{"id":4389,"date":"2026-04-27T10:36:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/indra\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:26:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:26:32","slug":"indra","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/indra\/","title":{"rendered":"Indra"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4389\" class=\"elementor elementor-4389 elementor-2067 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra, God of the Hindu Tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Vedic thunder king, ruler of the sky and victor over <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demons<\/span>. Indra is one of the oldest Hindu gods, the most important in the *Rigveda*, set aside in later periods. With his thunderbolt *Vajra*, riding on a white elephant, Indra once led the council of the Devas.<\/p><p>He defeated the dragon *Vritra*, who had stolen the rain, and returned it to the world. Yet, unlike Brahma or Shiva, Indra is hardly worshipped anymore, a god whose time has passed, whose splendour has faded before bhakti.<\/p><p>As thunder king and guardian of the sky, Indra is the leader of the Devas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ Goddess: Personified highest power within the pantheon of a culture, with clearly defined domains: natural forces, fate, war, fertility. Worshipped through cults, sacrifices and temple institutions.\">God<\/span><a href=\"\/en\/hinduism\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Hindu worlds of gods, asuras and protection, from Vedic to tantric.\">Hinduism<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_indra-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4390\" alt=\"Indra - gods from the Hindu tradition, historical and illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_indra-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_indra-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_indra-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_hinduismus_indra.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">At a Glance: Indra<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Vedic chief god, god of thunder and kingship, moved into the background in the Pur&acirc;&#7751;as<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The entirety of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: Hinduism (central in the Vedic period, secondary post-Vedic), Buddhism (as &Saacute;akra\/Taishakuten)<br>Function: thunder and lightning, war, kingship, victor over Vritra (dragon <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> of drought)<br>Main attributes: Vajra (thunderbolt), bow, white elephant Airavata as mount<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: central everywhere in the Vedic period, post-Vedic in Trayastri&#7747;&scaron;a (Buddhist)<br>Buddhist identification: &Saacute;akra (Sanskrit), Taishakuten (Japan), Indra (Tibet)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Classification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the Texts<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra is the central <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being worshipped as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> of the <em>Rigveda<\/em> (1200&ndash;900 BCE); roughly a quarter of all Rigveda hymns are <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Handed over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby set apart from the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">dedicated<\/span> to him.<\/p><p>His main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> is the <em>battle with Vritra<\/em>: Vritra, the dragon demon of drought, holds back the cosmic waters; Indra drinks Soma (an entheogenic drink), kills Vritra with the Vajra (thunderbolt) and releases the waters.<\/p><p>With the post-Vedic <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> (Br&acirc;hma&#7751;as, Pur&acirc;&#7751;as from the 1st millennium BCE onward), Indra loses significance; he becomes a subordinate <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being worshipped as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> below Vishnu and Shiva. In Buddhism he is adopted as <em>&Saacute;akra<\/em>, ruler of the Trayastri&#7747;&scaron;a heavenly realm and protector of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"In Hinduism, duty and cosmic order; in Buddhism, the teaching of the Buddha.\">Dharma<\/span>. In Japan he is integrated as <em>Taishakuten<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of Distribution<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the Vedic tradition there were no special Indra <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span>; Vedic <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religion<\/span> was purely sacrificial practice (<em>yaj&ntilde;a<\/em>) at the household <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An elevated place or table for offerings and religious acts.\" tabindex=\"0\">altar<\/span> or at an open-air sacrificial site. With the Pur&acirc;&#7751;a tradition, isolated Indra <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temples<\/span> were built, but they remained peripheral.