[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Architecture and art](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art) › [The Development of Hindu Iconography](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941) › c19.s2.14 # The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s2.14 The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s2.14 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s2.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.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. - [Previous: c19.s2.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.c19.s2.13) - [Next: c19.s2.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.c19.s2.15) - [Up: c19.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.c19.s2) ## Cites (7) - [Suprabhedāgama](https://indike.org/pramana/in.sampradaya.saiva.agama.siva.suprabheda) — Sanskrit - [Kāśyapaśilpa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.dravida.kasyapasilpa) — Sanskrit - [Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.upa.vaisnava.visnudharmottara) — Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit - [Śilparatna](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.dravida.silparatna) — Śrīkumāra (Śilparatna) 1500, Sanskrit - [Rūpamaṇḍana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.silpa.marugurjara.rupamandana) — Maṇḍana, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.c19.s2.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.art.banerjea-1941.c19.s2.14) · Pramāṇa