Vāmadeva

By Swami Harshananda

Attributes of Sage Vāmadeva

Vāmadeva is a sage well-known in the Upaniṣads. He is described in various upanisads as follows:

• The Aitareya Upaniṣad says he had realized the ātman even while in the womb of his mother.
• The Brhadāranyaka Upaniṣad declares that the sage Vāmadeva realized Brahman and hence his identity with Manu and Surya.
• The Rāma-purvatāpanī Upaniṣad describes that Rāma was worshiped by great sages like Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva.
• According to the Śivapurāṇa he learnt about Praṇava from Kumārasvāmi and taught it to other sages.
• Ātreya was his disciple.

Aspects of Vāmadeva

Vāmadeva is also one of the five aspects of Śiva.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore