Anila, Anala & the Vasus: Pure Elements and Their Hidden Meanings

Question

“Sister, in the context of the Vasus, the word Anila came up. Could you explain that a little more?”

Answer

Yes. When we talk about the eight forms of nature, the air (vāyu) that we normally experience is a mixed or impure air. It contains many substances—nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and various other elements mixed together. Because of this mixture, it can be called polluted or impure air.

The pure form of air is called Anila. So wherever the word Anila appears, we should understand that it refers to pure air, not the mixed air we usually breathe.

In the same way, they explained fire (agni). What we normally call fire is a mixed form—it has other elements mixed into it. But the pure form of fire is called Anala. That pure form was elevated to the status of a deva.

This reflects a special greatness of Indian thought: every pure power is treated as divine. A deva is not a physical, human-like being. Divinity itself—the pure inner power—is called a deva. Purity is honored as divine.

So when the scriptures talk about the eight elements of nature, their pure forms are called Vasus or devatas. These are known as Vasu-devatas.

Question

“How do the Vasus relate to elements like earth, water, mind, intellect, and ego?”

Answer

Let’s understand them one by one.

• Earth (Pṛthvī):
  Earth as we experience it is mixed and impure. Its pure form is called Dhar or Dhara.
  Dhara comes from dhāraṇa—that which holds or supports. Earth supports all beings, so its pure quality is holding. That is why the Vasudevata of earth is Dhar.
  We call earth by many names—pṛthvī, bhūmi, dharā, dharaṇī. These are often treated as synonyms, but they are not identical.

• When dhara is used, it points to the pure supporting aspect of earth.
  Sanskrit words themselves carry these subtle meanings within them.

• Space (Ākāśa):
  The Vasudevata of space is called Dhruva—that which is stable and fixed.

• Air (Vāyu):
  Pure air is Anila.

• Fire (Agni):
  Pure fire is Anala.

• Water (Jala):
  Pure water is called Āpaḥ.

• Mind (Manas):
  The pure mind is called Soma.
  Ordinary mind is just manas, but when the mind is pure and calm, it is Soma.

• Intellect (Buddhi):
  Everyone has intellect, but the pure, awakened, discerning intellect is called Pratyūṣa.
  That is the Vasudevata residing within intellect—intellect filled with awareness and discrimination.

• Ego (Ahaṁ):
  Human beings were given the ahaṁ principle simply to function in the world—“I am doing this work, you are doing that work.”
  But today, that ahaṁ has turned into ego—constant “me, me, me.”
  The pure divinity within the ego-principle is called Prabhāsa (also known by another name in the Puranas).

Question

“How does Bhishma from the Mahabharata connect with the Vasus?”

Answer

When we read the Mahabharata, especially the story of Bhishma, we learn that Bhishma is described as an incarnation of one of the Vasus.

In the story involving Vashishta and Kamadhenu, it is said that the eight Vasus were moving together. The first among them was called Dyo (also pronounced Dyau).

Bhishma is said to be the incarnation of this Dyo Vasu—but in an impure or modified form. That means Bhishma represents a Vasudevata expressed in a conditioned, worldly way.

So Bhishma is not the pure Vasudevata itself, but its manifested, imperfect expression in human form.