.
🔆Marut (मरुत्) – A name shared with the storm gods (Maruts), who are considered children or forms of Vaayu in some texts.
🔆Anila (अनिल) – Literally means wind; also interpreted as breath or life air.
🔆Vata (वात) – Derived from vata, meaning to blow, commonly used for air or wind.
🔆Pran (प्राण) – Vital breath or life force; Vaayu is often equated with praan in Upanishadic texts.
🔆Gandhavaha (गन्धवह) – Carrier of scents, referring to the way wind carries fragrance.
🔆Sparshana (स्पर्शन) – One who touches, as the wind touches all but remains unseen.
🔆Akasha-Nivasi (आकाशनिवासी) – Dweller of the sky, signifying his domain in the atmosphere.
🔆Jeevana-daata (जीवनदाता) – Giver of life, as breath is life.
Asvayujau or Svasti (a goddess of auspiciousness as per the Shakta text, Devi Bhagavata) is the wife of Vaayu.
The earliest idea of Param Brahman as an invisible and all-encompassing being matches the person of Vaayu- the omnipresent life force that is at the core of all cosmic activities. Beyond Indian traditions, Vaayu is worshipped in Zoroastrianism as Vaayu-Vata (similar to the Sanskrit terms used for the wind god), who is a dual-natured god- Vaayu (wind) and Vata (atmosphere). The Avestan God is benevolent and malevolent and is feared and worshipped based on where one encounters him.
In Nepal, where Vajrayana Buddhism is one of the popular religious traditions, Vaayu is a Dharmapala, a guardian god, who, much like his presence as a Dikapala in India, protects all beings. The universal popularity of Vaayu comes from his undeniable power over all life forms. In revering Vaayu, we revere life itself ever-moving, invisible, yet the most significant.
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