Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t5.1

c5.s2.t5.1

These are prominent deities in the RV., thirty-three hymns being dedicated to them alone, seven at least to them conjointly with Indra, and one each to them with Agni and Pūṣan. They form a troop, *gaṇa* (a word generally used in connexion with them) or *śardhas* (1, 37^{1. 5} &c.), of deities mentioned only in the plural. Their number is thrice sixty (8, 85⁸) or thrice seven (1, 133⁹; AV. 13, 1¹³). Their birth is often referred to (5, 57⁵ &c.). They are the sons of Rudra (p. 74), being also often called Rudras (1, 39⁴· ⁷ &c.) and sometimes Rudriyas (1, 38⁷; 2, 34¹⁰ &c.), and of Pṛśni (2, 34²; 5, 52¹⁶. 60⁵; 6, 66³), often also receiving the epithet *pṛśnimātaraḥ*, ‘having Pṛśni for their mother’ (1, 23¹⁰ &c.; AV. 5, 21¹¹). The cow Pṛśni (5, 52¹⁶), or simply a cow is their mother (8, 83¹) and they bear the epithet *gomātaraḥ*, ‘having a cow for their mother’ (1, 85³, cp. 8, 20⁸). This cow presumably represents the mottled storm-cloud (§§ 43. 61 B.); and the flaming cows having distended udders with whom they come (2, 34⁵), can hardly refer to anything but the clouds charged with rain and lightning. When born from Pṛśni the Maruts are compared with fires (6, 66¹⁻³). They are also said to have been born from the laughter of lightning (1, 23¹², cp. 38⁸). Agni is said to have fashioned or begotten them (6, 3⁸; 1, 71⁸). Vāyu is once said to have engendered them in the wombs of heaven (1, 134⁴), and once they are called the sons of heaven (10, 77²), being also referred to as the heroes (*vīrāḥ*) of heaven (1, 64⁴. 122¹; 5, 54¹⁰) or as the males (*maryāḥ*) of heaven (3, 54¹³; 5, 59⁶). Once they are said to have the ocean for their mother, *sindhumātaraḥ* (10, 78⁶ cp. p. 51). Elsewhere they are said to be self-born (1, 168²; 5, 87²).