The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c7.s2.141

c7.s2.141

It is hardly worthwhile to emphasise certain similarities of the two groups of texts on the subject of the wind. These simply show that everywhere the representation of the wind is largely based on the commonplace observation of its action. It is not of much importance whether the Yast (VIII, 33) says that the wind brings the rain and that on its side the Rgveda (VII, 40, 6) wishes that the wind may give the rain. But the importance accorded to the wind on both the sides, as a natural element as also a supernatural being, is more significant. The notion of this importance must go back to the Indo-Iranian community; otherwise it would be necessary to suppose that this notion was formed among the Iranians and among the Indians independently or that it was formed among these people after their separation and that it was then communicated to each other.