Vac
Divine Speech
Vac, also called Vaj or Vach, is a Hindu Goddess from the Vedas, the oldest Hindu texts, written in Sanskrit. She is the personification of divine speech. Her consort, Prajapati, is the personification of the mind. In other texts, she is also associated with the God Indra, God of weather and king of the devas (gods), and with Vision, Kashyapa, as well as being titled The Mother of the Vedas.
In humans, she enters those she loves, visionaries and poets, giving them expression and energy, and is also the friend of musicians. In later Vedic literature and post-Vedic texts, Vac is identified with Saraswati, Goddess of learning, knowledge and the arts. In the oldest Vedic text, the Rig Veda, where she appears almost 130 times, Vac is more associated with speech and control over the pronunciation of Vedic texts and hymns.
The pairing of Prajapati and Vac are closely interlinked. The mind, manas, upholds speech by giving the cognitive content that speech expresses, and in turn, speech lends vocalised expression to the content of the mind. In the ancient texts, the mind always precedes speech. The mind in human, as well as divine form, is unlimited, while speech as more limitations, so Prajapati, the mind, created Vac and then paired with her, creating the gods and then manifesting creation.
Primordial Waters
In this, the mind is the ocean, and speech is the shovel that digs out creation, making it manifest. Similar creation myths with a primal ocean or waters, can also be found in many other religions and esoteric traditions across time, locations and cultures. For example, in Ancient Egyptian mythology, we find Naunet and Nun, the primordial waters from which the mound of creation rises. Mantras, also Vac’s domain, have been in use since time immemorial in spiritual practices across the world as well.
Vac is also said to have an unexpressed, as well as an expressed version, and the expressed one is that which creates and manifests. She is the one who uttered the OM sound with which creation was made manifest. Scholars generally seem to dismiss Vac as unimportant, but W. Norman Brown asserts after extensive study of a Rig-Vedic hymn 1.164, in which she is mentioned, that this doesn’t do her any justice. Even though Vac didn’t have a great following or popular cult, she has, however, been the subject of debate within a limited priestly circle concerned with religious or philosophical speculation, in which her position became greatly elevated.
More Than Hot Air
Brown argues that the “One Real” (ekam sat), mentioned in stanza 46, refers to Vac, something that most scholars have overlooked due to the confusing and puzzlesome character of the hymn. He says:
“As the Holy Utterance of the Vedic ritual, Vac, in the eyes of her cult, was the final apotheosis of the power of spells, charms, incantations.”
As a poet and writer, as well as a former dancer, I can honestly say that Vac has expressed herself through me before I even knew of this concept of divine speech leading to manifest creation. I have been the vessel of expression in many ways throughout my life, from childhood to the present day. I have been touched, formed and transformed by words of truth others have spoken that I have heard and allowed to move me, sometimes, quite literally, in dance, expressing musical tones and words through the movement of my own body.
When it happens that her words, her sounds express themselves through you or move you through another’s expression of her energy, it lands differently than when you only intellectualise. Being in her energy is ecstatic, hypnotic, elevating, divine. And if you are a witchy-magical creature like me, you will know that spells and incantations voiced allowed carry an enormous power, much more so than when you just repeat the words in your head. Making a statement out loud, chanting, singing, sounding, are powerful. The voice creates vibrations and these energies not only ripple through your own body, but also create an effect outside of you, not only on a physical, auditory, but also spiritual, vibrational level.
Vibrating Chakras
This is also the reason that it is written that Vac also oversees correct pronunciation and incantation. It is not the words alone, the content, but the actual frequency and vibration the utterance of these words create. Speaking something into being isn’t a hollow phrase. It is a metaphysical, universal law.
According to Sanskrit teachings, there are four stages of Vac, or speech. The first is the intention, which sits in the Root chakra. Then comes visual communication, as you would be doing with a dog or horse, for example, eye-to-eye, vision-to-vision, which sits in the Sacral chakra. Next is how you explain it to yourself in your own mind, seated at the Heart chakra. And lastly, how we express it to others, which sits in the Throat chakra. Incidentally, this process can be reversed when someone else is communicating something to you. Once you are aware of this concept and try to understand it, you’ll find that you’ll be fooled a lot less by others who try to swindle you in some way.
Vac's Message
When I asked Vac for a message for my readers, she answered thus:
“Speak, my children! Speak your truth with conviction and power. Sing, dance, chant and let the divine energy move you and move through you. Your society has become silent, passive, words hollow, songs taken over by machines and mindless chatter. Knowing how energy works, moves and affects, I am sure I don’t have to point out how detrimental that is. Express yourself! Let the divine flame enter you and express itself through you. Give it a manifest form in creation and frequency. You have such great power but most of you have forgotten or don’t know how to access it. Train your voice to be strong and build the courage to speak your truth. Use frequencies for healing and loving. Switch of the noise and disruptive frequencies from mechanical sources and BE MY VOICE instead!”
A short, yet powerful message. And one that clearly says it all.
Tarot Card
Crystals
Violet Sapphire, Purple Fluorite, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, Amazonite, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate, Angelite, Blue Apatite, Chrysocolla, Blue Chalcedony, Kyanite, Azurite, Larimar, Blue Calcite, Celestite