Page:History of India Vol 1.djvu/102

72 But Agni is not only the terrestrial fire in the Rig-Veda; he is also the fire of the lightning and the sun, and his abode is the invisible heaven. The Bhrigus discovered him there, Matarisvan brought him down, and Atharvan and Angiras, the first sacrificers, first installed him in this world as the protector of men.

Vayu, or the air, has received less consideration from the Vedic bards, and there are but few hymns assigned to him. But the Maruts, or the storm-gods, are oftener invoked, probably because they inspired more terror; and they are considered as the companions of Indra in obtaining rain from the reluctant clouds. The earth trembles as they move in their deer-yoked chariots, and men see the flashing of their arms or the sparkle of their ornaments, the lightning. Yet they are benevolent, and they milk from the udder of their mother Prisni (the storm-cloud) copious showers for the benefit of man.

Rudra, a storm deity, is the father of the Maruts. Like Vishnu, he is a humble deity in the Rig-Veda, and only a few hymns are assigned to him. But like Vishnu,' Rudra has attained prominence in later times, and is one of the Hindu Trinity of the Puranic religion, a portion of the Supreme.

Another god who has also changed his character in the Puranas (and very much for the worse!) is Yama,