Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t6.4

c5.s2.t6.4

Vāta, like Rudra, also wafts healing and prolongs life, for he has the treasure of immortality in his house (10, 186). This healing power of wind doubtless represents its purifying character (cp. p. 77). The activity of wind is chiefly mentioned in connexion with the thunderstorm (4, 17¹²; 5, 83⁴; 10, 168¹· ²). Blasts of wind being coincident with the appearance of lightnings and preceding the reappearance of the sun, Vāta is spoken of as producing ruddy lights (10, 168¹) and of making the dawns to shine (1, 134³). The swiftness of wind often supplies a comparison for the speed of the gods (4, 17¹²; 5, 41³; 9, 97⁵²) or of mythical steeds (1, 163¹¹; 4, 38³). Its noise is also frequently mentioned (4, 22⁴; 8, 91³; 10, 168¹· ⁴). The name of Vāta has been identified with that of the Germanic god of storm and battle, Odhin or Wodan⁴, which is explained as formed with a derivative suffix from the cognate base. But this identification seems to be very doubtful⁵.