Indra
Published on Dec 10, 2015
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In Vedic and Brahmanic religion, Indra (also known as Shakra 1) is the lord of the devas. He is also the god of thunder, storms, and rain. Furthermore, Indra is often seen as a deity of fertility. While worship of Indra is not customary in modern Hinduism, he still retains his roles as king of the gods and lord of the storms. In addition, Indra is one of several deities thought to exercise dominion and guardianship over one of the ten directions.2 His power extends over the east. Finally, Indra was the main recipient of the soma3 sacrifice performed in Vedic religion.
According to this text, he was kept inside his mother's womb for several years until he burst forth from her side and killed his father. Many of the hymns to Indra describe a number of his heroic deeds, such as the creation of the world. He is aligned with a number of lesser storm deities known variously as Rudras or Maruts. Indra is also voracious, oversexed, a lover of soma, and somewhat of a trickster. His primary function in Hindu mythology, however, was to destroy asuras or other ene
In Buddhist mythology, Indra is frequently mocked. Early Buddhist texts depict Indra as having converted to Buddhism. He is variously portrayed as a protector of Buddhism and as a lord of a Buddhist heaven. In some versions of the Buddha's story, Indra receives him when he is born and bathes him. Brahma and Indra are portrayed as the deities that convince Buddha to teach what he had learned through attaining enlightenment. Indra and Brahma often appear together as assistants to the Buddha—worshiping him, shading him from the sun, or carrying his alms bowl. Scholars often interpret such depictions as Buddhist attempts to subvert deities with clear Hindu origins.
Photo by AlicePopkorn
