Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . ten the heaven and earthwith fatness ; let there be well-filled drinking-places forthe cows. In all this there is not a single idea that was notexpressed in the hymns to Indra noticed the Puranas Indra is generally styled the king of thegods ; whilst Parjanya is spoken of as the ruler over,and as dwelling in, the clouds. * Muir, O. S. T., v. 140. THE STORM DEITIES- VA YU. 4. Vayu. 65 Another of the storm-gods is Vayu, the god of thewinds. He is often associated with Indra, and is regard-ed, equally with him, as representing or ruling over thea
Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purānic . ten the heaven and earthwith fatness ; let there be well-filled drinking-places forthe cows. In all this there is not a single idea that was notexpressed in the hymns to Indra noticed the Puranas Indra is generally styled the king of thegods ; whilst Parjanya is spoken of as the ruler over,and as dwelling in, the clouds. * Muir, O. S. T., v. 140. THE STORM DEITIES- VA YU. 4. Vayu. 65 Another of the storm-gods is Vayu, the god of thewinds. He is often associated with Indra, and is regard-ed, equally with him, as representing or ruling over theatmosphere. He won the race for the first draught of theSoma juice ; and, at Indras request, allowed him to havea quarter of it. He does not occupy a very prominentposition in the Vedic hymns. In one passage* we read The two worlds (heaven and earth) generated him forwealth. This may be intended to teach his parentage •and Dr. Muir says that he is not aware of any other pas-sage where his parentage is declared. He is said to be the. son-in-law of Tvastri (Visvakarma) ; but here a difficultyoccurs : only one daughter of Tvastri is mentioned, and,as was noticed in the account of Surya, he was said to behusband of this girl. Vayu is describedf as being most handsome in form ;one who moves noisily in a shining car, drawn by a pairof red or purple horses. At times the number of horses is * Muir, O. S. T., v. 140. f Ibid., v. 143. W, HM 5 66 THE VEDIC DEITIES. increased to ninety-nine, a hundred, or even a latter number would probably be employed duringa cyclone. He is seldom mentioned in connection withthe Maruts (storm-deities), though in one place he is saidto have begotten them by the rivers of heaven. Another name for Vayu in the Vedas is Vata. Thepraise of Vata is sung in the following hymn :—* (Icelebrate) the glory of Vatas chariot; his noise comesrending and resounding. Touching the sky, he movesonward, making all things ruddy, and he comes pro-pelling the
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