ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
VAYU
He is the god of the wind. As the lord of sky he shares his power with Indra. He rides in a chariot drawn by two, ninety-nine, hundred or even thousand horses. He himself is invisible.
In mythology, he is described as blue in colour and as holding a fan and a flag in two hands, the other two hands showing the Abhaya and Varada Mudras (indicating Protection and granting of gifts).
Vayu Deva, also known as Maruta is Vedic and Hindu god of wind. He was the father of the great Pandava – Bhima and the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman. God Vayu is the god or personification of air and is one of the Vedic gods that Hindus worship every day. He is also said to be the King of Gandharva, the spirit of mountains who use to dwell in the foothills of Mount Meru.
In Hindu scriptures, Vayu, the god of wind is regarded as extremely important for existence as no life can survive and grow without Lord Vayu’s blessing.
Color: Blue Vahana: Deer Direction: Where wind flows Number of Arms: 2 Title: God of wind, Father of Lord Hanuman, and One of eight Dikpalas (lord of directions)
History
In the Vedic times, God Vayu was regarded as one of the Hindu Triads. In a Brahmanic era, he was reduced in his status but he still continues to occupy an eminent position in the hearts of Hindus. In the Rig Veda, Lord Vayu is said to be a trusted friend of Lord Indra who used to share his power with him. Similarly, in Purushasukta, Vayu is said to have sprung from the breath of Purusha and is also referred to as the son-in-law of Twashrti.
According to the Scriptures, it is also believed that Vayu is reincarnated as Rishi Vasistha when he and Lord Agni were cursed by Lord Indra. It is also said that Vayu is married to the daughter of architect Vishwakarma. According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Vayu is regarded as the most powerful and superior god as his name symbolizes the meaning of breath which is quite essential for human existence.
According to Mahabharata, He is the father of Bhima, one of the Pandava. Vayu is also considered the father of Lord Hanuman.
Etymology of Vayu Deva
Lord Vayu is named after various Hindu triads namely Surya, Vayu, and Agni. He is also referred to in various meanings as Vata which means blown, Pavana which means purifier, and also as Prana means one who gives breath to others. Some other names of Vayu are:
Maruta
Anila
Gandhavana
Jalakantara
Sadagata
Pavan
Vyan and many others
Followers
Vayu is one of the gods which the Hindus worship every day. Furthermore, it is not only the Hindus but also Buddhists, Jain, Zoroastrianism, and various other religions who follow and worship God Vayu. Similarly, people of all castes and religions worship and pray to God Vayu.
Such as, Brahmins do Sandhyavandnanam thrice a day, in which they worship Agni and Vayu. Also, Havan and Yagam use to worship god Vayu through a priest, where, Vayu Bhagwan (god) is installed in the Havan (fire-pit). Similarly, Greeks worship him as Eolus or Aelous and Mesopotamians worship him as Martu.
Also, some Hindus worship him as Maruts as well. Thus, god Vayu is not only followed by people of the Hindu religion but also by people who follow different religions and cultures.
Vayu Deva Temples
There is a stone sculpture of God Vayu at Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple premises located in the Kathmandu district of Nepal. Similarly, there is Vayu Lingam at Arunachala, which is situated in India. There is also a Vayu Lingam manifested in the Srikalahasti temple located in Srikalahasti town of Andhra Pradesh, India. Also, there is a Vayu Deva sculpture in the Brooklyn Museum in New York, USA. Many Hindu temples such as Guruvayur, Kalahasti, and Vayu lingam of Tiruvannamalai are associated with Vayu.
Appearance of Vayu Deva
Lord Vayu is known for his distinct character. In the Hindu hymns and scriptures, Vayu is mentioned to be extremely beautiful and makes a lot of noise as he moves. He is said to be powerful, destroyer, violent, and heroic in his appearance. It is also believed that God Vayu used to share his power with Indra.
Thus, God Vayu appears as an emperor who seems to be powerful, strong, and destructive. Like many other Hindu Gods and goddesses, Vayu also has a Mount (Saavari). The mount of the god Vayu is Gazzele (Deer) which the god Vayu uses to travel from one place to another.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, Vayu is important for various Hindu ceremonies and is worshipped on special occasions. God Vayu occupies a very important position in the Hindu pantheon of gods. Not only Hindus but also Buddhists and Zoroastrians as well as various other religions used to pray to god Vayu as he is known as the savior of everyone’s life who gives breath to all. It is also believed that by praying and worshipping Lord Vayu, one is granted freedom from lower impulses and also raises the mind to a greater level of truth and consciousness.
