Vedic Mythology c5.s2.t5.9

c5.s2.t5.9

One of the main functions of the Maruts is to shed rain. They are clothed with rain (5, 57⁴). They rise from the ocean and shed rain (1, 38⁹). Milking the unfailing well, they blow through the two worlds with rain (1, 64⁶; 8, 7¹⁶). Rain follows them (5, 53¹⁰). They bring water and impel rain (5, 58³). They obscure their brilliance with rain (5, 59¹). They cover the eye of the sun with rain (5, 59⁵). They create darkness with the cloud when they shed rain (1, 38⁹). They scatter mist when they speed with winds (8, 7⁴). They cause the heavenly pail (5, 53⁶. 59⁸) and the streams of the mountains to pour (5, 59⁷). When they hurry on, the waters flow (5, 58⁶). A terrestrial river receives its name, Marudvṛddhā, ‘swelled by the Maruts’ (10, 75⁵), from this action. The sweat of the sons of Rudra became rain (5, 58⁷). The rain shed by the Maruts is also figuratively referred to as milk (1, 166³), ghee (1, 85³; 10, 78⁴), milk and ghee (1, 64⁶); or they are said to pour out the spring (1, 85¹¹) or to wet the earth with honey (5, 54⁸)². They raise waters from sea to sky and discharge them from the sky upon the earth (AV. 4, 27⁴). The waters which they shed are often clearly connected with the thunderstorm. Desiring to give water, whirling hail, violent, they rush on with thunder (5, 54³). They cause winds and lightnings with their might, milk heavenly gifts from the udder, and fill the earth with milk (1, 64⁵). The spring which they milk, thunders (1, 64⁶). The sky, the ruddy bull, bellows when they shed the waters (5, 58⁶). They cause the stallion to make water (1, 64⁶). They bestow the rain of heaven and shed abundantly the streams of the stallion (5, 83⁶). They assume a golden colour when they make water with the steed (2, 34¹³). The streams resound with the fellies of the Maruts, when they raise the voice of the cloud (1, 168⁸). The waters which Indra sheds are called *marutvatīḥ*, ‘attended by the Maruts’ (1, 80⁴). In connexion with their character as shedders of rain, the Maruts receive the epithets *purudrapṣāḥ* (5, 57⁵) or *drapsinaḥ* (1, 64²) ‘abounding in drops’ and the frequent *sudānavah*, ‘dripping well’. They also avert heat (5, 54¹). But they likewise dispel darkness (7, 56²⁰), produce light (1, 86¹⁰), and prepare a path for the sun (8, 7⁸). They are also said to have measured out the air (5, 55²), stretched out the terrestrial regions as well as the bright realms of heaven, and held apart the two worlds (8, 839. 11).