Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c17.s2.11

c17.s2.11

(ii) In the archaic hymns Vāyu appears to be the charioteer of Indra. There is no hint in the hymns themselves that this god represents the Wind: this later interpretation of his character may be either a reminiscence or a guess. In no case is Vāyu to be identified with Vāta, for they appear side by side in many hymns to the Viśve Devāḥ. In the later parts of the Rigveda the place of Vāyu is taken by Bṛhaspati.