Lexicon

of Rig Veda

vāta, Vata; wind

(1) The God, wide, high, vast, 1.25.9. His distinction from Vayu is that Vayu stands for Knowledge and Truth of the consciousness of Overmind region whereas Vata is associated rather with Force and Will of this consciousness: his is a huge might (1.24.6); the Maruts go by Heaven; Agni – by Earth, this Vata goes by middle region (1.161.14).

(2) All-pervasive intensive swift and mighty forces and movements of mid-world, of air, of Overmind, this wind carries Agni like an arrow of archer, that is shot day by day to its aim (1.148.4); O Vanaspati (master of a tree, i.e. of thought), wind blows before thee (1.28.6). Everywhere in Veda is used image of easy-yoked (5.31.10), quickly bearing (1.121.12), yoked by mind horses of Vata, which bear Indra to us for hearing the Truth (1.51.10); the Maruts have yoked winds as horses (5.58.7) etc.

See also:

•  mid-world (antarikṣa)

•  Vayu (vāyu)