Heimdall is, like Baldur, a kindly god of light, guarding the rainbow bridge to heaven (Bifrost) and living in Himinbjörg, the mountain of heaven. Other features are almost fabulous: he is said to have been the son of nine mothers, to need less sleep than a bird, to see a hundred miles into the distance by night as by day, and to hear the trees growing on the earth, the wool on the back of a sheep (flawless logic.com)Heimdall or Heimdallr, is itself a nickname, his actual name being lost, probably with the Heimdalargaldr saga Heimdall is the watchmen of the gods at Bifrost, the bridge that links Asgard and Midgard. He will sound the Gjallarhorn to call the gods to Ragnarok when the Frost Giants attack. To fullfill this task he is ever vigilant needing ' less sleep than a bird', with keen senses he 'can see a hundred leagues by day or night' and 'hear grass growing and the wool growing on the backs of sheep and anything louder than that'. Heimdall has been shown as having wisdom, being described as 'kind of counsel' in poetry and has provided sage advice to the other gods in the Lay of Thrym, regarding the recovery of Thor's hammer Mjollnir from the Frost Giants. Here too he is credited with the ability to read the future. As Rig (or Rigr) he becomes the father of mankind, creating the three classes: slave, farmer and warrior. He then teaches his warrior son Jarl the rune wisdom, appearing equal to Odin in this respect. Heimdall and Loki are mortal enemies, appearing equally matched on the occasions they have clashed. Some equate Heimdall with the Indian fire god Agni and as such he could be seen as an 'anti-Loki' with similar powers to those of the trickster. (thorshoff.org)
He is also called "the Son of the Waves" because he was born from the Nine Waves (Aegir's daughters) by Odin's enchantment. On the first day a boat drifted towards the shores of mankind, Aurvanga-land. In the boat was a little boy, Heimdall, sent by the Gods. He slept on a sheaf of corn, surrounded by all manner of treasures and tools. The humans accepted him gladly, and raised him calling him Rig. He taught them to kindle the holy fire, instructed them in runic wisdom, taught them workmanship and handicraft, organized their society, and originated and stabilized the three classes of men as spoken of in the Song of Rig. Heimdall lived long as a man among men, and the age of his rulership was a golden age of peace and prosperity. Heimdall bedded three different females who all bore children, ancestors to three different classes; earls, farmers and serfs. When he died, his boat returned to take him back. The sorrowing humans laid his corpse in the boat, and surrounded it with his treasures and weapons. The boat then sailed back to Vanaheimr, where Heimdall was stripped of his aged human shape, regained his eternal youth and was taken into Asgard. Asa-God of Light and the rainbow; "The White God"; he is the Guardian of Bifrost bridge. He stands at the gate and is brilliant in white armor. His teeth are gold. He has a great sword. He is a fierce warrior and very handsome. He has super-sight and super-hearing. He sleeps less than a bird. He can hear the grass grow and see hundreds of miles away. Heimdall carries a sword and the Gjallar horn. When a God comes to the gate, he blows the horn softly. At Ragnarok, he will blow the Gjall horn in warning and it will be heard throughout the nine worlds. His horse's name is Golden Forelock. (sunnyway.com)
