§ 01Origins & Significance
Who is Mata
Vedic deity associated with wind and the bringing of Agni (fire) to humanity. Name means 'growing in the mother' or 'one who swells in the mother.' Messenger between gods and humans.
§ 05Names & Epithets
Names by which the divine is addressed
Mātariśvā मातरिश्वा
Growing in the mother; one who swells in the mother
Vāyu वायु
Wind, air
Prāṇa प्राण
Life breath
§ 06Symbols & Attributes
What they hold
WindMessengerFire bringerCosmic law
वा
Wind
Invisible force, messenger of the gods.
अ
Fire
Agni, brought to humanity by Mātariśvan.
§ 07Iconography in Depth
Form, mudras, weapons & vahana
Rarely depicted. Associated with Vayu and Agni.
§ 09Mantras
Sacred utterances
Mūla Mantra
ॐ मातरिश्वने नमः
Oṁ Mātariśvane namaḥ
Salutations to Mātariśvan, the wind deity.
— Vedic tradition
§ 10Hymn · Stotra
A favourite verse
अग्निं दूतं वृणीमहे होतारं विश्ववेदसम्। अस्य यज्ञस्य सुक्रतुम्॥
Agniṁ dūtaṁ vṛṇīmahe hotāraṁ viśvavedasam. Asya yajñasya sukratum.
We choose Agni as our messenger, the priest of all offerings, the skillful performer of this sacrifice.
— Rigveda 1.12.1 (Mātariśvan is the bringer of Agni)
§ 13Where Worshipped
Tīrthas & major shrines
Vedic
§ 14Scriptures
Where to read further
Rigveda
Primary scripture; Mātariśvan appears in multiple hymns as the bringer of Agni.
c. 1500–1200 BCE
§ 16Related Deities
Continue exploring
अ
Fire brought by Mātariśvan to humanity
Agni
अग्नि
व
Closely associated wind deity, sometimes identified with Mātariśvan
Vāyu
वायु
इ
King of gods; Mātariśvan acts as messenger
Indra
इन्द्र
ब
Priest of gods; Mātariśvan serves as divine messenger
Bṛhaspati
बृहस्पति