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== इन्द्रदेवतास्वरुपम् || Indra Devata Svaroopa ==

== इन्द्रदेवतास्वरुपम् || Indra Devata Svaroopa ==

=== Birth and Family ===

=== Birth and Family ===

Indra descended from Mahavishnu in the following order according to Puranic Encyclopedia<ref name=":1" /> : Vishnu - Brahma - Marichi - Kaasyapa - Indra.

Indra descended from Mahavishnu in the following order according to Puranic Encyclopedia<ref name=":1" /> : Vishnu - Brahma - Marichi - Kashyapa - Indra.

* Indra is the son of Kashyapa rishi ( son of Mariichi, the eldest of Brahma's manasaputras) and Aditi, the eldest daughter of Daksha.  Aditi had 12 sons (Dvadasa Adityas) and another 21 sons the eldest of whom is Indra. Thus, devatas who originated from Aditi are 33 in number.  

* Indra is the son of Kashyapa rishi ( son of Marichi, the eldest of Brahma's manasa putras | मानसपुत्र-s) and Aditi, the eldest daughter of Daksha.  Aditi had 12 sons (Dvadasa Adityas | द्वादश-आदित्य-s) and another 21 sons, the eldest of whom is Indra. Thus, devatas who originated from Aditi are 33 in number.  

* Indra wields a lightning thunderbolt known as [[Vajraayudha]]. He rides on a white elephant known as Airavata. His horse's name is Uchchaihshravas|Uchchaihshrava.   

* Indra wields a lightning thunderbolt known as [[Vajraayudha|Vajrayudha]]. He rides on a white elephant known as Airavata. His horse's name is Ucchaishravas (उच्चैश्रवस्).   

* Sachi or Indrani, Pulomaja  is the consort of Indra, Jayanta is the son and Devasena is the daughter of Indra.  Devasena is the wife of Subrahmanya, son of Maheshwara.  

* Sachi (शचिः), Indrani (इन्द्राणी), Pulomaja (पुलोमजा) is the consort of Indra, Jayanta (जयन्तः) is the son and Devasena (देवसेना) is the daughter of Indra.  Devasena is the wife of Subrahmanya, son of Maheshwara.  

=== देवताधिपत्यम् || Devadhipati ===

=== देवताधिपत्यम् || Devadhipati ===

In the Puranas, the significance of Indra is limited to as the protector of Devaloka, whose activities are restricted to safeguarding his position as Indra.

In the Puranas, the significance of Indra is limited to as the protector of Devaloka, whose activities are restricted to safeguarding his position as Indra.

==== ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda ====

==== ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda ====

The following Rig Veda mantras (2.12.1 to 15) proclaim and extol the greatness of Indra as the chief of devatas, the protector of earth and cows, as one who cut the wings of the mountains as the slayer of Vala and Vrtrasura.  <blockquote>यो जात एव प्रथमो मनस्वान् देवो देवान् क्रतुना पर्यभूषत् | यस्य शुष्माद् रोदसी अभ्यसेतां नृम्णस्य मह्ना स जनास इन्द्रः || (Rig. Veda. 2.12.1)<ref name=":3">Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Mandala 2, Sukta 12])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>yō jāta ēva prathamō manasvān dēvō dēvān kratunā paryabhūṣat | yasya śuṣmād rōdasī abhyasētāṁ nr̥mṇasya mahnā sa janāsa indraḥ || (Rig. Veda. 2.12.1)</blockquote>Summary : As soon as he was born, who was decorated as the Chief of Devas, know that he is Indra.

The following Rigveda mantras (2.12.1 to 15) proclaim and extol the greatness of Indra as the chief of devatas, the protector of earth and cows, as one who cut the wings of the mountains, as the slayer of Vala and Vrtrasura.  <blockquote>यो जात एव प्रथमो मनस्वान् देवो देवान् क्रतुना पर्यभूषत् | यस्य शुष्माद् रोदसी अभ्यसेतां नृम्णस्य मह्ना स जनास इन्द्रः || (Rig. Veda. 2.12.1)<ref name=":3">Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Mandala 2, Sukta 12])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>yō jāta ēva prathamō manasvān dēvō dēvān kratunā paryabhūṣat | yasya śuṣmād rōdasī abhyasētāṁ nr̥mṇasya mahnā sa janāsa indraḥ || (Rig. Veda. 2.12.1)</blockquote>Summary : As soon as he was born, who was decorated as the Chief of Devas, know that he is Indra.

