KarmaVaani
Vedic tradition
इन्द्रIndra
Shakra · Devaraja · Vajrapani · Purandara
King of the gods and lord of rain and thunder, hero of the Rigveda.
- Abode
- Amaravati in Svarga
- Consort
- Shachi (Indrani)
- Vahana
- Airavata, the white elephant
- Colour
- Golden
- Arms
- 2
Indra is the king of the devas and the great hero of the Rigveda, where about a quarter of all hymns praise him. He slew the serpent Vritra, who had held back the waters, and set the rivers free. In later stories he is a proud king of heaven who is often humbled, as when Krishna lifted Govardhan against his storm.
Mantra
ॐ इन्द्राय नमः
Om Indraya Namaha
Salutations to Indra.
How Indra is shown
A crowned king riding a white elephant with many tusks, holding a thunderbolt.
- Vajra (thunderbolt)
- Made from the bones of the sage Dadhichi: power that breaks through obstruction.
- Airavata
- Clouds and rain.
- Bow (the rainbow)
- Indra's bow, Indradhanush.
Stories
Vritra and the waters
The serpent Vritra coiled around the mountains and held the waters back, and the world dried. Indra, strengthened by soma, struck him with the vajra and the rivers rushed out to the sea.
