Vedic Mythology c5.s1.t5.7

c5.s1.t5.7

Indra's constant attendants in the Vṛtra-fight, the Maruts, are also drawn into association with Viṣṇu. When Viṣṇu favoured the exhilerating Soma, the Maruts like birds sat down on their beloved altar (1, 857)¹⁵. The Maruts are invoked at the offering of the swift Viṣṇu (2, 34¹¹ cp. 7, 40⁵). They are the bountiful ones of the swift Viṣṇu (8, 20³). The Maruts supported Indra, while Pūṣan Viṣṇu cooked 100 buffaloes for him (6, 17¹¹). Viṣṇu is the ordainer associated with the Maruts (*māruta*), whose will Varuṇa and the Aśvins follow (1, 156⁴). Throughout one hymn (5, 87, especially verses 4·5) he is associated with the Maruts, with whom, when he starts, he speeds along¹⁶.