<\/p><p>In Buddhism, by contrast, he is present in every <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>: &Saacute;akra\/Taishakuten is one of the four guardians of the heavens, worshipped in Japan at the <em>Taisanji<\/em> (Ehime Prefecture) and many other places as Taishakuten.<\/p><p>In Tibet he appears as a figure within the Buddhist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The entirety of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span>. In Nepal the <em>Indra Jatra<\/em> festival is held in Kathmandu (annually in September) as a large popular festival.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source Situation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: the <em>Rigveda<\/em> (especially the numerous Indra hymns, e.g. RV 1.32 on the Vritra <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>), the <em>Yajurveda<\/em>, the <em>Atharvaveda<\/em>, the <em>&Saacute;atapatha-Br&acirc;hma&#7751;a<\/em>, the <em>Mahabharata<\/em> (Indra episodes, especially the Karna story), and the <em>Pur&acirc;&#7751;as<\/em>. Buddhist: the <em>Sakkapa&ntilde;ha Sutta<\/em> (Pali, dialogue between the Buddha and Sakka).<\/p><p>Secondary literature: O&rsquo;Flaherty, <em>The Origins of Evil in Hindu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the transmitted divine narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Mythology<\/span><\/em>; Macdonell, <em>Vedic Mythology<\/em>; Doniger, <em>Hindu Myths<\/em>; West, <em>Indo-European Poetry and Myth<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Name and Variants<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra is depicted as a powerful, reddish or golden warrior, often with one or four arms. He carries the Vajra, a thunderbolt with curved ends, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span> of absolute power.<\/p><p>His animal is the huge white elephant <em>Airavata<\/em> with four tusks, which he rides. Sometimes Indra also wears a golden breastplate. His court is <em>Amaravati<\/em>, a heaven full of splendour and pleasure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra is the ruler of the upper world (<em>Swarga<\/em>) and of the gods. He brings rain and storms, vital for the harvest in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BC to 600 AD.\" tabindex=\"0\">ancient<\/span> India.<\/p><p>The battle against Vritra, the hundred-headed dragon, is an eternal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>: Vritra holds the waters captive, Indra strikes him with the Vajra. This is not merely nature <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The entirety of a culture's transmitted narratives about the gods.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>, but a cosmic metaphor for overcoming inertia and ignorance. In Vedic Yajna <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifices<\/span> Indra was the principal recipient.<\/p><h3>Appearance and Symbolism<\/h3><p><em>Indra<\/em> is depicted as a well-built, blue-green or golden god, often with a hundred eyes across his whole body. He carries a thunderbolt (Vajra) and rides the white elephant Airavata. Thunder is his primary attribute, associated with rain and martial charisma.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Indra<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Indra at a glance. The following fields summarise origin, function, appearance, worship, symbols and cultural parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tradition<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra is the son of the sky father god <em>Dyaus<\/em> (a Vedic Indo-European inheritance from <em>*Dye&#038;#u014d;s ph&#038;#u2202;t&#038;#u113;r<\/em>) and the earth mother <em>P&#7771;thiv&icirc;<\/em>. He is the brother of the twin pair of gods Mitra and Varuna.<\/p><p>Consort: <em>&Saacute;ac&icirc;<\/em> (also Indr&acirc;&#7751;&icirc;). Father of the demigod Arjuna (hero of the Mahabharata). In Buddhism, where he appears as &Saacute;akra, the genealogical identity is set aside in favour of the cosmic function.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Object of Influence<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>King of the Vedic gods and martial hero. Patron of the warrior class (<em>k&#7779;atriya-varna<\/em>). Bringer of rain and fertility (through the victory over Vritra).<\/p><p>In Buddhism, as &Saacute;akra: protector of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"In the Indian religions, the teaching and the right order of action.\" tabindex=\"0\">Dharma<\/span>, lord of the Trayastri&#7747;&scaron;a heavenly realm (33 gods), often depicted as a courteous, petitioning interlocutor of the Buddha, a characteristic reduction in status from Indra-as-king to Buddhist cosmic official.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra's Appearance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anthropomorphic, a strong bearded male body in a golden-yellow garment. Several eyes on the body (in some Pur&acirc;&#7751;as transformed as a punishment from several vulvae). The <em>Vajra<\/em> (thunderbolt) in the hand, the most important Indra <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>, which later became the principal symbol of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Diamond vehicle; tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism, primarily in Tibet, with Yidam practice at its centre.