This is an article series. Please read all previous articles before reading this article. The URLs for all previous articles are located in the SPECIAL THOUGHTS section.
Pravaha Vaayu or Sparsha Vaayu
Previously, we were reviewing the hierarchy of Devata-s at level 12, especially Soorya and Chandra. As mentioned earlier, Soorya is perhaps the best icon for the Infinite Paramaatma. The energy emitted by Soorya is so enormous that we mere mortals can’t absorb it directly, even though we are about 150 million kilometers away from Soorya, and even though only 0.000000045% of the energy emitted by Soorya reaches the earth. Just like the power generated by a power plant is transmitted at 200-800 KV and needs to be stepped down to 110 or 220 Volts for our daily use, the energy emitted by Soorya needs to be stepped down to a level so that living beings on earth can absorb it. So, logically speaking, someone who steps this tremendous energy down must be even more capable than Soorya. And he is the Devata in Level 11 in the hierarchy, referred to as Pravaha Vaayu or Sparsha Vaayu.
Perhaps the most underrated among all Devata-s is Pravaha Vaayu. An astronaut who spent nearly 6 months aboard the International Space Station, 250 miles (400 KMs) above the earth said: “The atmosphere protecting all life appeared as a paper-thin blue halo, barely visible, yet responsible for everything that breathes, grows and survives”. Internet search reveals that 99.99997% of the atmosphere’s mass is located within the 62 miles (100 KMs) above the surface of the earth, and 75% of the earth’s atmosphere’s mass is located within the 6.8 miles (11 KMs) above the earth’s surface. Most specialized aircraft can only fly as high as 16 miles above the Earth’s surface. To put it in perspective, if the Earth were the size of a standard apple, the atmosphere would be thinner than the apple’s skin. And this thin layer is where all of us live.
There are some 49 different types of Vaayu-s in the Devataa Gana. While most of the other Vaayu Devata-s are in lower levels in the hierarchy, three among them are higher than all others. And, Pravaha Vaayu is the lowest among these three. The other two are even higher in the hierarchy. The consort of Pravaha Vaayu is Praavahi Devi, who is in the 17th level in the Devata hierarchy.
I watched a movie some time ago where a bus gets caught under a landslide. A huge heap of land mass falls over a bus. While it is questionable as to how the bus didn’t get crushed (call it a flaw in the storyline), the bus is completely buried, and the passengers are now limited to the oxygen available within the cabin. Each breath taken by each passenger brings them all one step closer to death. In such a scenario, each passenger tries to kill the others for the sake of his/her own survival. This should explain that all the energy we need for our survival is within this atmosphere, and the Abhimaani Devata is Pravaha Vaayu. The word Pravaha refers to flow. Pravaha Vaayu refers to the flowing wind. The high winds, cyclones, hurricanes, and tornadoes are all within the realm of Pravaha Vaayu.
We may also recall that back during the pandemic years, Oxygen cylinders were in extremely high demand. Many people were desperate for oxygen and many lost their lives due to the non-availability of oxygen cylinders on time. Modern scientists tell us about Ozone layer and how it prevents harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
Pravaha Vaayu is also referred to by the name Sparsha Vaayu. Why? If you recall, Vaayu is one of the Pancha Bhoota-s (5 basic elements) and the Tanmaatra (sense) associated with Vaayu is Sparsha (touch). And the sensory organ that helps us perceive Sparsha is Twag (skin). The one who is the Abhimaani Devata for Vaayu, i.e., Pravaha Vaayu, is also the Abhimaani Devata for Skin that senses the Sparsha, and therefore he’s also referred to as Sparsha Vaayu. Now, think of all the things that come to your mind when we say the word “Skin”.
Skin is the sac that holds our entire body. Skin is the largest of all the sensory organs. All the muscles, organs, intestines, and blood vessels are all held together by the skin. Slight scratch, cut, wound or damage to any part of the skin requires immediate attention. If it does not heal on time, then that is a cause for worry. Any punishment for wrongdoing is first administered on the skin, which experiences a burning sensation when slapped or spanked. A common punishment during medieval times was disembowelment, which is basically cutting open the abdomen. All the internal organs spill out immediately but the person does not die immediately. Even more gruesome is skinning a person alive or scalding/burning someone alive. The pain experienced through the skin is just unimaginable. History has records of many such atrocities.
In Bhagavad-Gita, Shree Krishna says “maatraa sparshaastu kaunteya, sheetoshna sukha du: khadaa:” (Chapter 2, Verse 14). Common tendency is that first, we hear of something. Then, we like to see what we heard. Then we like to touch what we see. And the touch is experienced through the skin. The skin is what helps us experience Sheeta (cold) and Ushna (hot). This opens up the entire topic of thermodynamics, which the Engineers study to design Air Conditioning to cool our spaces in summer. It also opens up the topic of heat transfer, which is necessary to design heaters to warm us up in winter. Freon, a material necessary for the operation of A/C units, had to be invented to address the Sukha we seek through our skin. Fans, central heating systems, central A/C systems, and all industries that manufacture these units are also basically founded on the Sukha we seek through our skin.
This world has seen an extremely large amount of violence perpetrated based on skin color. Traditional arranged marriage matchmaking has fallen apart just because of the prospective bride’s skin color. My own grandmother used to tell me the constant insults and humiliation she faced based on her skin color. Meanwhile, the word Krishna means dark. Draupadi’s actual name was Krishnaa. Both Shree Krishna and Drapadi were dark-complexioned.
