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Originally Posted by Nikkolas
So then was Sauron the strongest Maia? Or was perhaps someone like Melian even better?
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While I've seen some suggestions that Sauron was the mightiest Maia, I don't think there's any definitive evidence to that effect. I think some people like the idea that Sauron might have been to the Maiar as Morgoth was to the Valar, but it's not really something which I think can be substantiated.
In lieu of an absolutely certain answer, I would argue that Ėonwė and Ilmarė were probably the mightiest of the Maiar simply because they were their Chiefs and the immediate servants of Manwė and Varda. However, their rank is hardly proof of their power, Melkor being originally most powerful of the Ainur despite Manwė being the leader.
That being said, I personally perceive Sauron being among Maiar of near-Vala stature along with the aforementioned chiefs, as well as other powerful Maiar like Melian, Ossė and Uinen. Perhaps Sauron originally occupied within the household of Aulė a similar position of eminence to that of Ėonwė, Ilmarė, Ossė and Uinen in the service of their respective Valar - albeit, I would argue, not the highest among Aulė's folk, as I think we would have been told if he was.