Which Hindu god is the god of wind and air?

Which Hindu god is the god of wind and air? Vayu is the Hindu god of wind, air, and breath.

Vayu is a major Vedic deity, also known as Vata and Pavana. In Vedic tradition, he is closely associated with the atmosphere and is described as moving swiftly in a shining chariot. He is also linked with Indra, the king of the gods, and is said to be the first deity to receive the sacred Soma drink.

The concept later expands beyond physical wind. The Upanishads connect Vayu with prana, the vital breath or life force that sustains living beings. In later Hindu traditions, Vayu is a dikpala, or guardian of a direction—specifically the northwest. This role can cause confusion with Indra, Agni, Varuna, and other directional deities, each associated with different quarters.

Epic stories give Vayu an important family role: he is traditionally described as the divine father of Hanuman in the Ramayana and Bhima in the Mahabharata. The Maruts are storm-associated companions or attendants, but Vayu remains the canonical god of wind and air.