Indra is the most powerful God in the pantheon of the Rigveda. He has been king of Devas and rules heaven (third of upper seven Lokas), with his capital in Amaravati. Indra is God thunder and lightning. His favourite weapon is the thunderbolt – Vajra. Twashta designed this deadly weapon for Indra. He is associated with somrasa, a kind of herbal medicine. Dyou is Indra’s father. Agni and Pusha are his brothers and Indraani (Shachi Devi) is his wife. His most lauded activity was the destroying of the demon Vṛtra using his famed vajra — diamond thunderbolt. Indra finds also mention in Buddhist and Jain literatures.
The appearance, importance, significance and a few select Rigvedic hymns are discussed hereunder. Indra in Rigveda: Indra is the king of all Devas in Rigveda. Indra has been extolled in 1028 suktas (250 hymns and about 300 hymns refer to him in association with other Gods) of Rigveda. A few verses in praise of Indra are mentioned here:
It is not certain what today or tomorrow will yield to us. Who knows that what is wonderful? The mind of another person is unsteady and it must be comprehended well. Failing in its deep study also goes waste. Commentary – The governing idea of the hymn belongs to a stage of spiritual progress when the human soul wishes by the sheer force of Thought to hasten forward beyond in order to reach prematurely the source of all things without full development of the being in all its progressive stages of conscious activity. The effort is opposed by the Gods who preside over the universe of man and of the world and a violent struggle takes place in the human consciousness between the individual soul in its egoistic eagerness and the universal Powers which seek to fulfil the divine purpose of the Cosmos.
English translation: O Indra, you protect highly learned persons, who are preservers like the prana. Such persons have the power of endurance. You ward off anger and insult, and face all pains and challenges of opponents in the discharge of duties, and uphold truth. Support us, so that we may acquire true knowledge of soul and strength and comprehend the nature of the soul.
“They have styled (him, the Sun), Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa, Agni, and he is the celestial, well-winged Garud (bird), for learned priests call one by many names as they speak of Agni, Yama, Wind.”
“I invoke, at repeated sacrifice, Indra, the preserver, the protector, the hero, who is easily propitiated, Indra, the powerful, the invoked of many; may Indra, the lord of affluence, bestow upon us prosperity.”
“The most exalted, the humblest, (invoke) Indra; the middle (classes) invoke Indra; those going, those stopping, (invoke) Indra; those dwelling at home, those going in battle, (invoke) Indra; men needing food invoke Indra.”
“We invoke that Indra who is the destroyer of mighty foes, the supervisor (of all things); do you, the many organed, the protector of the good, the distributor of wealth, be unto us (the insurer of) success in combats.” Appearance of Indra: According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapuraṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text the image of Indra (also called Sakra) should be golden in complexion and should wear blue garments. The statue of Indra is placed on an elephant, Airavata (one of the fourteen gems found in Samundra Manthan) which have four tusks. The eyes of the image of Indra are made to show the eyes placed crookedly towards the forehead. Along with the image of Indra, the statue of his wife Shachi is also placed. The idol of Indra should have four hands holding a lotus and an elephant goad in right hands and the vajra (made of sage Dadhichi’s bones) in the left hand. Another hand of left side should be placed behind the idol of his wife. Importance of Indra:
Why Indra not so popular today: There are many explanations given by scholars:
All of us have certain negative traits such as anger, lust, jealousy, addiction, dishonesty etc. Like Indra, we should use our potential to destroy these negative traits and liberate ourselves.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
October 2024
Categories |