Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t5.10

c5.s2.t5.10

Doubtless in allusion to the sound of the wind, the Maruts are several times called singers (5, 52¹. 60⁸; 7, 35⁹). They are the singers of heaven (5, 57⁵). They sing a song (1, 19⁴. 166⁷). While singing they made the sun to shine (8, 29¹⁰) and while blowing their pipe they cleft the mountain (1, 85¹⁰). For Indra when he slew the dragon, they sang a song and pressed Soma (5, 29². 30⁶). In singing a song they created Indra-might (1, 85²). Though their song must primarily have represented the sound of the winds (cp. 4, 22⁴), it is also conceived as a hymn of praise (3, 14⁴). Thus they come to be addressed as priests when in the company of Indra (5, 29³), and are compared with priests (10, 78¹). They were the first to perform the sacrifice as Daśagvas (2, 36²), and they purified Agni in the house of the pious, while the Bhṛgus kindled him (10, 122⁵). Like the other gods they are several times also spoken of as drinkers of Soma (2, 36²; 8, 83⁹⁻¹² &c.).