Vayu is the Hindu deity of wind. He was the father of the great Pandava Bheema. Bheema’s mother Kunti, who had the boon of having children with any god she pleased with, once prayed to Lord Vayu for a son. Lord Vayu granted her wish and she gave birth to a boy who was immensely powerful and strong. He would go on to become the strongest of the Pandavas and play a pivotal role in their victory over the Kauravas.
Lord Vayu was also the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman. Once when Hanuman was a small child, he thought of the sun to be a fruit. So, he tried to eat the sun itself. Seeing his actions, the gods got very scared, and thought that he was a demon. Lord Indra, furious with his antics, attacked him with his vajra, the strongest weapon there is. The vajra ended up hitting Hanuman, and he became unconscious and started falling down to the earth.
Just at that moment, Vayu caught Hanuman and carried him to a safe place. Seeing the atrocities done on his son by the gods, Vayu got so angry that he stopped the supply of air and wind in the universe, to avenge his son. This resulted in animals and humans both getting suffocated, and on the brink of death. The gods, being helpless in this situation, went to Lord Brahma and told him the whole incident.
Brahma, along with the other gods, went to Lord Vayu and requested him to let go of the air supply, so that everyone could breathe again. He also cured Hanuman. Finally, after a lot of persuading, Vayu allowed air to flow in the universe again, and things were back to the way they were. Hanuman was also granted many boons by the various gods present there. He grew up to become the strongest and the most learned in the entire universe, and helped Lord Ram defeat Ravan and win back his wife Sita. Sometimes, Hanuman is also known as Vayuputra, as he is Lord Vayu’s son.
In the early Vedic times, Lord Vayu was much respected and revered by the people, as he was a part of the holy triad, along with Varuna and Agni. He roamed all over the universe, and was the guardian of the north-west direction. He was a violent god, who did not think twice before causing destructive acts, and had a very bad temper all the time. He is also said to be the king and supreme rulers of the Gandharvas, the celestial beings who live in the forests. He also ruled over the spirits of the mountains who dwell in the foothills of the mountain Meru, a mythical mountain that exists in old legends.
Once Vayu had attacked Mount Meru and broken off its summit. According to legend, once Narada Muni instigated Vayu to break off the top of Mount Meru. Vayu, being the short tempered and violent god he is, started hitting the top with ferocious gushes of wind and tornado that went on for a year. Garuda, the king of the eagles and the mount of Lord Vishnu, ably protected the top of the mountain by spreading his wings and taking the brunt of Vayu’s force.
After one year of this happening, Garuda got tired and relaxed from his post for a while. Narada saw this as the perfect opportunity, and asked Lord Vayu to hit the summit with double his might. This time, Lord Vayu was successful in hitting the top and ripping it off. Vayu then threw the top in the sea, and it became the island of Lanka (present day Sri Lanka).
Vayu is the Hindu deity of wind. He was the father of the great Pandava Bheema. Bheema’s mother Kunti, who had the boon of having children with any god she pleased with, once prayed to Lord Vayu for a son. Lord Vayu granted her wish and she gave birth to a boy who was immensely powerful and strong. He would go on to become the strongest of the Pandavas and play a pivotal role in their victory over the Kauravas.
Lord Vayu was also the spiritual father of Lord Hanuman. Once when Hanuman was a small child, he thought of the sun to be a fruit. So, he tried to eat the sun itself. Seeing his actions, the gods got very scared, and thought that he was a demon. Lord Indra, furious with his antics, attacked him with his vajra, the strongest weapon there is. The vajra ended up hitting Hanuman, and he became unconscious and started falling down to the earth.
Just at that moment, Vayu caught Hanuman and carried him to a safe place. Seeing the atrocities done on his son by the gods, Vayu got so angry that he stopped the supply of air and wind in the universe, to avenge his son. This resulted in animals and humans both getting suffocated, and on the brink of death. The gods, being helpless in this situation, went to Lord Brahma and told him the whole incident.
