Matali is the charioteer of Indra and the story of Matali is
found in the Vamana. The birth of Matali is very interesting. It happened when
the Devas (demigods) and Asuras (demons) were involved in a war. Indra, the
king of Devas, was defeated and his weapon Vajra was broken by the demon king
Andhaka.
Indra then, on advice of Vishnu, took the help of Agni who
provided him with a fiery weapon. Indra advanced towards the demons on his
golden chariot provided by the Vasus. But Indra did not have an efficient
charioteer who knew warfare and how to dodge through the enemy army.
Indra himself drew the chariot and swiftness of it caused
earth to shiver.
During this period, Sage Samika and his wife Tapasvini had a
child. A Rishi had told Tapasvini that if her first child was placed on open
ground during earthquake it will become two.
Tapasvini desired for the second child and therefore Sage
Samika placed the child on open earth when Indra was riding across the skies.
As soon as the child was placed on the ground an exact
replica of the first child was born. But the second child, as soon as it was
born rose up and moved towards Indra for driving his chariot.
Gandharvas who witnessed this event blessed the child with
mastery over driving the chariot.
Indra then accepted the child as his charioteer and named
him Matali.
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