Vayu Devaru

Mukhyapraana

Vayu, the God of Wind, is known by many names… Pavan, Pavamaana, Sameera, Anila, Marut, Vaata… Vayu Devaru is called “Praana Devaru” by the followers of Tattvavaada. Bharathi Devi is his consort.

There are said to be five kinds of help rendered by Vayu/ air in our body. But the most important, without which nothing else survives, is breath, hence he is called, “Mukhyapraana”*.

*The primary life-force

We live only by the grace of Praana Devaru; Sripaadarajaru has conveyed this concept in his popular composition, “Madhwa Naama”,

where he says, if the abhimaani devathes of eyes/ ears / speech leave the body, the person is merely considered blind/ deaf/ mute. But if Mukhyapraana leaves the body, the next instant the body is called a corpse.

Karanabhimani suraru dehava bidalu
Kuruda kivuda mookanendenisuva
Parama mukhyapraana tolagala dehavanu
Aritu penavendu pelvaru budhajana

Mukhyapraana performs “Shwaasa japa/ Shwaasa yagna” through each breath a living being takes. It is roughly calculated to be 21600 times a day for a human. This Shwaasa Japa has been popularised by various Godmen as ‘So-ham’ or ‘Hamsa’ Mantra. Being in perpetual awareness of every inhalation/ exhalation is one of the highest forms of meditation.

Hari - Vayu

The two phrases that are quintessential to Tattvavaada are, “Hari Sarvotthama” (mentioned earlier) and “Vayu Jeevotthama”.

Vayu Devaru is considered as the highest jeeva and the spiritual guide of all followers of Tattvavaada.

Hari and Vayu are inseparable, so long as Mukhyapraana resides within us, Hari too resides. Hari leaves the body the instant Mukhyapraana does. Sripaadarajaru says…

Aavavanu dehadolagiralu Hari ta nelesihanu Aavavanu tolage Hari ta tolaguva

Hari is pleased and accepts our prayers/ worship/ offerings only when they are offered through Vayu Devaru. Hence a devout follower of Tattvavaada says, Bharathi ramana Mukhyapraana anthargatha…….. Shrikrishnarpanamasthu, that is, this is offered to Shree Krishna who resides within Mukhyapraana who is the consort of Bharathi.

Hanuma- Bheema- Madhwa

Vayu Devaru incarnated in three yugas, as Hanuman in Treta Yuga, Bheemasena in Dwaapara Yuga and Madhwaachaarya in Kali Yuga.

Interestingly, in all three incarnations, he was in the physical presence of Hari (Vishnu/ Narayana), in the forms of Raama, Krishna and Veda Vyaasa, respectively.

All three avataaras of Vayu Devaru are known for sharp intellect and memory, supreme physical prowess and mental strength, and the ability to wield the mace.

At the mention of Vayu Devaru, a person typically thinks of these forms of Vayu Devaru and not the original form (as depicted in pictures, for who has seen the Wind? ;)) A unique feature of these three avataaras is that each avataara is considered to possess all the qualities* of Vayu Devaru and one can meditate upon any form to propitiate Vayu Devaru.

* Only Vishnu has absolutely no difference between him and his avataaras. So Vayu Devaru has a minuscule difference between himself and his avataaras.

Hanuma

Hanuman is called by various names… Anjaneya, Anjani Putra, Vayu Putra, Pavan Putra, Kesari Nandan, Bajrangbali, Kapishresht, Sundara, Ramadoota, Praana Devaru and so on.

Beauty, humility, presence of mind, perfect diction, expertise in grammar, physical strength, single mindedness, capacity to fly, the ability to assume different sizes, celibacy… are some of the distinguishing features of this avataara.

Although all the three avataaras are “Vayu Putra”, the phrase is most often associated with Hanuman.

Bheema

Bheema or Bheemasena is also known as Vrikodara (the wolf-bellied). Popular literature has reduced this towering personality to a gluttonous giant.

Fearlessness, physical strength, humility, good looks, tenderness towards Droupadi, expertise in cooking*, ability to digest any amount of food (including poison**) and yet remain slimwaisted, capacity to stay awake… are some of the distinguishing features of this avataara.

*Folklores attribute the creation of ‘avial’ to Bheema!

**A trait of Vayu devaru

Madhwa

The poorvashrama name of Madhwaachaarya is “Vaasudeva”. His other names are Poorna Pragnya and Ananda Tirtha.

Dignity, the ability to absorb and apply the essence of complex and critical information in the very first attempt (Eka Santha Grahi), incredible physique, amazing capacity to digest food, knowledge of Persian language, composition of music, and the ability to debate, sing, dance, wrestle, swim; are some of the distinguishing features of this avataara.