Gandalf

[Voronwe]

Actually, Tolkien states (in Letter 156) that Gandalf was sent back not by the Valar, but by Eru Iluvatar:

He [i.e Gandalf] was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure. 'Naked I was sent back - for a brief time, until my task is done'. Sent back by whom, and whence? Not by the 'gods' whose business is only with this embodied world and its time; for he passed 'out of thought and time'.

It's an interesting letter, and contains some very interesting information about Gandalf's return from death and his purpose in Middle Earth.

[ May 04, 2002: Message edited by: Voronwe ]