The Rig Veda: An Anthology

As the god of the thunderstorm and a fertility deity, Indra is closely associated with the Maruts, wind-god warriors who serve Indra. The Maruts are the sons of Rudra, a wind-god known for his tempestuous, unpredictable behavior, and Prsni, the earth-cow. Also known as Rudras, the Maruts always appear as a group, sometimes contending with Indra for the right to sacrificial offerings. This chapter contains seven hymns about the Maruts, the personified raincloud Parjanya, and Vata, the gale wind.

In hymn 1.85, the poet describes the Maruts as swiftly gliding horses and lovers of Soma who “create[e] the power of Indra” by howling their storm-songs (165). They adorn themselves like women, shining forth with spears, causing the rainclouds to pour water onto the earth like streams of urine or semen. Like Indra, who freed the waters, the Maruts forced open a spring for the thirsty sage Gotama. The poet encourages the Maruts to sit upon the sacred grass and drink the sacrificial Soma. The hymn ends with a prayer asking the winds-gods who perform “joyous deeds in the ecstasy of Soma” to give wealth and shelter to the worshipper (166).