Vac (Sanskrit: वाच्, vāc) is a Vedic goddess who is a personified form of divine speech. She enters into the inspired poets and visionaries, gives expression and energy to those she loves; she is called the "mother of the Vedas" and consort of Prajapati, the Vedic embodiment of mind.[1] She is also associated with Indra in Aitareya Aranyaka.[2] Elsewhere, such as in the Padma Purana, she is stated to be the wife of Vision (Kashyapa), the mother of Emotions, and the friend of Musicians (Gandharva).[2]

She is identified with goddess Saraswati in later Vedic literature and post-Vedic texts of Hindu traditions. Saraswati has remained a significant and revered deity in Hinduism.[3]

Thomas McEvilley gives goddess Vac and the area of her divine purview treatment in 'Appendix E: Philosophy and Grammar' to his magnum opus The Shape of Ancient Thought.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Holdrege, Barbara A. (2012-02-01). Veda and Torah: Transcending the Textuality of Scripture. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-1-4384-0695-4.
  2. 1 2 The Myths and Gods of India, Alain Daniélou, pages 260-261
  3. ↑ David Kinsley (1987). Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 55, 222. ISBN 978-81-208-0394-7.
  4. ↑ McEvilley, Thomas (2002). The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies. Allworth Press: New York, N. Y., U. S. A. Source: https://archive.org/details/thomas-c.-mcevilley-the-shape-of-ancient-thought-comparative-studies-in-greek-an (accessed: Thursday 21 September, 2023.

Further reading

  • Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dhallapiccola
  • Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 8120803795) by David Kinsley
  • Nicholas Kazanas, Vedic Vāc and Greek logos as creative power: a critical study (2009)
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