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Vrtrasura(Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) is the son of Tvashtra Prajapati.

Vrtrasura(Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) is the son of Tvashtra Prajapati.

Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and the Suras (devas).  There is no other personality or subject that is accorded more importance than Vrtra and his vadha '''('''killing of Vrtra ).   

Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and the Suras (devas). There is no other personality who is given more importance than [[Vritrasura (वृत्रासुर)|Vrtra]] in the Vedas and there is no other symbolic story as is Vrtrasura vadha (killing of Vrtra).   

== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==

From origin perspective Vrtra  is Tvaashtra, the son of Tvashtra. However, Vrtra  has been defined by Yaska maharshi as follows  <blockquote>तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)<ref>[http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/nirukta/nirukta.pdf Nirukta]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatkō vr̥traḥ। mēgha iti nairuktāḥ । tvāṣṭrō'sura ityaitihāsikāḥ । apāṁ ca jyōtiṣaśca miśrībhāvakarmaṇō varṣakarma jāyatē । tatrōpamārthēna yuddhavarṇā bhavanti । (Nirukta 2.16)</blockquote>Meaning : Nirukta defines Vrtra  as the cloud, which is a water body.  A combination of water and lightning (electricity) gives rise to the process of rain and this process is used as a simili to describe a war.   

From origin perspective Vrtra  is Tvaashtra, the son of Tvashtra. However, Vrtra  has been defined by Yaska maharshi as follows  <blockquote>तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)<ref>[http://vedicreserve.mum.edu/nirukta/nirukta.pdf Nirukta]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tatkō vr̥traḥ। mēgha iti nairuktāḥ । tvāṣṭrō'sura ityaitihāsikāḥ । apāṁ ca jyōtiṣaśca miśrībhāvakarmaṇō varṣakarma jāyatē । tatrōpamārthēna yuddhavarṇā bhavanti । (Nirukta 2.16)</blockquote>Meaning : Nirukta defines Vrtra  as the cloud, which is a water body.  A combination of water and lightning (electricity) gives rise to the process of rain and this process is used as a simili to describe a war.   

त्वष्ट्रा॥ Tvashtra angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa (also called Trisiras), initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra (Devi Bhagavatam (Skanda 6)). However, due to the mispronunciation of the swara of mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व", the entire meaning of the mantra was altered (Devi Bhagavatam, Skanda 6) . Instead of "let there be a son who could kill Indra" it meant "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Thus, was born Vrtrasura, who eventually was killed by Indra. Rig veda mantras dedicated to Indra's might and valor in killing Vrtra  are plenty in number.   

त्वष्ट्रा॥ Tvashtra angered by Indra's killing of his son विश्वरूप || Vishwaroopa (also called Trisiras), initiates an आभिचारिकं यागं || aabhaicharikam yagam (a yagam performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra (Devi Bhagavatam (Skanda 6)). However, due to the mispronunciation of the swara of mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व", the entire meaning of the mantra was altered (Devi Bhagavatam, Skanda 6) . Instead of "let there be a son who could kill Indra" it meant "let there be a son who will be killed by Indra". Thus, was born Vrtrasura, who eventually was killed by Indra. Rig veda mantras dedicated to Indra's might and valor in killing Vrtra  are plenty in number.   

== सप्तसिन्धवः || Saptasindhus  ==

== सप्तसिन्धवः || Saptasindhus  ==

Rig Veda describes the following about Vrtrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).  <blockquote>अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-04-sukta-019/ Mandala 4, Sukta 19])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote>Meaning : Vrtra  having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that the sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vrtra  is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.   

Vrtrasura is also associated with other asuric activities such as blocking the flow of water. Rig Veda describes the following about Vrtrasura and his blocking the Sapta sindhu's (the seven rivers).  <blockquote>अतृप्णुवन्तं वियतमबुध्यमबुध्यमानं सुषुपाणमिन्द्र | सप्त प्रति प्रवत आशयानमहिं वज्रेण वि रिणा अपर्वन् || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)<ref>Rig Veda Samhita ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-04-sukta-019/ Mandala 4, Sukta 19])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>atr̥pṇuvantaṁ viyatamabudhyamabudhyamānaṁ suṣupāṇamindra | sapta prati pravata āśayānamahiṁ vajrēṇa vi riṇā aparvan || (Rig. Veda. 4.19.3)</blockquote>Meaning : Vrtra  having an insatiable bulky body, is very powerful, personification of ignorance, and deep in slumber. Serpent like he sleeps in a way that the sapta sindus can’t flow. Such Vrtra  is killed by Indra with his thunderbolt, on the day of full moon.   

'''Esoteric Meaning :''' Here the birth and killing of Vrtra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water nothing survives, drought occurs. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus stop, then there is a drought of spiritual existence & elevation. Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values or relationships are affected by the lack of spiritual elevation which is a drought-like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.<ref name=":2" />

'''Esoteric Meaning :''' Here the birth and killing of Vrtra represent an eternal principle that happens in this world. Water is the main life force that keeps things green, without water nothing survives, drought occurs. Similarly in the personality of human beings, if the flow of life or the sapta sindus stop, then there is a drought of spiritual existence & elevation. Every aspect of human beings, the emotions, intellectual capacity, friendship, values or relationships are affected by the lack of spiritual elevation which is a drought-like situation. Anything which stagnates brings about decay and destruction.<ref name=":2" />