Return to Index
My India
History
Festivals
Ramayan
Mahabharata
Health
Hindu Philosophy
Hindu Culture
Hidu Life Rituals
Gods and Heroes of
Hinduism
Comparing Religions
My resume
Poems
Travel-logs
Music
Bhajans
Videos
Links
Mahabharata katha London
2012
Indra of the Vedas is a powerful, confident, benevolent God who renders the earth fertile with rain. He unlocks the waters of the heaven and benefits mankind with his largesse. Indra leads the host of Devas who are the sons of Aditi and Kashyap.
Indra of the Vedas is strong, handsome, virile, active and victorious in his battles with his step-brothers Daityas and Danavas. Made strong by the sacrificial offerings of Yagna, Indra loves the juice of Soma plant that is extracted at the culmination of sacred yagnas. Indra’s iconography involves thunderbolt (vajra), his weapon of choice, a rare white elephant with multiple tusks, beautiful nymphs, divine cattle and a wish granting tree. Above all, Indra is the keeper of nectar of immortal life, Amrit. It is this promise of life-ever-more that made Indra the premier God of the Vedas.
Brahma the grandsire of the universe gave the Devas Swarg as his inheritance. Indra became its master, ruling it with his wife, Sachi. As the king of Swarga, Indra rides a white elephant called Airavat with four tusks. Surrounded by wonderful gardens called Nandanvan, his fabulous city of Amaravati is popular with Devas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Vakshas, Vidhyadhars, sages, rishis and various celestial beings. Melodious Vedic chants fill the air. Strains of music filter through the palaces and mansions of Amravati. Sages and rishis visit Amaravati and consult with the Gods. Devas are advised by their guru Bruhaspati. Whenever Indra or the Gods displease him, trouble befalls their heavenly kingdom. Glorious dead from battles through the ages hope to attain a place in Indra’s heaven.
Sages serenade Indra during their yagna with ‘ruchas’ (Vedic verses), inviting him, worshiping him, pleading with him, imploring him to protect them, increase their cattle, bring rains and beautify earth with rivers and forests. Indra, as leader of the divine army, is worshiped to protect their own cities, drive away enemies, destroy enemy cities and crown the righteous with victory. Indra of the Vedas is the God of virtue, virility, victory and wisdom.
Indra in later Bhakti sects & scriptures