Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t5.17

c5.s2.t5.17

From the constant association of the Maruts with lightning, thunder, wind, and rain, as well as from other traits mentioned above, it seems clear that they are Storm-gods in the RV. According to the native interpreters the Maruts represent the winds, and the post-Vedic meaning of the word is simply 'wind'. But in the RV. they hardly represent the winds pure and simple, as some of their attributes are borrowed from cloud and lightning as well. A. KUHN and BENFEY⁵ held the Maruts to be personifications of the souls of the dead (cp. p. 77), and with this view MEYER⁶ and v. SCHROEDER⁷ substantially agree. This origin is historically possible, but the RV. furnishes no evidence in support of it. The etymology⁸ being uncertain can throw no additional light on the beginnings of the conception. The root appears to be *mar*, but whether in the sense of 'to die', 'to crush', or 'to shine', it is hard to decide. The latter meaning, however, seems to accord best with the description given of the Maruts in the RV.