\">Vajrayana<\/span> Buddhism.<\/p><p>Mount: the white elephant <em>Airavata<\/em> with three or more heads. Bow and arrows (as swift as lightning). In Buddhist depictions (Taishakuten) he appears as an enthroned, courteous figure with sceptre and crown, frequently in the lotus posture.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra's Influence<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of influence:<\/strong> In Vedic India, Indra was <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span> in every <em>yaj&ntilde;a<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A gift to a deity, expressing thanks, request or worship.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifice<\/span> and fed with Soma <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">offerings<\/span>. Warriors and kings called upon him before battles. The complete Soma rites (<em>agni&#7779;&#7789;oma<\/em>, <em>v&acirc;japeya<\/em>) were dedicated to him and Agni together.<\/p><p>In present-day Hindu practice he is only peripheral. In Buddhism, by contrast, he remains present: he is invoked for protection in every <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed, recurring religious act.\" tabindex=\"0\">rite<\/span>. In Nepal the great <em>Indra Jatra<\/em> festival is held in Kathmandu with masked dances and chariot processions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Means of Protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Vajra (thunderbolt, main attribute, later a Buddhist <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>), bow with arrows, Airavata (white elephant), Soma (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> drink), the Indra banner (in the Pur&acirc;&#7751;a tradition), rainbow (his bow). Sacred plant: Soma (not yet clearly identified botanically). Sacred animals: elephant (Airavata), eagle. Sacred number: 1,000 (his 1,000 eyes).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra's Parallels<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>&Saacute;akra \/ Taishakuten<\/em> (Buddhism, a nearly identical adoption), <em>Zeus<\/em> (Greece, thunderbolt-bearing king of the gods, sharing the common Indo-European root <em>*dyeus<\/em>), <em>Iuppiter<\/em> (Rome), <em>Thor<\/em> (Germanic, hammer-wielding thunder god), <em>Perun<\/em> (Slavic), <em>Tarchunna\/Tesub<\/em> (Hittite), <em>Marduk<\/em> (Mesopotamia, storm hero), <em>Adad\/Hadad<\/em> (Mesopotamia), <em>Baal<\/em> (Levant), <em>Raijin<\/em> (Japan, thunder god in <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The indigenous religion of Japan, shaped by the worship of the kami.\" tabindex=\"0\">Shinto<\/span>).<\/p><p>The Vritra-Indra battle corresponds structurally to the dragon-combat myths of many Indo-European religions (Thor-Jormungand, Apollo-Python, Marduk-Tiamat).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Practical Defence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and protective symbols<\/strong><\/p><p>The most important protective symbol associated with Indra is the Vajra, the thunderbolt with which he slew the dragon Vritra.<\/p><p>The Vajra stands for indestructible power and the warding off of chaos; as a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span> implement and as a pendant it became, far beyond the Vedic context and into Hinduism and Buddhism, a sign of firmness and protection.<\/p><p>In the Vedic <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>, Indra is moreover regarded as a helper in battle and in need; numerous hymns of the Rigveda call upon him for aid against enemies and drought. Pictorial depictions of Indra on his white elephant Airavata adorned temple gates as guardian figures of the eastern direction.<\/p><h3><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The entirety of the religious acts of worship for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">Cult<\/span> and Worship<\/h3><p><em>Indra<\/em> had intensive cults in Vedic times with sacrificial rituals, especially Soma libations. The Indra festival marks victories over demons and is still partly observed in South India. The greatest veneration took place within <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religious system in which specialists interact with the world of spirits.\" tabindex=\"0\">shamanic<\/span> traditions, where his Vajra is venerated as a mystical force.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra, Parallels in Other Cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra resembles the Greek Zeus; both are kings of the gods, thunder gods, rulers of the sky. The battle against Vritra recalls Thor&#8217;s fight against the serpent Jormungandr in Norse <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The entirety of a culture's transmitted narratives about the gods.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span> or Apollo&#8217;s victory over Python.<\/p><p>Indra&#8217;s style is more martial and less moral than that of the later Hindu gods; he enjoys ambrosia and flirting nymphs, in a manner typical of Vedic <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The belief in several gods.