Handbook of History of Religions

SR No.: 007634
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Edward Washburn
Publisher: Sanmati Tirth Prakashan Pune
Total Pages: 678
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 2 MB

Page 98

In the Rig Veda there are three complete hymns to Wind, none of these being in the family books. In x. 186, the poet calls on Wind to bring health to the worshipper, and to prolong his life. He addresses Wind as 'father and brother and friend,' asking the power that blows to bring him ambrosia, of which Wind has a store. These are rather pretty verses without special theological intent, addressed more to Wind as such than to a spiritual power. The other hymn from the same book is directed to V[=a]ta also, not to V[=a]yu, and though it is loftier in tone and even speaks of V[=a]ta as the soul of the gods, yet is it evident that no consistent mythology has worked upon the purely poetic phraseology, which is occupied merely with describing the rushing of a mighty wind (x. 168). Nevertheless, V[=a]ta is worshipped, as is V[=a]yu, with oblations.
HYMN TO WIND (V[=a]ta).
Now V[=alta's chariot's greatness! Breaking goes it, And thundering is its noise; to heaven it touches, Goes o'er the earth, cloud[1] making, dust up-rearing; Then rush together all the forms of V[=alta; To him they come as women to a meeting. With them conjoint, on the same chariot going, Is born the god, the king of all creation. Ne'er sleepeth he when, on his pathway wandering, He goes through air. The friend is he of waters; First-born and holy,—where was he created, And whence arose he? Spirit of gods is V[=a]ta, Source of creation, goeth where he listeth; Whose sound is heard, but not his form. This V[=a]ta Let us with our oblations duly honor.
In times later than the Rig Veda, V[Fa]yu interchanges with Indra as representative of the middle sphere; and in the Rig Veda all the hymns of the family books associate him with Indra (vii. 90-92; iv. 47-48). In the first book he is associated thus in the second