Story of Vaayu, the Wind God

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Story of Vaayu, the Wind God

The Ruling Deity of Swati Nakshatra

Dr. K S Charak

 

http://www.vedicastro.com/vaayu.html

 

Vaayu or the Wind-god is one of the five main elements that

originate at the beginning of the manifest universe and that form

the basis of all subsequent creation. During the phase of

annihilation, there is only water. Since there is no wind at that

time, there is no stir in the massive body of water. In the womb of

that body of water lies the manifest universe in a subtle form.

 

When the phase of manifestation tends to begin, Lord Narayana,

otherwise in a state of somnolence inside the Water, creates

turbulence therein so that waves begin to rise and fall. With the

formation of waves, a subtle space is created which expands into

Aakaasha or ether. From the Aakaasha arises wind or Vaayu which

creates massive turbulence in the water. The turbulence generates

heat and gives rise to Agni, the Fire-god. The Fire burns up water

and causes further expansion of the Aakaasha. The Jala (water),

Vaayu (wind), Agni (fire), Aakaasha (ether) and Prithvi (the earth)

compise the five original elements which are the precursors of the

manifest universe. It is said that Vaayu or the Wind-god represents

the breath of the eternal, infinite Lord. He controls the North West

direction and his abode is known as Gandhavati.

 

Love of Vaayu

 

King Kusha-Naabha was a highly virtuous king. He married the Apsara

named Ghritaachi, a heavenly damsel of unparalleled beauty. From

her, he begot a hundred daughters, each one lovelier than the other.

As years went by, the onset of youth only enhanced their grace

further. They would dress elegantly, wander playfully in the midst

of flowering plants, and spend their time merrily in song, dance and

music. The world over, these daughters of the saintly Kusha-Naabha

were known for their matchless beauty.

 

Once it so happened that lord Vaayu saw these princesses in all

their grace and youthfulness. He was at once aroused with carnal

desire towards them and said, "O' lovely ones! I want to have you as

my wives. May you then give up your human nature and accept me as

your godly husband. Having once become my wives, you would attain

long life and lasting youthfulness.

 

"Young age does not last too long for the earthlings. It constantly

slips away with time. Once in godly fold, you would attain

deathlessness and a never-fading youth."

 

The young girls were taken aback. They were aware of the might of

the Wind-god but not prepared for such a demand from him. They

laughed and said:

 

"O' best of the gods! You pervade this whole existence in the form

of Prana. Therefore, you also permeate the living creatures on this

earth. You certainly know the mind of everyone. Are you then not

aware of what is in our minds? All of us sisters are aware of your

immeasurable might but have no inclination to be your wives. Knowing

this, you have only insulted us by your proposal."

 

The girls further went on, "Lord! We are the daughters of the

saintly king Kusha-Naabha. We possess the strength of our

austerities to curse even you, a god, though we would not like to

thus waste our hard earned merit. O' exalted one! May there never

arise a situation when, driven by lust and unrighteousness, we defy

our virtuous father and go out to choose our own spouse. Our father

is our lord and the most venerable for us. We shall accept as our

husband any one whom our father deems worthy for us."

 

Vaayu's Anger

 

Lord Vaayu was incensed at the summary rejection of his proposal. He

would not be slighted without reprisal. He, therefore, entered into

the bodies of those beautiful maidens and twisted their limbs.

Distorted and hunched, they felt distressed and returned home.

 

Seeing them in anguish, the king was highly perturbed. He called

them to his presence and asked them the reason for their miserable

plight.

 

Forgiveness Praised

 

The physically distorted daughters narrated the whole incidence to

their father.

 

"The all-pervading Vaayu-deva had ill intentions on us and wanted to

physically violate us. He had forsaken the path of Dharma, O'

father. We told him: `Lord! We are not free to decide on such

matters. Go to our father and ask for our hands. We shall accept you

if our father so desires.'

 

"But his mind was fixed on sin. While we were thus talking to him

according to our Dharma, he inflicted this injury upon us and so we

suffer undeservingly."

