VĀYU “Wind, Atmosphere, Space,” name of a deity. Indo-Iranian religion recognized two wind gods: Av. vayu, Ved. vāyú, and Av. vāta-, Ved. vā́ta-. In Iranian the latter is both a deity and the natural phenomenon (cf. MPers., Parth. wād, Kušān coins OAΔO, SogdB wʾt, Khot. bāta-; see further, Bailey, p. 276). By contrast, in the Avesta vayu- is always a proper name, never an appellative. Further, the Middle Persian evidence suggests that, as an appellative, OIr. wāyu- included “atmosphere” as the realm of the wind’s activity. In Avestan the name appears as vayu- with shortened a preceding y (cf. Parth. wyw). The peculiar acc. sg. vaēm is a corruption of *vayum, while vayąn of Nyāyišn 1.1 as acc. sg. is perplexing (but see Schwartz, 1975). As H. Humbach observed, SogdB wyšprkr /wēšparkar/ is an EIranian form of an OIr. name plus epithet which is attested in Av. vayuš uparō.kairyō. This then explains the deity found on Kušān coins iconographically identified as Śiva, but whose name is given as OEŠO /wēšo/.
The name derives from the verb vā- “to blow” (IE *√H2weH1-) and is one of a few primary derivatives in -yu- in Indo-Iranian, the only other such word that is common being Ved. manyú-, Av mainyu- (AiGr II, 2, p. 842). Vedic vā́ta- and GAv. vāta- (Y. 44.4) are sometimes trisyllabic, va'ata- (< * H2weH1-n̥t-o-; EWA II, p. 542, thus wrongly AiGr II, 2, p. 587). The tradition preserved in Yt. 15 attempted an etymology of the name vayu-. In stanzas 43-44 Vāyu explains the meaning of his names, vayu, apayate, and vanō.vīspå, with the formula:
The reason that I am called vayu (apayate, vanō.vīspå) is that I pursue (attain, conquer) both creations, both that which Spənta Mainyu created and that which Aŋra Mainyu created.
awat̰ vayuš (apayate, vanō.vīspå) nąma ahmi yat̰ wa dąma vayemi (vayemi: to √way- “to pursue, chase”; apayemi, vanāmi) yasca daθat̰ spəntō mainyuš, yasca daθat̰ aŋrō mainyuš
The form yas° where one expects yat̰° is due to imitation of the phrase Y. 57.17, Yt. 13.76 yat̰ mainyū dāmąn daiδītəm yasca spəntō mainyuš yasca aŋrō.
Vāyu is a complex, multifaceted deity. While the depiction of Vāyu in Yt. 15 is basically that of a martial deity capable of protecting the creation of Spənta Mainyu, elsewhere in the Avesta he appears as a feared god of death. In the Pahlavi books a very clear distinction is made between the Good Wāy (Wāy ī weh) and the Bad Wāy (Wāy ī wattar). Further, in the Avesta, he is superior not only to both Spənta Mainyu, the Beneficent Spirit, and Aŋra Mainyu, the Evil Spirit, but also to Ahura Mazdā, who must entreat him for aid. As Philip G. Kreyenbroek has shown (see COSMOGONY AND COSMOLOGY i. In Zoroastrianism/Mazdaism), ancient Iranians, like their Vedic counterparts, entertained a variety of conceptions regarding creation and the formation of the cosmos. On the basis of the much later Pahlavi sources, one can identify one scenario where there was a primordial condition of infinite Space (Vāyu) and infinite Time (Zruwan), from which the dualities of finite space and time evolved as the requisites of the creation of the world. The close association of Space-Time is already foreshadowed in the Avesta, where Vāyu shares the epithet darəγō.xwāδata- (Pahl. dagrand-xwadāy) with Zruwan. Thus, in the Sīh Rōzag (see below) Wayu, Θβāṣ̌a (Space; = Pahl. Spihr), and both Infinite Time (zrwan- akarana-) and Time of Long-dominion (zrwan- darəγō.xwaδāta-) are invoked together. Indeed, the cosmogonic priority of Time became the central thesis of Zurwanite theology during the Parthian and Sassanid periods (see Zaehner). In the Bundahišn account of creation, we read: “Between them (Ohrmazd and Ahreman) was the Void; some call it Wāy” (1.4). That is the primordial situation. Later in the account (1.26), however:
(Ohrmazd) created the form of the Good Wāy, since Wāy was necessary. Some say ‘Wāy of long- dominion.’ And He fashioned forth the creation with the assistance of Wāy of long-dominion, since when He created the creation Wāy was necessary as an instrument of His for the task.