And then there is excessive punishment for merely not covering up the skin or even accidental exposure of skin. One intolerant theocratic leader and his loyal cadre punished one lady SO excessively for accidentally and unintentionally exposing a little bit of her face and hair (which grows out of the skin) that she died. And that caused the citizens of the entire country to rise in outrage, which eventually caused another country to attack and kill the tyrannical theocratic leader deep in his bunker. Even in today’s times, women are covered up from head to toe in many parts of the world. Any exposure results in severe punishment, including death. People don’t think of Sparsha Vaayu amidst all this excessive cruelty.
And then there is the other extreme of excessive and even compulsive exposure of skin, especially by women. Peak winter and freezing temperatures do not deter them from wearing short skirts and open midriffs. Why? It is exposure of “skin” that causes attraction… and therefore all the flaunting becomes “necessary” regardless of how the skin makes them feel. The celebrities, especially women, are trying to outdo each other in exposing their skin in some of those world famous Red Carpeted events. The more skin exposure, the more famous she becomes. I may not be wrong in saying that probably none of them have even heard of Sparsha Vaayu.
Ever watched Cricket? Who’s your favorite player? The best batsman? Six Sixers in an over? The best bowler? Hatricks? In-Swing? Out-Swing? Test match? ODI? T20? World Cup? IPL? Bidding for players? And, now the latest being women’s cricket… Amidst all this, did you ever realize that the ball is made of a cow’s skin? Ever think of Sparsha Vaayu while the leather ball is being hit over the fence? Ever think of Pravaha Vaayu when the ball is swinging in the Vaayu Mandala over the pitch or any other time during this entire business involving thousands of crores of Indian Rupees? Same with Hockey, American Football and many more.
The leather industry is a huge industry. Leather purses are said to be worth hundreds of thousands of Dollars. Automobiles with leather interiors sell for a huge price. None of them thinks of Sparsha Vaayu while the animal’s skin is being cut to bleed it to death, nor while the hide is pulled out of the carcus. The entire cosmetics industry is thriving all over the world making so many skin care products, shaving creams, deodorants, pharmaceuticals, hair removal products, laser treatment for hair removal, wrinkled skin treatment, dermatology, cosmetic surgeries involving Botox, Textile industry which focuses on covering the skin, aviation industry, weather sciences, space and satellite industries… the list is literally endless. All of these are based on one thing i.e., Skin and/or Vaayu, the Abhimaani Devata for which is Sparsha Vaayu a.k.a Pravaha Vaayu.
Each species on Earth has a different kind of skin. Some with spots, some with stripes, some with thorns, some with feathers, and some are so thick that such animals are called Pachyderms. And there is a spiritual connection here in as well. The skin of Tiger is meant for Sanyaasi-s (ascetics, monks, pontiffs, celibates) as it gives vibes conducive to the observance and maintenance of Sanyaasa Aashrama. Similarly, Deer skin is meant for Gruhastha-s as it gives vibes conducive for observance and maintenance of Gruhastha Aashrama.
Have we ever thought of turning around to thank this one Devata who’s doing his Karma to keep us all alive while binding us together, holding our bodies in one piece, and doing all this without expecting anything in return? He’s involved in our every breath, in every industry all over the world in one way/shape/form or another. Take a moment to turn around and express your gratitude to Pravaha Vaayu. Trust me. He’ll appreciate it.
An incident happened as I was writing this article, which I think is worth mentioning. An American lady and her husband have been running a Goshaala (please visit Govinda Goshala) about 60 miles south of where we live here in Upstate New York. They’ve been instrumental in allowing about 20-25 cows live their full lives and pass peacefully. Their commitment and service to the cows in this land, where cows will be slaughtered when they are around 5 years old, is amazing, superlative, and literally beyond words. We’ve visited the Goshaala several times and find the atmosphere very serene. Currently, they have some 9 cows, a blind horse, and a few other animals. As I was writing this article, she messaged us saying that there are high winds in their area, that tornado warnings have been issued and that they are going to a basement cellar in a building nearby for shelter. She asked us to pray for their and the cows’ safety.
Knowing how many legal battles they both have fought to keep the cows alive and how hard they both work all through the year to take excellent care of the cows, my immediate reaction was “There won’t be any tornado. This will not affect them AT ALL… NOT ONE BIT”. But mind always doubts and redoubts everything. So, one part of my mind was like “What if… something bad were to happen?” But yet again (and even now) the inner voice was firm in saying “There will be ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM AT ALL for them”. I was about to send the same message back to her. But I didn’t want to sound arrogant or overconfident or callous or unconcerned. So, I took a step back and messaged her saying, “Hope and pray that it passes off”. Then, just to err on the side of caution, I decided to chant a Stotra which I often chant under such circumstances. It is a lengthy Stotra, and I didn’t have enough time to chant the entire Stotra as I was also busy writing this article. So, I decided to chant only 3 verses of that Stotra, like I’ve done in the past when I’m pressed for time. Within the next 6-7 minutes, the lady messaged us back saying, “Thunder is abating. Thanks for prayers… back home now… Seems safe now. Good night”.
Devata-s can’t be ordered around. But if you recognize their greatness, understand their stature in the hierarchy, value their compassion towards us, be subservient, and be willing to serve them, then there is a slight chance that they may listen to your requests and grant your wishes. There are no guarantees, but perhaps a slight chance. And I do value those slight chances very hugely.
Next, we shall continue with the hierarchy of Devata-s in Level 10 and up.
