The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s2.14

c19.s2.14

Vāyu, the lord of the north-west in the Purāṇic list of Dikpālas, is described as the father of Bhīma, the second Pāṇḍava, and of Hanumān, the monkey-god, respectively in the *Mahābhārata* and the *Rāmāyaṇa*. The *Viṣṇudharmottara* (Ch. 58, vv. 1-6) describes him as two-armed, his two hands holding the two ends of the scarf worn by him, his garment being inflated by wind (*vāyyāpurita-vastra* emphasising his swift motion), his mouth being open and his hair dishevelled (this also indicates his swift movement).¹ This description follows to a great extent the representation of the Zoroastrian wind-god, Vāta (OA Δ O) on the coins of Kanishka and Huvishka. Rao quotes several other characterisations of Vāyu from such texts as *Amśumadbhedāgama*, *Suprabhedāgama*, *Śilparatna*, *Pūrvakāraṇāgama* and *Rūpamaṇḍana*, all of which, except the last, describe him as two-armed. According to the first of these texts he has a banner in his right hand and a staff in his left, and a ‘lion throne’ (*siṃhāsana*); according to the second he holds a banner and an elephant-goad in his hands, and has a stag mount; the third lays down that he has a flag in the left (the right hand being in the varada pose) and a stag mount; the fourth endows him with an elephant-goad and a stag mount (the emblem in the other hand is not clearly mentioned). The Rūpamaṇḍana describes the god ruling over the north-western quarter as four-armed, his four hands showing a varamudrā, a banner, a flag and a water-vessel; he rides on an antelope, his colour being green (Varaṃ dhvajaṃ patākā ca kamaṇḍalukarairdadhat | Mṛgārūḍho haritvarṇaḥ Pavano vāyudikpatiḥ). In early mediaeval temples of prominent cult gods, Vāyu shown as riding on a stag and hoiding a flag in his hand occupies his allotted corner in the outer side of the structure.