Vala ('), meaning "enclosure" in

Vedic Sanskrit Vedic Sanskrit was an ancient language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-European language family. It is attested in the Vedas and related literature compiled over the period of the mid- 2nd to mid-1st millennium BCE. It was orally preser ...

, is a demon mentioned in the Vedas, including the

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts ('' śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only on ...

and the

Atharvaveda The Atharva Veda (, ' from ' and ''veda'', meaning "knowledge") is the "knowledge storehouse of ''atharvāṇas'', the procedures for everyday life".Laurie Patton (2004), Veda and Upanishad, in ''The Hindu World'' (Editors: Sushil Mittal and G ...

. Vala is attributed to be the son of Tvashtr and therefore the brother of Vrtra. Historically, it has the same origin as the Vrtra story, being derived from the same root, and from the same root also as

Varuna Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, su ...

, ''*val-/var-'' (PIE ''*wel-'') "to cover, to enclose" (perhaps cognate to ''

veil A veil is an article of clothing or hanging cloth that is intended to cover some part of the head or face, or an object of some significance. Veiling has a long history in European, Asian, and African societies. The practice has been prominent ...

''). Parallel to Vrtra "the blocker", a stone serpent slain by

Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...

to liberate the rivers, Vala is a stone cave, split by Indra (intoxicated and strengthened by

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, identified with Brhaspati in 4.50 and 10.68 or Trita in 1.52, aided by the Angirasas in 2.11), to liberate the cows and Ushas, hidden there by the Panis. Already in 2.24, the story is given a mystical interpretation, with warlike Indra replaced by Brahmanaspati, the lord of prayer, who split Vala with prayer (''

brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...

'') rather than with the thunderbolt. Vala is mentioned 23 times in the Rigveda, Vala appears in hymns RV 1.11, 52, 62, RV 2.11, 12, 14, 15, 24, RV 3.30, 34, RV 4, 50, RV 6.18, 39, RV 8.14, 24, RV 10.67, 68, 138. Central verses of the story (trans. Griffith): :2.12.3 ''Who slew the

Dragon A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted a ...

, freed the Seven Rivers, and drove the kine forth from the cave of Vala, '' :'' Begat the fire between two stones, the spoiler in warriors' battle, He, O men, is Indra.'' :2.15.8 ''Praised by the Angirases he slaughtered Vala, and burst apart the bulwarks of the mountain.'' :''He tore away their deftly-built defences. These things did Indra in the

's rapture.'' :8.14.7 ''In Soma's ecstasy Indra spread the firmament and realms of light, when he cleft Vala limb from limb.'' (compare to this description the Purusha sukta) :10.68.6 ''Brhaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the weapon of reviling Vala,'' :''Consumed him as tongues eat what teeth have compassed: he threw the prisons of the red cows open.'' :1.11.5 '' Lord of the thunder, thou didst burst the cave of Vala rich in cows.'' :''The Gods came pressing to thy side, and free from terror aided thee,'' :1.62.4 ''Mid shout, loud shout, and roar, with the Navagvas, seven singers, hast thou, heavenly, rent the mountain;'' :''Thou hast, with speeders, with Dasagvas, Indra, Shakra, with thunder rent obstructive Vala.''

References

*Janda, M., ''Eleusis, das indogermanische Erbe der Mysterien'' (1998). {{Rigveda Rigvedic deities Asura