Śri maha-ganapataye namah

Om namo Hanumate namah

We discussed that little Hanuman flew up to the skies mistaking the Sun for the fruit and that Indra injured Hanuman with his thunderbolt. Hanuman who fell on a mountain peak further injured his jaw. Angered with this deed of Indra, Wind-god Vayu took his son, disappeared into a cave and rendered himself motionless. Immediately, life in all the three worlds was rendered chaotic. There was no movement of wind. The senses and the nāḍis (subtle astral nerves) stopped functioning within all living entities.

We presume wind to be that which blows when plants move. But air is just one of the forms of the Wind-god. As we delve into Yoga, we learn of the five winds (panca vayu). Although in reality there are 11 types of wind, the more commonly known are the 5 types of wind. That which causes movement in the universe is addressed as Vayu. The energy which causes movement in the nādis and which exists subtly within the human body, is addressed as Vayu. In Ayurveda branch of medicine, this is addressed as vāta.

Barring space, all other elements have diverse forms. If we ponder deeply, we understand that, that which triggers movement is actually addressed as ‘chaitanya’, (Pure Consciousness). For this reason, Vedas glorify Vayu as- namaste vāyō, tvamēva pratyakṣam brahmāsi’ which means, ‘O Wind-god, I offer obeisance to You, the visible Supreme Lord’.

Whether it is in earth, on heaven or in the abode of Brahma, the activity called ‘movement’ is dependent solely on Wind-god. This must be grasped deeply. Hence, the moment Wind-god rendered himself motionless, movement of living entities in all the three worlds stopped and their lives were endangered. It was a situation wherein they could neither die nor live. It is called prāṇāpāya. To explain in easy terms, it can be said to be that situation wherein the person loses consciousness but continues to live on life-support.

In this instance, Wind-god brought all his activities to an abrupt halt. , He was not performing even one of his functions. What happens thereafter? Let us continue in the next episode.

Jaya Guru Datta