Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t6.2

c5.s2.t6.2

Few references are made to Vāyu’s origin. The two worlds are said to have generated him for wealth (7, 90³). He is once spoken of as the son-in-law of Tvaṣṭṛ (8, 26²¹⁻²), though his wife’s name is not mentioned (cp. § 38). In the Puruṣa hymn he is said to have sprung from the breath of the world-giant (10, 90¹³). Vāyu is rarely connected with the Maruts. He is, however, once said to have generated them from the wombs of heaven (1, 134⁴) and to be accompanied by them (1, 142¹²) as well as by Pūṣan and the Viśvedevas. His personal attributes are rather indefinite. He is beautiful (1, 2¹) and with Indra is spoken of as touching the sky, swift as thought, and thousand-eyed (1, 23²· ³). He is once said to have roaring velocity (10, 100²). Vāyu has a shining car drawn by a team or by a pair of red (*rohita*) or ruddy (*aruṇa*) steeds. His team consists of 99 (4, 48⁴), 100 or even 1000 (4, 46³) horses yoked by his will. The attribute *niyutvat*, ‘drawn by a team’, often occurs with reference to Vāyu or his car, being otherwise used only once or twice in each case with reference to Indra, Agni, Pūṣan, or the Maruts. Vāyu’s car, in which Indra is his companion (4, 46². 48²; 7, 91⁵), has a golden seat and touches the sky (4, 46⁴). Like the other gods, Vāyu is fond of Soma, to which he is often invited to come with his teams and the first draught of which he obtains as his share¹ (also in company with Indra: 1, 135⁴), for he is the swiftest of the gods (ŚB. 13, 1, 2⁷ &c.)². The AB. (2, 25) tells a story of how in a race which the gods ran for the first draught of Soma, Vāyu reached the goal first and Indra second. He is in the RV. also called a protector of Soma (10, 85⁵) and has the characteristic epithet *śucipā*, ‘drinking the clear (Soma draught)’, an epithet which Indra once shares with him. He is also once connected with the ‘nectar-yielding’ (*sabardughā*) cow³ (1, 134⁴). Vāyu grants fame, offspring, wealth in steeds, oxen, and gold (7, 90²· ⁶). He disperses foes (4, 48²) and is invoked for protection by the weak (1, 134⁵).