In the grand cosmic dance, ancient Vedic wisdom offers a truly profound insight into Vayu, the element of air. It’s much more than just the air we breathe; Vayu represents the universal intelligence of movement itself, the very pulse of life that expands and contracts the entire cosmos.
Cosmic Respiration and Unfoldment
Picture Brahma, the creator, in an endless cosmic breath. With every exhalation, creation unfurls and universes burst forth; with each inhalation, everything gently recedes, dissolving back into the cosmic source. This rhythmic ebb and flow, this universal pulsation, is the essence of Vayu. It’s the fiery breath that ignites existence, orchestrating time itself – from colossal cosmic ages down to the fleeting moments of our own lives.
The initial spark of creation, a powerful vibration, is embodied by Rudra, the lord of cosmic Will. Supra-cosmically, Rudra is Agni (fire); but on the cosmic plane, he transforms into Vayu. As Vayu’s vibrations cascade further, they give rise to the seven Maruts – those powerful winds. So, the lineage naturally unfolds: Rudra leads to Vayu, and Vayu to the Maruts. Rudra, the Wind God, imbues the Maruts with his inherent power.
Unlocking Inner Wisdom
Ancient texts, like those explained by H.P. Blavatsky, hold scattered wisdom about Vayu and the seven Maruts. Yet, true understanding isn’t found just by reading words on a page. It’s truly realized when we connect with these very vibrations deep within ourselves. We are, after all, a microcosm of the universe, and these intelligences literally reside inside us. Acknowledging them allows them to reveal their profound secrets and actually cooperate with us on our evolutionary journey.
Vayu is not simply air; it is the fundamental principle guiding air’s movement, the true director of life’s pulsation. In yogic philosophy, this “air” is the very force that can lift us to the highest states of consciousness, or, if misused, can scatter us into complete disarray. The current Aquarian Age, strongly linked to the air element, presents an unparalleled opportunity for rapid evolution. Vayu acts as the bridge, connecting our individual consciousness to that vast, oceanic consciousness. Many spiritual traditions invoke Vayu with profound reverence, recognizing it as a direct manifestation of the Absolute and the very link to the Sun God.
Cultivating a harmonious relationship with the wind element is absolutely paramount. A favorable “wind” genuinely makes the soul’s journey joyful. By understanding and invoking the source of the seven winds – the Maruts – and getting familiar with their names and meanings, we can truly tap into their power. It is believed that by bringing order to these inner winds, we gain the capacity to bring order to our outer world and even our relationships.
The Seven Maruts: Inner Plane Guardians
The seven Maruts represent Vayu’s distinct facets, overseeing seven planes of existence within us (the microcosm) and in the universe (the macrocosm). All pulsations originate from the super-soul at our crown chakra, the seventh plane.
- Paravaha, the highest (seventh) Marut, embodies the super-soul’s own pulsation. “Para” means “beyond,” “Vaha” means “carrier,” signifying its role in carrying us beyond. Its seed sound is VAM, the very essence of the air element.
- Parivaha, the sixth Marut, governs the individual soul’s pulsation. Seated in our Ajna chakra (brow centre), it permeates and extends beyond. This Marut is linked to the subtle electrical current on our forehead (a higher Aquarius signature), which helps the soul move both upward and downward.
Within our physical form, the soul expresses itself through pulsations known as the five Pranas: Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana. These five Pranas, along with the soul and super-soul, are intimately connected to the seven Maruts, empowering us to navigate all planes of existence when we are in divine harmony.
Navigating Life with Lower Maruts
Our everyday breath, the more obvious manifestations of Prana and Apana, are directly linked to two lower Maruts:
- Avaha (entering) governs inhalation.
- Nivaha (exiting) governs exhalation.
The third lower Marut, Pravaha (flow), represents the overall current. These three, connected to lower etheric centers, can frankly lead to chaos if unbalanced. Just imagine an unchecked, destructive river. Similarly, an unbalanced Pravaha can sweep us into a whirlpool of misunderstandings, poor choices, and emotional turmoil, making life seem quite bleak. Yet, the world is inherently beautiful, and living in alignment allows us to experience its splendour, mirroring the Masters of Wisdom who truly embody the divine kingdom on Earth.
Balance, Ascent, and Hanuman
The key to navigating life’s currents effectively lies in balancing the three lower Maruts with the fourth Marut, Samvaha. This equilibrating air resides in the heart centre, extending to the solar plexus. Samvaha links to Buddhi (intellectual discernment) and operates through the heart’s pulsating principle, Samana Prana (“balance”). Consciously observing our breath and connecting with this heart pulsation cultivates genuine inner balance and equanimity. Samvaha also governs our relationship with food and drink and gently guides our shift from self-centeredness to selflessness.
Through Samvaha, the Maruts’ energies ascend from Libra’s lower pole, through Gemini’s airy energy, to the Aquarius center in the head. The fifth Marut, Udvaha, relating to Udana Prana, further facilitates this. Udvaha is that upward-moving energy that lifts us through the spine, crucial in yogic practices. When Udvaha reaches the Ajna centre, it connects with Parivaha (linked to Vyana Prana), enabling us to access both higher and lower realms, permeating all levels of being.
Remarkably, there’s a being on Earth who embodies all seven Maruts: Maruti (Lord Hanuman). He descended in ancient Lemurian times, alongside the “Sons of Will,” specifically to assist humanity.
The Maruts’ Birth: Power and Friendship
The Maruts, collectively, possess power even greater than the directional intelligences, exceedingly even Indra, Lord of the East. Their poetic birth story, deeply symbolic and understood by initiates, tells of Kasyapa, the cosmic observer, and his two wives: Aditi (Queen of Light) and Diti (Queen of Darkness), representing existence’s dual nature.
After Aditi bore twelve Devas, Diti desired a more powerful child. Despite Kasyapa’s warning of destructive power, Diti insisted. Fiery energy entered her womb, and Kasyapa instructed strict prenatal disciplines.
Indra, witnessing the dangerous being in Diti’s womb, realized the immense threat. He approached her, feigning service. One night, Diti neglected her spiritual discipline in sleep. Indra, with his thunderbolt, pierced her womb. His intention was not to kill, but to weaken it by dividing it into seven parts. The parts screamed wildly. Indra soothed them, saying, “Ma ruta” (Don’t scream), giving them their name, Maruts.
Upon Diti’s awakening, Indra explained his actions, assuring her that her sons, though divided, would be more powerful than he, and forever his friends. Thus, the seven Maruts were born, embodying profound lessons in power, balance, and creation’s intricate dance.
