The Puranas · Volume 02

"Putna went to the place where Kratudhwaj's sons were doing penance. There was a river nearby

where Kratudhwaj's sons arrived one day to bathe. Acting according to her plan, Putna too entered into

the river to take bath. Kratudhwaj's sons were infatuated by her divine beauty. They could not control

themselves and as a result, ....

mission of corrupting the thoughts of Kratudhwaj's sons, who after realising that their penance had

gone in vain returned to their father's kingdom. The released sperms of Kratudhwaj's sons was

swallowed by a fish named Shankhini. One day, she was caught by a fisherman and presented to

Kratudhwaj's sons, who again released her into a nearby pond. In course of time, Shankhini died after

giving birth to seven young fish. The seven young fish started crying at their mother's death. Lord

Brahma appeared and advised them not to cry and for this reason, they were called Marut. Lord

Brahma blessed them by saying- "All of you would attain the status of deities and would be capable of

flying in the air." After finishing his story, sage Pulastya told Narad that this was how Marut Ganas

originated during Swarochish Manvantara.

Sage Pulastya says- "Now, I am going to describe about the Marut Ganas of Uttam Manvantara.

Jyotishmaan was the son of Vayushmaan and his wife was the daughter of sage Vrihaspati. As they

were sonless, both of them decided to do penance to beget a son. The Saptarishis arrived there and

enquired as to why they were doing such a severe penance. Jyotishmaan's wife told the Saptarishis

that they were desirous of a son. The Saptarishis blessed her by saying that she would become a

mother of seven sons. In course of time, Jyotishmaan's wife became pregnant. One fateful day,

Jyotishmaan passed away. His sorrowful wife wanted to commit Sati. While he was sitting on the

burning pyre, suddenly, a piece of burning flesh fell into the nearby river and got fragmented into seven

pieces. Seven Marut Ganas manifested from these seven pieces of flesh."

Sage Pulastya says- "During Taamas Manvantara, Ritdhwaj, the son of Taamas Manu did a severe

penance with the desire of getting a son. He made offerings of his own flesh, blood and sperms to the

oblation fire. Suddenly, he heard a heavenly voice instructing him not to make offerings of his sperms.

But the king continued with his offering and as a result, he died. After sometime, seven infants

manifested from the oblation fire who later on became famous as the Marut Ganas of Taamas

Manvantara."

King Ripujeet was the descendant of Raivat. He was sonless and after being pleased by his extreme

devotion, the deity- Sun had blessed him with a daughter named Surati. In course of time, she grew

into a beautiful woman. One day, Ripujeet passed away and a grieved Surati decided to give up her

life. The Saptarishis arrived there and they were so infatuated by her beauty that they tried to prevent

her from doing so. But unrelenting Surati did not listen and gave up her life by jumping into the burning

pyre. The sorrowful Saptarishis went away after casting lusty glances on her. Seven infants manifested

from the burning pyre, who became famous as Marut Ganas of Raivat Manvantara.

During Chaakshush Manvantara, a sage named Manki did a tremendous penance at the banks of

Saptasaraswat. But he fell down from grace after being infatuated by the beauty of an Apsara named

Vapu. His sperms ejaculated and fell into the Saptasaraswat river from which manifested the seven

Marut Ganas.

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