National Vedic Sammelan

27-29 March 2014, Agartala, Tripura

Organized by RSS, TRVPS, Agartala
under the auspices of the MSRVP, Ujjain

Veda : Repository of all Knowledge

Title:The R g vedic Concept of Wind(Vyu)in the Light of

ModernScience
Samiran Samanta
Pr oj ect F el l ow, UG C M R P & P h. D. Sc h ol ar
Sc h o o l of V e di c S t u di e s
Ra b i n dr a B h ar a ti U ni v er si t y
5 6 A. B. T . R oa d, K ol k a ta 5 0

AB ST R A CT

Tracing elements of environmental or physical science in Vedic literature is a

difficult enterprise since Vedic corpus which is essentially spiritual by nature precludes
the idea of science in a positive sense. Even then ones effort to trace Indian contribution
to science could be best gained from a thorough study of the most ancient literature, i.e.,
the R g veda and from a proper appreciation of Indian culture as a whole.
It is well-known that R g veda (RV) is predominantly a religious book.
Here, various natural phenomena are personified as gods. The wind (Vyu)
is not an exception to this tendency.
According to crya Yska, Vyu is the principal deity of antarkEa.
Science tells us that wind is a mixture of different gases like oxygen,
carbon-dioxide, steam etc. A verse says that wind is born from the breath
of VirF PuruEa 1. Another verse expresses that the heaven and the earth
1

RV 1 0 . 9 0 . 1 3

bear it 2. This may be explained as: VirF PuruEais identified with the sun.
The atmosphere surrounds the earth based upon gravity of the earth.
The Vedic seers knew the importance of wind in life. They realized
all about wind in the atmosphere and also about the wind inside the body.
The Vedic literature throws light on five types of wind 3.Wind was regarded
as the soul of human beings. The RV mentions: O Wind! You are our
father, brother and friend 4.It has medicinal values. 5 Vedic sages pray: Let
winds blow in the form of medicine and bring me welfare and happiness 6
and you are the protector. 7
The
they pray
important
opine that

sages pray to wind to give wealth, fortune etc 8. It may be that

to Vyu-devat or perhaps they pray to wind, one of most
naturalphenomena. Ancient Indians and modern science, both
pure wind is the source of good health, happiness and long life.

In the present paper I would like to concentrate humbly throw

interesting light on the existence of scientific elements as reflected in the
mantras related to Vyu of the R g veda as revealed to the ancient sages. It
is astonishing indeed to find that the qualities or the characteristic features
of Vyu found in the R g veda conform at least to some extent to the modern
concept of science.

Samiran Samanta
Email: ju.samiran@gmail.com
Ph. No- 09062932171
2

RV 7 . 9 0 . 3

Taittirya SaNhit1.6.1.2; KFhaka SaNhit 32.6

RV 10.186.2

RV 10.137.3

RV 10.186.1

RV 10.186.2

RV 7 . 9 2 . 3 , 8 . 2 6 . 2 5 e t c .