According to Pt. Bhagavatdatt, Indriyas or sense organs of the body are the representatives of devatas. They gain their strength from Indra and hence are called Indriyas. Indra is Atma who rules over the devatas, and they reside uninterruptedly in the body.<ref name=":4" />

According to Pt. Bhagavatdatt, Indriyas or sense organs of the body are the representatives of devatas. They gain their strength from Indra and hence are called Indriyas. Indra is Atma who rules over the devatas, and they reside uninterruptedly in the body.<ref name=":4" />

==== ऐतरेयब्राह्मणम् ॥ Aitareya Brahmana ====

==== ऐतरेयब्राह्मणम् ॥ Aitareya Brahmana ====

देवा ऊचुरिन्द्रो वै देवानामोजिष्ठो बलिष्ठः सहिष्ठः सत्तमः पारयिष्णुतमस्तं | (Aitr. Brah. 7.16) <ref>Aitreya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D 7.16])</ref>

<blockquote>देवा ऊचुरिन्द्रो वै देवानामोजिष्ठो बलिष्ठः सहिष्ठः सत्तमः पारयिष्णुतमस्तं | (Aitr. Brah. 7.16) <ref>Aitreya Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D 7.16])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>devā ūcurindro vai devānāmojiṣṭho baliṣṭhaḥ sahiṣṭhaḥ sattamaḥ pārayiṣṇutamastaṃ | (Aitr. Brah. 7.16)</blockquote>Meaning : Among all devatas, Indra is energetic, strong and courageous, he is the one who lead one a long way.<ref name=":4" />

 

Meaning : Among all devatas Indra is energetic, strong and courageous, he is the one who lead one a long way.<ref name=":4" />

==== तैत्तिरीयब्राह्मणम् ॥ Taitiriya Brahmana ====

==== तैत्तिरीयब्राह्मणम् ॥ Taitiriya Brahmana ====

The legend of Indra's crowning as the Devadhipati is explained in Taittiriya Brahmana as given below<ref name=":0">Ganapati Sastry. Uppuluri. (2000) ''Vedasaara Ratnavali, Part 2'' Hyderabad : Amba Communications </ref>. <blockquote>प्रजापतिरिन्द्र मसृजतानुजावरं देवानाम् । तं प्राहिणोत् । परेहि । एतेषां देवानामधिपतिरेधीति । तं देवा अब्रुवन् । कस्त्वमसि । वयं वै त्वच्छ्रेयाँ सः स्म इति । सोऽब्रवीत् । कस्त्वमसि वयं वै त्वच्छ्रेयाँ सः स्म इति मा देवा अवोचन्निति । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.60)  को ह वै नाम प्रजापतिः । य एवं वेद (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.61) विदुरेनं नाम्ना । तदस्मै रुक्मं कृत्वा प्रत्यमुञ्चत् । ततो वा इन्द्रो देवानामधिपतिरभवत् । य एवं वेद । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.62) <ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4 Taittriya Brahmana] </ref><ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>prajāpatirindra masr̥jatānujāvaraṁ dēvānām । taṁ prāhiṇōt । parēhi । ētēṣāṁ dēvānāmadhipatirēdhīti । taṁ dēvā abruvan । kastvamasi । vayaṁ vai tvacchrēyām̐ saḥ sma iti । sō'bravīt । kastvamasi vayaṁ vai tvacchrēyām̐ saḥ sma iti mā dēvā avōcanniti । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.60) kō ha vai nāma prajāpatiḥ । ya ēvaṁ vēda (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.61) vidurēnaṁ nāmnā । tadasmai rukmaṁ kr̥tvā pratyamuñcat । tatō vā indrō dēvānāmadhipatirabhavat । ya ēvaṁ vēda । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.62)</blockquote>Summary : Prajaapati created Indra as the youngest of the devatas. He then instructs Indra to go to Svargaloka and rule over the devatas whom he created. Indra on reaching Svargaloka informs the devatas that he would be incharge of their welfare. Hearing thus, the devatas refuse to accept him. Indra returns to Prajaapati and asks him for the Tejas by which he would control the devatas. Prajapati asks him " what will I become if I give you my tejas". Later, Prajapati creates a crown out of his tejas to decorate it on the forehead of Indra, proclaiming him as the leader of devatas.   

The legend of Indra's crowning as the Devadhipati (देवाधिपतिः) is explained in Taittiriya Brahmana as given below<ref name=":0">Ganapati Sastry. Uppuluri. (2000) ''Vedasaara Ratnavali, Part 2'' Hyderabad : Amba Communications </ref>. <blockquote>प्रजापतिरिन्द्र मसृजतानुजावरं देवानाम् । तं प्राहिणोत् । परेहि । एतेषां देवानामधिपतिरेधीति । तं देवा अब्रुवन् । कस्त्वमसि । वयं वै त्वच्छ्रेयाँ सः स्म इति । सोऽब्रवीत् । कस्त्वमसि वयं वै त्वच्छ्रेयाँ सः स्म इति मा देवा अवोचन्निति । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.60)  </blockquote><blockquote>को ह वै नाम प्रजापतिः । य एवं वेद (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.61) </blockquote><blockquote>विदुरेनं नाम्ना । तदस्मै रुक्मं कृत्वा प्रत्यमुञ्चत् । ततो वा इन्द्रो देवानामधिपतिरभवत् । य एवं वेद । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.62) <ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4 Taittriya Brahmana] </ref><ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>prajāpatirindra masr̥jatānujāvaraṁ dēvānām । taṁ prāhiṇōt । parēhi । ētēṣāṁ dēvānāmadhipatirēdhīti । taṁ dēvā abruvan । kastvamasi । vayaṁ vai tvacchrēyām̐ saḥ sma iti । sō'bravīt । kastvamasi vayaṁ vai tvacchrēyām̐ saḥ sma iti mā dēvā avōcanniti । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.60) </blockquote><blockquote>kō ha vai nāma prajāpatiḥ । ya ēvaṁ vēda (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.61) </blockquote><blockquote>vidurēnaṁ nāmnā । tadasmai rukmaṁ kr̥tvā pratyamuñcat । tatō vā indrō dēvānāmadhipatirabhavat । ya ēvaṁ vēda । (Tait. Brah. 2.2.10.1.62)</blockquote>Summary : Prajapati created Indra as the youngest of the devatas. He then instructs Indra to go to Svargaloka and rule over the devatas whom he created. Indra on reaching Svargaloka informs the devatas that he would be incharge of their welfare. Hearing thus, the devatas refuse to accept him. Indra returns to Prajapati and asks him for the Tejas by which he would control the devatas. Prajapati asks him " what will I become if I give you my tejas". Later, Prajapati creates a crown out of his tejas to decorate it on the forehead of Indra, proclaiming him as the leader of devatas.   

