Indra (deity)
Indra is a prominent deity in Hinduism, historically revered as the supreme god, particularly in ancient texts like the Rigveda, which dates back to around 1500 BCE. He is depicted as the powerful ruler of the gods, often likened to figures such as Zeus or Odin in other mythologies. Indra rides a majestic white elephant named Airavata and wields a thunderbolt known as Vajra, embodying his role as a protector of the earth and a provider of rain. His legendary battles, particularly against the serpent Vritra, showcase his strength and heroism in restoring water to the parched earth.
Over time, Indra's status diminished within the Hindu pantheon, as he was replaced by the triad of deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. This shift led to new interpretations of Indra's stories, often portraying him in a more flawed light, emphasizing themes of pride and downfall. Although no temples are dedicated to him today, Indra remains associated with storms, rain, and the direction east, with echoes of his legendary battles still reflected in the natural phenomena of the monsoon season. Indra's evolution from a revered warrior god to a cautionary figure highlights the dynamic nature of mythological narratives in Hindu tradition.
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Subject Terms
Indra (deity)
Symbol: Thunderbolt
Culture: Hindu mythology
Mother: Prthivi
Father: Dyaus
Siblings: Agni (brother)
Children: Jayanta; Midhusa; Nilambara; Rbhus; Rsabha; Sitragupta; and Arjuna
Overview
Indra is a Hindu deity who at one time was revered as the supreme god in Hinduism. Indra was one of the main figures in the ancient sacred Hindu text the Rigveda, which was written about 1500 BCE. He was portrayed as the all-powerful ruler of the gods, akin to Zeus, Odin, or Jupiter in other mythologies. Atop his majestic white elephant, Indra was a protector of earth, wielding a great thunderbolt, and was fueled by an intoxicating drink known as soma.
As the centuries passed, Indra lost his position as leader of the gods in Hindu mythology. He was replaced by a triumvirate of deities and relegated to a status as god of the sky and rain. His image was also transformed from a powerful protector deity to a womanizing figure, drunk on soma, and the subject of cautionary tales about pride.
In Mythology
References to Indra first appear in the Rigveda, the oldest surviving religious text in Hinduism. Indra is said to have been born from a union between the sky god, Dyaus, and the earth goddess, Prthivi. Some legends attribute the creation of the universe to Indra, who did so by separating the earth from the sky. In early Hinduism, Indra was the most important deity. He was a warrior god who rode a powerful white elephant named Airavata, protected the peoples of earth, and provided them with life-giving rain.
At the time of Indra's birth, a deity named Varuna was entrenched as ruler of the gods. Varuna represented the judicial order of the universe. Indra, who personified the power of kingship, supplanted Varuna and took his place as supreme deity. As ruler, Indra engaged in many battles, helping the people of India conquer their enemies and defeat invading demon armies. Indra's main weapon was a thunderbolt named Vajra.
One of the more famous accounts of his exploits found in the Rigveda is the legend of Indra's battle with the great serpent Vritra. Vritra had stolen the earth's water and took it to a distant mountain where he stood guard over it. With the water gone, the people of earth endured severe drought and famine and suffered greatly. Indra saw this and prepared to battle Vritra for the earth's water. Before he set out to begin the fight, he drank three bowls of soma, an ambrosia-like substance that caused his stomach to swell to immense size and gave him great strength. Energized by the soma, Indra engaged Vritra in his mountain lair and after a long battle, struck the serpent dead by hitting him in the back with his thunderbolt. Upon Vritra's death, the waters flowed back upon the earth, and the great drought was ended.
The Evolution of Indra.By about the fifth century BCE, Indra's reputation had diminished in Hindu mythology. He had been replaced atop the Hindu hierarchy of deities by the three gods of the Hindu trinity: Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. This shift is evident in later stories, where Indra's battle with Vritra is given different interpretations. In one legend, Vritra was a Brahmin—a devotee of Brahma—who acquired supernatural powers, much to the concern of the gods. Indra challenged Vritra and killed him with a thunderbolt to the back, which was seen in this version of the story as a treacherous death. Because Vritra was a Brahmin, it was a sin to kill him, and an evil goddess arose from his corpse to seek revenge upon Indra. Indra was forced to flee until he begged Brahma for forgiveness. In the Mahabharata, an epic poem written between 400 and 200 BCE, Vritra was a serpent created by a divine being to seek revenge on Indra for killing his son. In this version, Vritra swallowed Indra, who needed to be rescued by the other gods.
In the epic poem the Ramayana, Indra challenged the demon king Ravana but lost the battle and was dragged through Ravana's kingdom in humiliation. Indra was made to pay homage to Ravana until he was saved by Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form as the warrior Rama. Indra also appears in the legend of the monkey deity Hanuman.
In the Hindu text Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Indra was a cautionary figure meant to warn of the downfall of pride. In the tale, Indra was the king of heaven and wished to live in the grandest palace of all. He asked the celestial architect to build the structure but was very demanding and kept pushing for a more extravagant palace. Finally, the frustrated architect appealed to Lord Brahma for relief. Brahma sent a servant to Indra disguised as a young boy. When the boy arrived at the palace, he told the king that no other Indra had ever succeeded in building such a great palace. Confused, Indra asked the boy what he meant. The boy then revealed his true nature and told Indra that the universe undergoes an infinite number of deaths and rebirths, and showed him as endless parade of ants. He told him that the ants represented the other Indras that had come before and the ones that would follow, and none had succeeded at accomplishing their selfish desires. The humbled Indra understood the lesson and realized the actions taken in one life affect the lives of future incarnations.
Origins & Cults
In time, Indra was relegated to minor deity status and was considered the god of the sky, storms, and rain. In later legends, he was portrayed as being drunk with soma, treacherous, and obsessed with sexual conquests, so much so that the gods punished him by removing his power and his handsome appearance. Tales involving Indra began to depict him in a negative, often derogatory manner.
As a minor deity, there are no temples dedicated to Indra in modern India, although statues of him atop his white elephant often adorn temples to Vishnu and other deities. Indra is associated with rain, storms, rainbows, and the direction east. Legend has it that echoes of his battle with Vritra can be heard in the strong winds and rains of monsoon season.
Bibliography
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