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Mahabharata katha London
2012
By the age of the Mahabharata, Vedas were codified into 4 sections by Krishna-Dwaipayan-Vyasa and were possibly written down for the first time.
Indra of the Mahabharata has a mixed personality. He is revered as the king of heaven and leader of Gods by the likes of Pandu. Indeed, Pandu requests Kunti to have their 3rd son sired by Indra to seek his blessings and support.
At the same time, Indra is also mocked by some earthly kings who think they are all powerful and undefeatable, forgetting that they are mortal and he is immortal. Some openly challenge the notion of 'gods', others say that they are stronger, wealthier and happier than Indra. (eg Kansa, Jarasandha, Duryodhan, Karna etc). Even Yudhishthir challenges Indra by naming his capital city 'Indraprashta'. His Maya-sabha was built to rival Indra’s sabha in Amaravati.
Likes of Krushna and Arjun are said to have defeated Indra and even befriended him. In the Mahabharata, they talk to Indra as a peer rather than his devotees. Idea of Gods, celestial beings, karma, dharma and the scepticism displayed by characters of the Mahabharata is refreshingly ‘modern’ and very similar to how we view the role of ‘Gods’ and religion in our lives today.
Shri Krushna of the SM Bhagvat Puran and Mahabharata is a rival God to Indra. He clashes with Indra on three occasions. First incidence occurs when he is barely seven years old. He advises his foster parents and villagers to abandon post-monsoon thanks-giving Indra-yagna with worship of Govardhan mountain. Enraged by this insult, Indra sends apocalyptical storm to drown Krushna’s village. Krushna lifts the Govardhan mountain and uses it as an umbrella to protect his friends, family and cattle for a whole week. Suitably chastised, and ‘put-in-his-place’ by such a feat, Indra pleads forgiveness and worships Shri Krushna as ‘Govinda’ = Indra of cattle.
Later, Krushna defeats Narkasur to recover the earrings of mother Aditi and Varun’s regal insignia (white umbrella) at Indra’s request. Indra is suitably grateful for having these items returned, however, under his wife’s instructions, he denies some celestial flowers to Krushna’s wife Stayabhama. Upset at being slighted, Satyabhama requests Shri Krushna to get the flowering tree transported to her palace in Dwarika. Indra, once again urged by his wife, fights with Shri Krushna to keep the tree and predictably, loses.
During the burning of Khandav-van, Indra and Agni are on opposite side. Vedic friends become rivals in this part of the tale. Agni gives celestial weapons and chariot to Arjun and Krushna to help them defeat Indra !! According to the Mahabharata, Arjun is (permanently) loaned an indestructible chariot, amazing steeds, inexhaustible quiver of arrows, unbreakable bow and celestial weapons so he can battle against Indra as an equal. Shri Krushna’s Sudarshan chakra is a gift of Agni to defeat Indra !!
Later in the epic, Indra takes his son Arjun to Amaravati to teach him art of war and music.. Arjun stays in heaven for five years to help defeat Navtikavachs and other demons whom even Indra had trouble defeating. Through Indra’s stratagem, Arjun gets cursed by Urvashi to become a eunuch and that curse is utilised to hide him during the final year of the exile. Before the great battle of the Kurushetra, Indra ask Karna (son of Sun) to donate his impenetrable skin to assure victory for his son. At the end of the epic, Indra receives Yudhishthir in heaven and teaches him the ultimate lesson in humbleness.
In an epic as vast as the Mahabharata, one can see all the facets of Indra and how he is seen by the contemporary society at the time.
Indra in later Bhakti sects & scriptures