According to the Puranas, Matali is said to be the charioteer of Lord Indra. He is the greatest charioteer in the world. Matali was sent to convey Yayati to heaven, when Indra invited him there. The story of Matali is found in the Vamana Purana. Matali was married to Sudharma and they had a daughter named Guna Kesi.
Birth of Matali
The birth of Matali happened when the Devas (Gods) 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 Lord Vishnu, took the help of Lord Agni who provided him with a fiery weapon. Indra then again started to fight against 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 Asuras.
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. So, when Tapasvini desired for the second child then Sage Samika placed the child on the open earth; at that moment Indra was riding across the sky. 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 surprisingly rose up and moved towards Indra for driving his chariot. Gandharvas witnessed this whole event and blessed the child with mastery over driving the chariot. Then Indra accepted the child as his charioteer and named him Matali.
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