\" tabindex=\"0\">polytheism<\/span>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp96b3057 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp96b3057\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpe02117e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpe02117e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Dragon Battle Against Vritra: Indra's Central Myth in the Rigveda<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp2d3eb8f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp2d3eb8f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp3856a27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp3856a27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important and most frequently celebrated <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> concerning Indra is the battle against <em>Vritra<\/em>. The <em>Rigveda<\/em>, the oldest layer of the Indian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>, probably composed in the second millennium BCE, returns to this deed again and again; it is regarded as Indra&#8217;s great deed above all others.<\/p><p>Vritra, whose name means roughly &#8220;obstacle&#8221; or &#8220;encloser&#8221;, is a serpent- or dragon-like being that holds back the waters. In some verses he lies on the mountains and dams up the rivers, so that the world withers.<\/p><p>Indra, strengthened by the intoxicating drink <em>Soma<\/em>, attacks with his thunder-club, the <em>Vajra<\/em>, slays Vritra and releases the waters, which now flow down to the sea.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> has several levels of meaning. On one level it explains the monsoon and the release of life-giving water after the dry season.<\/p><p>On another it is a cosmogonic act: by removing the obstacle, Indra first makes possible the ordered course of the world. He supports the sky, lets the sun rise and creates space.<\/p><p>In terms of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span>, the Vritra battle belongs to the wide circle of chaos-combat narratives, which also includes the Babylonian battle against <a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/tiamat\/\">Tiamat<\/a>. Within the <em>Rigveda<\/em> it is the foundation of Indra&#8217;s rank: he is the king of the gods because he has accomplished this deed.<\/p><p>Later texts elaborate the story further and add that the killing of Vritra, who is in part regarded as a Brahmin, burdens Indra with guilt, a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A recurring element of content in art or narrative.\" tabindex=\"0\">motif<\/span> that accompanies his later loss of significance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp8806768 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp8806768\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpd4b09b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpd4b09b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">From Highest God to Guardian of a Direction: Indra's Decline<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp320cfe0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp320cfe0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp72aa5e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp72aa5e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Few deities show such a clear shift in significance as Indra. In the <em>Rigveda<\/em> he is by far the most frequently invoked <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being worshipped as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>; a large part of the hymns is dedicated to him. He is the kingly god, the warrior, the vanquisher of enemies, the helper of the Vedic tribes.<\/p><p>In the post-Vedic period, in the epics <em>Mahabharata<\/em> and <em>Ramayana<\/em> and in the <em>Puranas<\/em>, Indra loses this leading rank. Religious worship shifts to <a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/vishnu\/\">Vishnu<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/shiva\/\">Shiva<\/a>, and later also to the goddess in her various forms. Indra becomes a subordinate figure.<\/p><p>In the later texts he often appears as the king of a heavenly world, the <em>Svarga<\/em>, a paradisiacal but transient place, and as a <em>Lokapala<\/em>, a guardian of one of the directions, namely the east.<\/p><p>Stories now frequently portray him as weak, jealous or fallible: he fears for his throne when an ascetic accumulates too much power through penance, and he sends heavenly temptresses to disturb the ascetic&#8217;s concentration. The story of his transgression with Ahalya and the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A verbal formula by which harm is meant to be inflicted on a person or thing.\" tabindex=\"0\">curse<\/span> that follows is among the best known of these episodes.<\/p><p>Scholarship interprets this decline as a reflection of far-reaching religious shifts: from the Vedic sacrificial cult, at whose centre gods such as Indra stood, towards the devotional <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The lived religious attitude and practice of a person.\" tabindex=\"0\">piety<\/span> (<em>bhakti<\/em>) of the later Hindu movements.