ā-š kirb ī wāy ī weh frāz-brēhēnīd ciyōn wāy abāyast. ast kē wāy ī dagrand-xwadāy frāz-gōwēd. u-š dām pad ayārīh ī wāy ī dagrand-xwadāy frāz-brēhēnīd, cē ka-š dām-iz dād wāy-iz abzār-ē ī-š pad kār andar abāyast
The implication here is that the author of the Bundahišn is attempting to relegate what in another theology (Zurwānite?) was Wāy’s creative independence, to Ohrmazd’s sovereignty over creation.
In Zaraθuštra’s vision, it appears that Ahura Mazdā is the creator of the two Spirits as Twins (yə̄mā), an adaptation of the Indo-European cosmogonic myth of primal twins (see Lincoln). Martin Schwartz (forthcoming) has demonstrated that the duality of the two Spirits follows from the basic sense of Indo-Iranian manyu- as embracing intense mental activity that can manifest itself either in violence and destruction or in benign creativity. He has suggested that this should be regarded as parallel to the splitting of Vāyu, rather than agreeing with Georges Dumézil, who went so far as to see in Zaraθuštra’s two mainyu-s a sublimation of the two Vāyu-s of the inherited pantheon, though this was in the context of his tripartite theory (see also Widengren). Be that as it may, one can suppose that once Vāyu, as infinite space above the categories of good and evil, became finite, he split in two. As such, he assumed the part of the benevolent, if at times violent, Wind, on the one hand, and that of the evil bringer of death, on the other. Vedic Vāyu and Avestan Vayu appear to have few common traits. With some exceptions the former always is invoked together with Indra (vā́yū índrasca) and in the context of the ritual is the first to partake of soma. Yet, as noted by Wikander, in the Indian epic, the Mahābhārata, Vāyu’s nature is embodied, ambivalently, in the person of his human son, Bhīma (the Terrible), who is loving and protective of his family, on the one hand, and brutally violent with foes, on the other. So, it would seem that the Indo-Iranian deity was regarded with ambivalence as having both a benevolent and malevolent side of his personality.
Since Ahura Mazdā must request the ability to strike down Aŋra Mainyu’s creatures, Vāyu seems to exercise dominion over both creations. This suggests that in some circles Vāyu enjoyed a universality that overshadowed both Ahura Mazdā and Aŋra Mainyu. In fact, H. S. Nyberg imagined that Vāyu was the supreme deity of a particular community, just as Ahura Mazdā and Miθra also had their respective communities in which they reigned supreme. The idea of rival sectarian communities in pre-Zoroastrian Iran has been generally ignored by scholars.
In Yašt 15 of the Avesta, a picture of Vāyu’s nature can be painted mostly on the basis of his various epithets. His standing epithet is uparō.kairya- “having superior skill.” He is strong (uγra-), swift (aurwa-) and fleet (taxma-). In appearance he is broad-chested (pərəθu.wara-), broad-hipped (pərəθu.sraoni-), high-stepping (bərəzi.pāδa-) and high-girdled (uskāt̰.yāsta-) with golden helmet (zaranyō.xaoδa-), cape (-pusa-; cf. images of OAΔO, e.g., Rosenfield, p. 91 and coins 149, 150), necklace (-mina-), vestment (-wastra-), shoes (-aoθra-) and girdle (-aiβyåŋha-). He is a warrior who has a golden chariot (zaranyō.wāṣ̌a-) with golden wheels (zaranyō.caxra-) whose yoke-straps are firm (dərəzi.yaoxəδra-). His weapons are golden (zaranyō.zaya-), and he has a sharp spear (tižyaršti-), whose (blade) is broad (pərəθwaršti-) and whose (thrusts) are impetuous (+wīžyaršti-: see Mayrhofer, 1979, no. 384). Given this image of the god, it is not surprising that in the Bundahišn he is the patron of the warrior or noble caste, the artēštārān (Bd. 26.28). On the epithet list in the Yašt, see below.
