Mātariśvan ("growing in the mother", from the locative of "mother", mātari, and a root śvi "to grow, swell") in the Rigveda is a name of Agni (the sacrificial fire, the "mother" in which it grows being the fire-stick), or of a divine being closely associated with Agni, a messenger of Vivasvat, bringing the hidden fire to the Bhrigus. Sayana identifies him with Vayu, the wind, in RV 1.93.6. In the Atharvaveda and later, the word also has the meaning of "air, wind, breeze". It is also a name of Shiva, of a son of Garuda, and of a Rishi.
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👉 Mātariśvan in the context of Theft of fire
The theft of fire for the benefit of humanity is a theme that recurs in many world mythologies, symbolizing the acquisition of knowledge, or technology, and its transformative impact on civilization. Its recurrent themes include trickster figures as the thief, and supernatural heroic guardians who hoard fire from humanity, often out of mistrust for humans. These myths reflect the significance of fire in human history, which is considered a major milestone in the development of human society.
In African mythology, the San peoples tell of ǀKaggen, stealing fire from the ostrich and bringing it to people. In the Americas, Native American and First Nations tribes attribute the gift of fire to animals.In Eurasian cultures, fire theft takes on various forms. The Vedic Rigveda narrates hero Mātariśvan recovering hidden fire. Greek mythology recounts Prometheus stealing heavenly fire for humanity and suffering greatly as punishment for doing so. In Oceania, Polynesian myths often feature Māui as the fire thief, with diverse variations across regions.