Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t2.8

c5.s2.t2.8

The word *mātariśvan*, which is without a cognate in any other Indo-European language, has every appearance of being a purely Indian compound (like *mātaríbhvarī*, *rjiśvan*, *durgṛ́bhīśvan*). The Rigvedic poet's explanation of the name as 'he who is formed in his mother' can hardly be dismissed as an etymological conceit, since the word in all likelihood dates from a contemporary phase of language. It probably means 'growing in his mother' (*√śū*, to swell, from which we have *śiśu*, child, and other derivatives)³, Agni being also said to grow (*√vṛdh*) in his mothers (1, 141⁵). There is a change of accent from the second to the third syllable, probably due to the influence of numerous words in *-van* (like *prātarítvan*). By the mother either the lower *araṇi* or the thundercloud might be meant; but the latter is the more probable, as Mātariśvan comes from heaven. Yāska (Nir. 7, 26), who regards Mātariśvan as a designation of Vāyu, analyzes the compound into *mātari* (= *antarikṣe*) and *śvan* (from *śvas* to breathe or *āśu an* to breathe quickly), so as to mean the wind that breathes in the air.