Brahma, along with the other gods, went to Lord Vayu and requested him to let go of the air supply, so that everyone could breathe again. He also cured Hanuman. Finally, after a lot of persuading, Vayu allowed air to flow in the universe again, and things were back to the way they were. Hanuman was also granted many boons by the various gods present there. He grew up to become the strongest and the most learned in the entire universe, and helped Lord Ram defeat Ravan and win back his wife Sita. Sometimes, Hanuman is also known as Vayuputra, as he is Lord Vayu’s son.
In the early Vedic times, Lord Vayu was much respected and revered by the people, as he was a part of the holy triad, along with Varuna and Agni. He roamed all over the universe, and was the guardian of the north-west direction. He was a violent god, who did not think twice before causing destructive acts, and had a very bad temper all the time. He is also said to be the king and supreme rulers of the Gandharvas, the celestial beings who live in the forests. He also ruled over the spirits of the mountains who dwell in the foothills of the mountain Meru, a mythical mountain that exists in old legends.
Once Vayu had attacked Mount Meru and broken off its summit. According to legend, once Narada Muni instigated Vayu to break off the top of Mount Meru. Vayu, being the short tempered and violent god he is, started hitting the top with ferocious gushes of wind and tornado that went on for a year. Garuda, the king of the eagles and the mount of Lord Vishnu, ably protected the top of the mountain by spreading his wings and taking the brunt of Vayu’s force.
After one year of this happening, Garuda got tired and relaxed from his post for a while. Narada saw this as the perfect opportunity, and asked Lord Vayu to hit the summit with double his might. This time, Lord Vayu was successful in hitting the top and ripping it off. Vayu then threw the top in the sea, and it became the island of Lanka (present day Sri Lanka).
Lord Vayu was known for his lustful character. Even though he was married to the daughter of Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods, he had affairs with many prominent female characters in Indian mythology over the years. His most famous offspring was Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Lord Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Vayu is credited for being responsible for Hanuman having the ability to fly. It is also said that once Vayu tried to seduce all the hundred daughters of King Kusanabha, who refused his advances. This enraged him, and he cursed them to have crooked backs.
Lord Vayu’s adobe is said to be a mythical place which goes by the name of Gandhavati. His weapon is the flag, and his consort are Bharti and Swasti. His mount is the deer or gazelle, which he is often seen riding in ancient Hindu scriptures and paintings. It is said that he chose the deer as his mount, or vahana because of the deer’s agility and swiftness, which matched with his powers.
The Vayu Purana is an ancient Hindu religious text, which is dedicated to the god of wind, Vayu. It is a Shaiva Purana, and contains about 24,000 hymns and shlokas in the praise of Vayu. The Vayu Purana talks about various topics, like the creation and recreation of the universe, the measurement of time and the origin of Agni, Varuna, and other gods. It also talks about daityas, rakshasas, gandharvas, and other celestial beings.
The Vayu Purana has information about the earth being divided into seven dweepas, and further being divided into the varshas. It has names and accounts of the seven ancient netherworlds, or patalas. It has description of the four yugas and the movement of celestial bodies and it also talks about the solar system. The Vayu Purana also contains chapters on music, yoga, and the duties of people belonging to different castes.
In Hindu hymns and scriptures, Vayu is mentioned to be extremely beautiful, who makes a lot of noise as he moves in his bright shiny coach, driven by either two or forty nine or one thousand white and purple horses. His main attribute is a white flag. He is said to be powerful, heroic, violent and a destroyer, just like the other atmospheric deities.
He is also mentioned numerous times in the Upanishads. The Upanishads have many statements and incidents that talk about the greatness of Lord Vayu. The Brhadaranyaka talks about an interesting incident which happened a long time ago. Once all the gods who control bodily functions took part in a competition to determine who among them was the strongest and most important.
One by one all the deities left the body of man, but he continued to live on. The god of vision left his body, and man became blind. But he continued to live on, even though he couldn’t see. The god of hearing left man’s body, but he continued to live on. He couldn’t hear anything, but still lived.
Finally, when Mukhya Prana, or Lord Vayu started leaving the body, all other gods could feel themselves being uncontrollably being pulled from their respective posts. This made them realize that they could only function properly with the help of Lord Vayu, who supplied the air in the body of man.
Vayu is said to travel with Lord Vishnu and his consort, Lord Lakshmi, wherever they used to travel. Vayu, the god of the wind, is extremely important for the sustenance of life, as no life can survive and grow without Lord Vayu’s blessings.
Introduction to Vayu
Vayu deva is the Vedic God of the wind. He is the father of Bhima and Lord Hanuman and the reagent of the north-west direction. He is described as a violent God with a fiery temperament who often indulges in all his desires.
