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hindu-cosmosWe're still mapping where this idea was first discussed. Key passages and related ideas below.

Tattva 33 — Air (Vāyu)

Air and wind: the element of motion, second of the five great elements.

Vāyu is the gross element of air — the second of the five great elements, the principle of movement, wind, and everything gaseous. It is denser than space but still light and mobile, and it carries the quality of touch. In the descent of the tattvas it unfolds from the subtle element of touch, taking the manifestation one step further toward solidity.

Key passages(10)

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Vaiśeṣika-sūtra · Kaṇāda

High

Chāndogya Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

'Air (vâyu) is indeed the end of all. For when fire goes out, it goes into air. When the sun goes down, it goes into air. When the moon goes down, it goes into air.

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Paramārthasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Praśna Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

He replied: "The ether is that god, the wind, fire, water, earth, speech, mind, eye, and ear. These, when they have manifested (their power), contend and say: We (each of us) support this body and kee

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Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

Moderate

Chāndogya Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

Moderate

'Having dwelt there, till their (good) works are consumed, they return again that way as they came, to the ether, from the ether to the air. Then the sacrificer, having become air, becomes smoke, havi

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Bhagavad-gītā · Vyāsa (Yoga-bhāṣya commentator)

Moderate

Bhumi (earth), Ap (water), Anala (fire), Vâyu (air), Kha (ether), mind, intellect, and egoism: thus is My Prakriti divided eight-fold.

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Praśna Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

Moderate

The earth and its subtile elements, the water and its subtile elements, the light and its subtile elements, the air and its subtile elements, the ether and its subtile elements; the eye and what can b

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Tarka-saṃgraha · Annaṃbhaṭṭa

Moderate