Vedic Mythology c5.s2.14

c5.s2.14

Indra is associated with various other gods. His chief friends and allies are the Maruts, who in innumerable passages are described as assisting him in his warlike exploits (§ 29). His connexion with these deities is so close that the epithet *marutvat*, 'accompanied by the Maruts', though sometimes applied to other gods, is characteristic of Indra, this epithet, as well as *marudgaṇa* 'attended by the Marut host', being sufficient to designate him (5, 42⁶; 9, 65¹⁰). With Agni Indra is more frequently coupled as a dual divinity than with any other god (§ 44)¹⁶. This is natural, as lightning is a form of fire. Indra is also said to have produced Agni between two stones (2, 12³) or to have found Agni hidden in the waters (10, 32⁶). Indra is further often coupled with Varuṇa and Vāyu, less frequently with Soma, Bṛhaspati, Pūṣan, and Viṣṇu (§ 44). The latter is a faithful friend of Indra and sometimes attends him in his conflict with the demons (§§ 17. 44)¹⁷.