=== वृत्रहा || Vrtraha ===

=== वृत्रहा || Vrtraha ===

Rig veda glorifies Indra for the slaying of one mighty asura namely [[Vritrasura (वृत्रासुर)|Vrtrasura]], and hence Indra is called Vrtraha.     

Rigveda glorifies Indra for the slaying of one mighty asura namely [[Vrtrasura (वृत्रासुरः)|Vrtrasura]], and hence, Indra is called Vrtraha.     

==== '''वृत्रासुरजननम् || Vrtrasura Janana''' ====

==== '''वृत्रासुरजननम् || Vrtrasura Janana''' ====

There are two versions about the birth of Vrtrasura as given in Puranic Encyclopedia (Page 883).<ref name=":1" />

There are two versions about the birth of Vrtrasura as given in Puranic Encyclopedia (Page 883).<ref name=":1" />

* According to Padma purana (Bhumi Kaanda, Chap 23), Hiranyakasipu, the son of Kashyapa Prajapati and his wife Danu, is killed by Mahavishnu for his wrong asuric deeds. Kashyapa grants her another powerful son Vala or Bala, whom Indra kills with his Vajraayudha for stealing the cows. Angered Kashyapa plucked a hair and made a burnt offering of it, saying that a son would be born who will be the destroyer of Indra.       

* According to Padma Purana (Bhumi Kanda, Chap 23), Hiranyakashipu, the son of Kashyapa Prajapati and his wife Danu, is killed by Mahavishnu for his wrong asuric deeds. Kashyapa grants her another powerful son Vala or Bala, whom Indra kills with his Vajrayudha for stealing the cows. Angered Kashyapa, plucked a hair and made a burnt offering of it, saying that a son would be born who will be the destroyer of Indra.       

* According to Devi Bhagavata (Skanda 6)  त्वष्ट्रा ॥ Tvasthra 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.  

* According to Devi Bhagavata (Skanda 6)  Tvasthra (त्वष्ट्रा) angered by Indra's killing of his son Vishwaroopa (विश्वरूपः) (also called Trishiras), initiates an ābhicārikaḥ yāgaḥ || (आभिचारिकः यागः | a yaga performed to cause harm to an intended person) to procure a son to kill Indra.  

The ऋत्विज || ritvijas were to utter the mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व" with अन्त उदात्तः ॥ Anta Udaatta or Udaatta swara in the end of the mantra (to mean Prosper Oh ! Enemy of Indra) instead they used the आद्य उदात्तः ॥ Aadya Udaatta swara in the beginning of the mantra (meaning Oh! Indra, one who has enemies, Prosper). The meaning of the mantra changed with the improper utterance of the swara. So instead of asking for the rise and prosperity of a son to take revenge on Indra, the ऋत्विज || ritvijas asked for the prosperity and glory of Indra who destroyed असुर || Asuras. Thus वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrtrasura the son of त्वष्ट्रा ॥ Tvasthra was born, an enemy of Indra, but eventually Indra was rewarded with glory of killing वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrtrasura.<ref name=":2" />

The ritvijas were to utter the mantra "इन्द्रशत्रुर्वर्धस्व" with अन्त उदात्तः ॥ Anta Udaatta or Udaatta swara in the end of the mantra (to mean Prosper Oh ! Enemy of Indra) instead they used the आद्य उदात्तः ॥ Aadya Udaatta swara in the beginning of the mantra (meaning Oh! Indra, one who has enemies, Prosper). The meaning of the mantra changed with the improper utterance of the swara. So instead of asking for the rise and prosperity of a son to take revenge on Indra, the ऋत्विज || ritvijas asked for the prosperity and glory of Indra who destroyed असुर || Asuras. Thus वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrtrasura the son of त्वष्ट्रा ॥ Tvasthra was born, an enemy of Indra, but eventually Indra was rewarded with glory of killing वृत्रासुर '''||''' Vrtrasura.<ref name=":2" />

==== '''वृत्रासुरवधः || Vrtrasura Vadha''' ====

==== '''वृत्रासुरवधः || Vrtrasura Vadha''' ====