<\/p><p>Indra remained present, but his role changed from worshipped chief god to literary secondary figure, used to illustrate the limits even of heavenly power.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp84ac702 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp84ac702\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp5eb7ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp5eb7ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Indra in Buddhism and Jainism: Sakra and the Patron of the Teaching<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp7c6d803 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp7c6d803\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf200db4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpf200db4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Indra did not disappear from Indian religious history but was adopted and reclassified by the non-Brahmanical traditions. In Buddhism he usually appears under the name <em>Sakra<\/em> or <em>Shakra<\/em>, an <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed epithet that characterizes a deity or figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">epithet<\/span> already attested in the <em>Rigveda<\/em> that means &#8220;the mighty one&#8221;, often expanded to <em>Sakra Devanam Indra<\/em>, &#8220;Sakra, the lord of the gods&#8221;.<\/p><p>In the Buddhist texts, Sakra is the ruler of the heaven of the Thirty-Three Gods, which lies on the summit of the world mountain Meru.<\/p><p>Unlike in the Hindu material, here he is a consistently benevolent figure: he appears as protector of the Buddha and of the Buddhist teaching, puts questions to the Buddha, listens to his sermons and supports devout people. In Buddhist art, for example in the early reliefs of Sanchi and Bharhut, he is frequently depicted.<\/p><p>Important here is the hierarchical placement: Sakra is indeed king of the gods, but is himself subordinate to the teachings of the Buddha and, like all gods in the Buddhist worldview, subject to the cycle of birth and death. His existence as a god is a fortunate but transient form of being.<\/p><p>Jainism, too, knows Indra, there as <em>Shakra<\/em> or under similar names, as a heavenly ruler who appears at the key events in the life of a Tirthankara, a ford-maker, and honours them.<\/p><p>In both traditions the same pattern appears: the once highest Vedic god remains a respected, powerful figure but is placed within and subordinated to the higher doctrine of salvation in each case.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Links<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/vishnu\/\">Vishnu, ranked above Indra in the Pur&acirc;&#7751;as<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/zeus\/\">Zeus, the Greek thunder-king parallel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/thor\/\">Thor, the Germanic thunder parallel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/perun\/\">Perun, the Slavic thunder parallel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/raijin\/\">Raijin, the Japanese thunder parallel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/hinduism\/\">Hinduism, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Research Literature<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Macdonell, A. A.: <em>Vedic Mythology<\/em>. Strasbourg 1897 (classic).<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>O&rsquo;Flaherty, Wendy Doniger: <em>The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology<\/em>. Berkeley 1976.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Doniger, Wendy: <em>Hindu Myths<\/em>. London 1975.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>West, Martin L.: <em>Indo-European Poetry and Myth<\/em>. Oxford 2007 (central to the comparative thunder-god concept).<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Michaels, Axel: <em>Der Hinduismus<\/em>. Munich 1998.<\/span><\/li><li><em>Rigveda<\/em> (numerous translations).<\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry &#8220;Indra&#8221;).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indra, God of the Hindu Tradition The Vedic thunder king, ruler of the sky and victor over demons. Indra is one of the oldest Hindu gods, the most important in the *Rigveda*, set aside in later periods. With his thunderbolt *Vajra*, riding on a white elephant, Indra once led the council of the Devas. He [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4390,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Indra","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Indra: The Vedic Thunder King and Guardian of the Sky","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Indra, Vedic thunder king and guardian of the sky. The Vajra thunderbolt, the battle with Vritra, the elephant Airavata and the Rigveda tradition.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,90],"class_list":["post-4389","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultures","category-gods","category-hinduism"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Indra: The Vedic Thunder King and Guardian of the Sky<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Indra, Vedic thunder king and guardian of the sky. 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