Vayu

Vayu South and Central Asia
Literally, ‘air, wind’. In the Rig Veda he is often linked with Indra, whose chariot he shares. Hindu exegesis states: ‘Agni dwells on earth, Vayu and Indra reside in the air, and the place of Surya is in the heavens.’ Later scriptures involve Vayu in conflicts with Vishnu. When the sage Narada incited the wind to break down the summit of Mount Meru, Vishnu's bird, Garuda, shielded the mountain with his wings and blunted the force of the mighty blasts. But in Garuda's absence the scheme of Narada was ultimately successful, the top of the mountain being torn off and hurled into the sea, where it became the island of Sri Lanka.