Among the Vedic deities, the Maruts, also known as Marutas or Marutanga, represent a group of prominent deities referred to as the Gods of Storm.
These nature gods act like a band of young warriors, swirling through the skies, directing storms, providing rain, and aiding Indra in wars.
Maruts are the sons of Rudra and his wife Prisni and hold a high status within the Vedic pantheon. They closely accompany Indra.
The name Maruts translates to weep not or do not cry.
Let’s know about them in detail.
The Birth of Maruts
Several stories in the holy scriptures outline their origin.
According to Rig Veda, Rudra, resembling a bull, and his wife Prisni, who symbolizes a water-laden cloud or the earth as a cow, gave birth to the Maruts.
Their number varies among the holy texts. One hymn in the Rig Veda states that Maruts are one hundred and eighty in number. At the same time, other hymns mention they are twenty-seven or twenty-one.
The Puranas, specifically the Vishnu and Brahmanda Puranas, indicate that they are a total of forty-nine.
The most common story, according to Puranas, is that Maruts are born from the unborn foetus of Diti. This happened when Indra cut the foetus of Diti into parts, understanding that Diti was growing the child to destroy him.
What did Vedas say about Maruts
Rig Veda is the oldest text available with references to Maruts.
There are Thirty-five hymns addressing Maruts alone in the Rig Veda. Besides, there are seven hymns to them and Indra, and one each is with Agni and Pusan.
The Rig Veda states that all Maruts share equal age and form, dazzling with brightness.
Their march always has huge sounds, singing and howling. Vedas also mention their howling nature as storm and war gods.
In sacrifices, Marutas are offered with Soma, independently or with Agni and other gods like Indra.
The Atharva Veda mentions that they carry water from the oceans to heaven and then shower it back on earth. It describes them as rain gods alongside Varuna.
During drought, people perform the Kariristi ritual to please the gods for rain. At that time, Maruts play a key role in bringing rain.
The Atharva Veda mentions various austerities directed towards invoking them.
However, like many other Vedic gods, their power and importance declined during Puranic times.
Their Association with Indra
In the Vedas, Indra stands as a close companion to the Rain God, Varuna and the storm gods, Maruts. Together, they give water to mankind and other beings living on Earth in the form of Rain.
Maruts support Indra during times of war, providing him with all kinds of help.
They are even good friends to Indrani or Sachi, the wife of Lord Indra, and she bears the title Marutasakha.
Despite their collaborations during wars, there is also enmity between Indra and Maruts. Asserting that Indra once tried to kill them and even favoured their foster brothers.
Once, Maruts even left the battle, leaving Indra alone in the fight scene, which angered Indra. However, Sage Agastya came into action and asked Indra to leave the enmity and to be friends.
On the other hand, Maruts also agreed and later became good companions to Indra, supporting his wars and heavenly activities.
In the epic Mahabharata, Indra acted as the leader of the storm gods.
Attributes and Characteristics
Maruts are described as the ones decked up with golden ornaments on their chest, wearing golden bracelets on their arms, anklets on their feet and golden helmets.
They are shown armed, with bows and arrows along with spears that rest up on their shoulders and carrying fiery lighting in their hands.
Riding on golden chariots drawn by horses, they are closely united with each other and possess iron teeth.
Roaring like lions and moving with a great noise, Marutas direct the storms and spreads the rains.
Rodasi, the Vedic goddess of moisture and rain, is highly connected with them and stands beside them in their chariots.
Importance of Maruts
Maruts are the removers of drought by providing Rains and causing land and the mountains to quake.
They hold water in the heavens, serve as leaders in the celestial realm, and guide the heavenly path.
The rains they shower contain healing properties and revive life on Earth.
Worshipping Maruts
The Maruts are worshipped to gain supernatural powers and fulfil their wishes. Moreover, worshippers seek their blessings for the fulfilment of their ambitious projects.
They protect the devotees from enemies and intend to fulfil their wishes.
Devotees sometimes worship these storm gods together with Gods like Mitra and Varuna.
Story of Marutas
Aditi, one of the wives of Sage Kasyapa, is anti to the gods. She was in great distress at one point when Vishnu destroyed her two sons, Hiranyaksha and Hiranya Kasipu.
To take revenge, Diti went to her husband, Sage Kasyapa, pleased him, and obtained a boon to bear a son with great powers and valour who would destroy Indra.
But Sage Kasyapa kept a condition that she should perform all the required austerities and penance till birth. Diti accepted.
Indra tried numerous ways to destroy the growing fetus, but he couldn’t. However, one day, Diti fell asleep at sunset without washing her feet, which she needed to do.
This gave great opportunity to Indra. He entered the womb of Diti with his powers and cut the fetus to forty-nine pieces with his thunderbolt.
These pieces further developed as forty-nine Maruts.
At that time, these children cried bitterly; Indra consoled them using the words Ma Rodih, which means weep not.
Indra further promised the kids that he would grant them the status of gods and allow them to control several heavenly activities.