Depiction of Archetype Vayu
Vayu Deva
He is depicted with a crown and is four-armed and riding on his antelope vahana. In his upper two hands, he holds his weapons were the lance and a powerful goad (ankusa). His lower two hands are held in abhayamudra and varadamudra (symbols signifying protection and granting of gifts). He also had a wind weapon called the Vayvayastra.
Significance of Archetype Vayu
Vayu is one of the principle Devas who has the dichotomy of two characteristics. He is mighty and capable of blowing away entire mountain ranges with strong gusts of wind but also the gentle breath that courses our body, and hence he is known as ‘ life-breath’ or “cosmic life-breath” . He is termed as the universal “spirit”. As a Vedic deity, he is also the messenger of the gods and the leader of sacrifices.
The mythology behind Archetype Vayu
In the Vedic tradition, Lord Vayu is the friend of Indra. He is associated with the human qualities of deep thought and being of a swift mind. He is the Lord of the North West quarter and a protector of the people. He is the King of the Gandharvas, and his abode is known as Gandhavati. He is said to be married to the daughter of the celestial architect Lord Vishwakarma . He ruled over the spirits of the mountains who dwell in the foothills of the mountain Meru, a mythical mountain that exists in old legends.
Vayu Purana
In the Puranas, the Vayu Purana is dedicated to the God of wind, Vayu. It is a Shaiva Purana and contains about 24,000 hymns and slokas in praise of him. The Vayu Purana talks about the creation and recreation of the universe, the measurement of time and the origin of Agni, Varuna, and other gods
Blessings of Worshipping Vayu
As Vayu is the God of breath, it is believed that by praying and worshiping Lord Vayu, one is granted freedom from lower impulses and raise the mind to a higher level of truth and consciousness. By controlling our life-breath, we can calm our minds, focus on the task at hand, and reach a level of self-actualization. He is essential for the sustenance of life, and no one can survive without his blessings
Who is the Hindu God Vayu?
The Hindu god Vayu is the god of air. Vayu in Sanskrit means “wind” or “air,” which is where the name originates. Vayu is the guardian of the northwest direction and goes by many other names as well, such as Vata, which means “blown”; Pavana, which means “purifier”; and Prana, which is “breath.” He is also known as Marut, which means “storm deity” in Sanskrit. Anila is another Sanskrit name for Vayu, which also means “wind” or “air.” He may also be called Gandhavaha, which means “bearer of perfumes”; Jalakantara, which means “whose garden is water”; and Sadagata, which means “ever moving.”
History of Vayu
Vayu’s origins are mentioned in the text of the “Purushasukta” as being sprung from the breath of Purusha, who is the cosmic man from which the universe was created. The “Purushasukta,” which translates to “Hymn of the Cosmic Man,” is a hymn found in the tenth book of the Rigveda. The Rigveda is one of the four Vedas, which are the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda. The Vedas are ancient collections of poems and hymns that were written in the second century B.C.E. and are comprised of writings referring to the worship of gods in the ancient Indian pantheon, usually those that represent natural phenomena.
Vayu is discussed in the Mahabharata, which is the greatest epic text of ancient India. The Mahabharata is an ancient moral poem about two feuding families who are groups of cousins, the Kauravas and the Pandavas. While the text is dated in its earlier forms to 400 B.C.E., its present form has been around since about 400 C.E.
In the Mahabharata, Vayu has several roles and is associated with other gods. Vayu is associated with the god Indra, who is the king of the gods. Indra can also bring rain with the power of the thunderbolt.
What does “Vayu” mean?
The origin of the word “Vayu” is from Sanskrit, and it means “wind” or “air.” The Hindu god Vayu is in charge of the powerful winds and the gentle air that humans breathe.
What is Vayu the god of?
Vayu is the god of air and the guardian of the northwest direction. Vayu is also known as the spiritual father of Bhima and Hanuman and king of the Gandharvas.
What is the power of Vayu?
The power of Vayu is to control the wind and air. He can make it mighty and powerful to knock down a summit of a mountain, or so gentle as to fill a person’s lungs and allow them to inhale and exhale.
What does Vayu symbolize?
Vayu symbolizes power, strength, and stamina in the stories in which he uses his power to destroy. He also symbolizes gentleness as he gives life to the creation of living things with gentle breaths.