Although Yt. 15 paints a picture of a mighty, benevolent deity who protects the creation of Spənta Mainyu and who harkens to the entreaties of ašawans, there is the malevolent side of his nature that is only hinted at in the Yašt, but which has explicit expression in the Vendidad, Nyāyišn, and Aogəmadaēcā. Vendidad 5.8 and 5.9 have the repeated: astō.wīδōtiš dim bandayeiti wayō dim bastəm nayeiti, speaking of a dying man, “Astō.wiδāti binds him; Vāyu leads him bound. “ The Pahlavi gloss follows word for word the Avestan: astōwidād ōy bandēd wāy ī wattar ōy bast nayēd, and vs. 9 has the comment: ast kē ēdōn gōwēd ē wāy ī weh ān hamāg barēd, “Some say, ‘the Good Wāy bears them all.’” Apparently the commentator wished to distinguish, as we shall see, the Bad Wāy who leads away the soul, while the Good Wāy carries the righteous soul to heaven. The Bundahišn (27.43, 44) makes a related statement:
It is Astōwidād[/Astwihād, the demon of death, i.e.], the Bad Wāy, who takes the breath-soul.
astwihād wāy ī wattar kē gyān stānēd. ciyōn gōwēd kū: ka dast abar mardōm mālēd būšāsp, ka-š sāyag abar abganēd tab, ka-š cašm wēnēd gyān be zanēd.
As He says, ‘when (his) hand strokes a man, it is lethargy; when he casts his shadow, it is fever; when he sees his eye, he slays the breath-soul; and they call (this) death.’” Verses 78-81 of the Aogəmadaēcā list paths of dire circumstances which one can escape, but not that “which belongs to merciless Vāyu” (yō vayaōš anamarəždikahe), meaning that death is inescapable. There are indications in Yt. 15 that lurking behind the ašawan Vāyu, is a sinister Vāyu. When Ahura Mazdā entreats Vāyu, the boon He asks for is “that I may strike down the creatures of Aŋra Mainyu, by no means what belongs to Spənta Mainyu” (Yt. 15.4: yaθa azəm nijanāni aŋrahe mainyəuš dāmanąm naēciš awat̰ yō spəntahe). And when the worshipers invoke Vāyu it is with the formula: “We worship that (nature) of thine, o Vāyu, which belongs to Spənta Mainyu” (Yt. 15.5; Sīh Rōzag 2.21: aētat̰ tē vayō yazamaide yat̰ tē asti spəntō.mainyaom).
Yašt 15, the Yašt dedicated to Vāyu, actually bears the Pahlavi title Rām Yašt, even though the minor deity Rāman is nowhere mentioned in the Yašt. In the order of the days of the month, Rām immediately precedes Wād. The Sīh Rōzag contains two litanies dedicated to the deities of the 30 days of the month. In many cases, subjoined to the deity of the particular day are invocations of other deities who do not have their own name day. To the 16th day of Miθra subjoined is Rāman. Yet, Rāman has also his proper day, the 21st, and to him have been subjoined Wayu, Θβāṣ̌a, and both Infinite Time (zrwan- akarana-) and Time of Long-dominion (zrwan- darəγō.xwaδāta-). It is curious that Vāyu occurs here and not under the 22nd day, Vāta. At Y. 6.2 miθrəm vouru.gaoyaoitīm … yazamaide is immediately followed by rāma xwāstrəm yazamaide. Similarly, at Vd. 3.1, Rāman follows Miθra: miθrəmca wouru.gaoyaoitīm jaiδyą rāmaca xwāstrəm. In these two cases, one finds a more natural order of ‘Miθra of wide-pastures’ and ‘Rāman of good pastures.’ The ultimate reason for the connection between Vāyu and Rāman remains obscure, though the Bundahišn (26.28-29) attempts an equation:
Rām, whom one calls Good Wāy of long-dominion, is himself Wāy of long-dominion who, among the Spiritual Deities, has as his the proper activity chieftainship of the Warriors. (29) And when the soul (gyān) of the righteous crosses the Cinwat-bridge, the Good Wāy takes his hand and brings him to his proper place. One calls (him) ‘Rām’ for the reason that he is the giver of pleasure (rāmišn-dādār) to the whole world. (30) But when the Bad Wāy strikes the life-breath (gyān) from the body, this Good Wāy receives it and gives it contentment.
rām ī wāy ī weh ī dagrand-xwadāy gōwēd xwad ast wāy ī dagrand-xwadāy kē andar mēnōgān artēštārān- sālārīh xwēškārīh dārēd. ud ruwān ī ahlawān ka pad cēhwidarag widerēd, wāy ī weh dast gīrēd, ō ān ī xwēš gāh barēd. ē rāy rām gōwēd cē rāmišn-dādār ō hamāg gēhān. ka-z wāy ī wattar gyān az tan be zanēd, ōy wāy ī weh be padīrēd ud hunsandīh be dahēd.
