Going by the number of hymns addressed to the deities in the Vedic period, the atmospheric god Indra is the clear winner. Apart from weather god, he was also war god. Sharing several characteristics of the Greek Zeus and the Germanic Thor, Indra has been variously described as a winner (jitendra), efficient car warrior (rathestha), Shatakratu (possessing a hundred powers) and meghavahana (rider of cloud), and a Somadrinker (Somapa).
Indra’s father is Dyaus (heaven). Indrani or Sachi
(energy) is his wife. He destroyed the
forts (pura) of his enemies, and was accordingly known as Purandara (the
breaker of forts). He killed the evil cloud demon Vritra and therefore, is
called Varitrahan (slayer of Vrita). Indra is called by the name Ĺšakra in Buddhist scriptures.
Indra is associated with thunderstorms. Like Zeus
and Thor, his hand bore the thunderbolt (Vajra), which was used by him to destroy
his enemies.
Another interesting facet to Indra’s personality
is his fondness for feasting and drinking. This has earned him the epithet of
Somapa (a Soma drinker).
By the end of the Middle ages, Indra’s importance
began to wane and there were few temples dedicated to him.
neverknow so much about indra...i used to watch different gods related serials in my childhood but no such serials given priority to god indra
ReplyDelete