Well, *looks in Silmarillion*
About the Valar
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Thus it came to pass that of the Ainur some abode still with Iluvatar beyond the confines of the world; but others, and among them many of the greatest and most fair, took the leave of Iluvatar and descended into it. But this condition Iluvatar made, or it is the necessity of their love, that their power should thenceforward be contained and bounded in the World, to be within it forever, until it is complete, so that they are their life and it is theirs. And therefore they are named the Valar, the Powers of the World.
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The Great among these spirits the Elves name the Valar, the Powers of Arda, and Men have often called them Gods. The Lords of the Valar are seven; and the Valier, the Queens of the Valar are seven also.
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Basically the Valar were made by Iluvatar, and some of them e.g. Manwe, Varda, Yavanna, Aule etc. went into Arda and shaped it and made it what it is.
About the Maiar
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With the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World, or the same order as the Valar but of less degree. These are the Maiar, the people of the Valar, and their servants and helpers
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Some Maia were Olorin (Gandalf), there was also Melian, to name but two.
Hope this helped a bit