The Yašt itself is a late editorial compilation of various sources, much of which has been assembled by a redactor who understood little Avestan. Like others among the ‘Great’ Yašts, the stanzas are segmented according to the kardah system. The first stanza seems to have been taken from two different sources, in that the first two lines begin with the formula yazāi (name of deity) “I shall worship” (entities which have nothing to do with either Rāman or Vāyu), while the next two have the formula with the name of the deity (namely, Vāyu) followed by yazamaide “we worship” and zbayamahi “we invoke.” Stanzas 2-41 are segmented according to the individual petitioner (see below). The final kardah, stanzas 42-57, is mostly concerned with Vāyu’s names and epithets, and occasions of distress when one should invoke Him by his names.
With stanzas 43-44 begin a series of names of Vāyu. These names appear to be citation names, that is, words, which have been taken from originally different contexts and inserted here. Thus, apayate appears to be dat. sg. of the part. pres.; wanō.wīspå might have originally been nom./acc. pl. fem., while wohwaršte could represent loc. sg. masc., nom./acc. du. fem., or even acc. pl. masc. The effort in these two stanzas is to etymologize the names. Stanzas 45-48 contain a list of epithets, which are rather perplexing. Whoever compiled the list seems to have had little idea what the words meant or how they should be cited; and the method of citation is reminiscent of the late Sassanid Frahang ī ōim). Words ending in a and ə are apparently vocatives, while those ending in ō and iš are nominative. Other items are hard to judge: for example xwarənå, aiβi.xwarənå and windixwarənə; or saocahi and bucahi, which may well be 2nd sg. act. verb forms. It is also curious that some epithets, which occur in the Yašt are absent from the list: uparō.kairya, wimanəkarə, and those in stanzas 54 and 57. Like the lists of Ahura Mazdā’s epithets (Yt. 1) this list probably had some apologetic purpose in addition to the magical properties of the names.
A feature which Yt. 15 has in common with other Yašts, namely, 5, 9, (16), and 17, is a formulaic series of supplicants who petition the deity for boons. The most extensive series is found in Yt. 5. The other Yašts, though much abbreviated, generally follow the order of Yt. 5, and it might be tempting to see in Yt. 5 the model, which the others imitate. Yt. 15 follows Yt. 5 in the initial series: Ahura Mazdā, Paraδāta Haošyaŋha, Yima, Aži Dahāka, Θraētaona, Kərəsāspa (for the latter four, see JAMŠID, AŽDAHĀ, FERĒDŪN, KARSĀSP) except that Yt. 15 inserts Taxma Urupi between Haošyaŋha and Yima. Between Kərəsāsp and Zaraθuštra in Yt. 5 are ten men omitted in Yt. 15, but where Yt. 15 inserts Aurwasāra (absent in Yt. 5). Further, in place of Zaraθuštra, Yt. 15 has Hutaosā, and then in place of Vištāspa, Zairiwairi, and Arəjat̰.aspa (for whom, see KAYĀNIĀN ix. Kauui Vištāspa ..., AYĀDGĀR Ī ZARĒRĀN, ARJĀSP). Yt. 15 concludes with ‘maidens.’ Further, even where the names match up between the two Yašts, the wording is not always identical. For example, Yt. 5.17-18 “The Creator, Ahura Mazdā, worshipped Her in Arya Vaējah of the good Dāityā (river). Then He entreated Her, ‘Grant me this boon [o good, most strong Ardwī Sūrā Anāhitā], that I may instigate the son of Purušaspa, righteous Zaraθuštra, to think …, to speak …, to act according to the Religion.’” In contrast, Yt. 15 has: “The Creator, Ahura Mazdā, worshipped Him in Arya Vaēja, etc. He entreated Him, ‘Grant me this boon [Vāyu, who has superior skill] that I may slay the creatures of Aŋra Mainyu, but not that which belongs to Spənta (Mainyu).’” The conclusion to be drawn from this and other examples is that Yt. 15 is not simply appropriating material from Yt. 5, but rather, drawing on some common source.
Bibliography:
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(William W. Malandra)
Originally Published: September 17, 2014
Last Updated: January 12, 2015
Cite this entry:William W. Malandra, "VĀYU," Encyclopædia Iranica, online edition, 2014, available at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/vayu (accessed on 17 September 2014).