 

The wise king offered them solace: "Dear ones! Only the highly

disciplined ones can exercise the forgiveness that you have granted

to Vaayu-deva. Resisting physical temptation, you have saved the

honour and dignity of this family, an extremely worthy action

indeed. Be one a man or a woman, the quality of forgiveness is like

an ornament to one's character. Even gods would find it hard to

match this quality of yours."

 

"Daughters dear," the king continued, "forgiveness is the greatest

charity, the greatest truth, the greatest sacrifice, the greatest

renown and the greatest Dharma. On forgiveness alone rests this

whole manifestation."

 

The king then called his ministers and discussed the unfortunate

situation with them. And they pondered over who should these

luckless princesses be given in marriage to.

 

Calamity Anulled

 

During those times, an austere sage named Chooli was engaged in

rigorous penances, following strict vow of celibacy. He was being

looked after by Somadaa, a Gandharva maiden, who served the sage

with great devotion. She would take care of all the needs of the

sage who was highly satisfied with her selfless service. After some

time, the sage said to the young maiden, "Dear one, may you be

blessed! I am very satisfied with you. Pray tell me what I should

grant you as a boon."

 

Somadaa was delighted. She said to the exalted sage, "O' great one!

You have attained oneness with the Lord Eternal. I desire to acquire

a virtuous and worthy son, O' sage. However, I do not have a

husband, nor do I wish to have one in future. I have come to serve

you. I want to conceive a son arising out of your austerities, not

through physical contact."

 

The sage granted the boon to the devoted Somadaa. This son of his,

granted to her through his mental energy, was named as Brahmadatta.

 

The king Kusha-Naabha came to know of the effulgence of Brahmadatta

and decided to hand over his hundred daughters to him in marriage.

Brahmadatta gracefully accepted the offer. After marriage, the very

first touch of Brahmadatta relieved the distorted princesses of all

their painful disabilities and they became healthful and lovely once

again.

 

Vaasuki and Vaayudeva: A Trial of Strength

 

Vaasuki is the powerful serpent king. In times of yore, when the

gods and the demons churned the ocean of milk for Amrita, the death-

defying elixir, this mighty serpent was used as a string around the

massive Mandarachala mountain to effect the churning process.

Vaasuki was strong enough to withstand the alternate pulls from the

demons on the head end and the gods on the tail end.

 

It was this valiant Vaasuki and the matchless Vaayu-deva that once

went into argument about who was the more powerful of the two. The

quarrel led to a trial of strength between the two. The serpent

Vaasuki went to the Meru mountain in the north and wrapped himself

around it so-tightly that even Vaayu could not enter the area. This

enraged Vaayu-deva, the Wind-god, who broke into a cyclone and

started shaking the whole world. But however much Vaayu-deva tried,

he could not loosen the grip of Vaasuki around the Meru mountain.

The great Meru shook around but Vaasuki remained unaffected.

 

Vaayu-deva applied more and more force so that the cyclone became

more and more vigorous. The whole world trembled as the two powerful

rivals continued their combat. Even the gods were frightened. They,

along with lord Shiva and lord Brahma, went to lord Vishnu and

requested Him to help stop the potentially dangerous combat. Lord

Vishnu advised both Vaasuki and Vaayu to stop their quarrel without

further delay.

 

Responding to lord Vishnu's bidding, Vaasuki slightly loosened his

hold on one side of the Meru where the mountain Trikoota was

located. Immediately, Vaayu entered there and broke off the Trikoota

from the rest of the Meru and its associated mountains. Vaayu-deva

took away the Trikoota and dropped it into the ocean in the south.

 

The Trikoota lies in the Indian ocean. The divine architect

Vishwakarma built the beautiful city of Lankaa on top of this

mountain. Kubera, the god of wealth once ruled from Lankaa. Later,

the demon king Raavana established his kingdom there. It was the

wicked Raavana who abducted Sita, the divine spouse of Lord Raama,

and met his end at the hands of Lord Raama.

 

(To be continued)