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Vrttrasura (Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) the son of Tvastr Prajapati, is an important asuric force about whom mantras are mentioned extensively in the Rig Veda.  Indra, slays Vrttra with his Vajraayudha and is greatly praised for his valor and deeds in many suktas of Rig Veda. Indra as a lokapalaka and devaloka rakshaka plays a very important role in protection of Dharma and its followers such as other devatas, rishis and pious people. It is to be noted here that Vrttra came into being with the sole aim of killing Indra.  

Vrttrasura (Samskrit : वृत्रासुरः) the son of Tvastr Prajapati, is an important asuric force about whom mantras are mentioned extensively in the Rig Veda.  Indra, slays Vrttra with his Vajraayudha and is greatly praised for his valor and deeds in many suktas of Rig Veda. Indra as a lokapalaka and devaloka rakshaka plays a very important role in protection of Dharma and its followers such as other devatas, rishis and pious people. It is to be noted here that Vrttra came into being with the sole aim of killing Indra.  

== Introduction ==

== परिचय ||Introduction ==

The most important work of Indra is to stop those energies and powers which are against the flow of life or creation. There is no other personality who is given more importance than Vrttra in the Vedas and there is no other symbolic story as is Vrttraasura vadha or killing of Vrttra.

The most important work of Indra is to stop those energies and powers which are against the flow of life or creation. There is no other personality who is given more importance than Vrttra in the Vedas and there is no other symbolic story as is Vrttraasura vadha or killing of Vrttra.

Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and suras (devas).  Every moments result of the battle decides whether there will be flow of life or a regression. There are varieties in the asuric powers or asuric energy. Amongst them Vritra is most important.  

Vedas describe a continuous battle between  Asuras (demons) and suras (devas).  Every moments result of the battle decides whether there will be flow of life or a regression. There are varieties in the asuric powers or asuric energy. Amongst them Vritra is most important.  

== Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः || Etymology ==

Vritra has been defined by Yaska as follows  <blockquote>तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)</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 Vrttra as the cloud, which is a water body. From the historical perspective Vrttra is Tvaashtra (the son of Tvashtra). 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.  

Vritra has been defined by Yaska as follows  <blockquote>तत्को वृत्रः। मेघ इति नैरुक्ताः । त्वाष्ट्रोऽसुर इत्यैतिहासिकाः । अपां च ज्योतिषश्च मिश्रीभावकर्मणो वर्षकर्म जायते । तत्रोपमार्थेन युद्धवर्णा भवन्ति । (Nirukta 2.16)</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 Vrttra as the cloud, which is a water body. From the historical perspective Vrttra is Tvaashtra (the son of Tvashtra). 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.  

Sruti explains in many places na tvam yuyuthse katham usche nahan narhate tete mitro maghavan kascanasti mayatsyani yuyudhyahuhu nadya shatrum na purayu yutsuhu Shatpata Brahman 12.1.6.10

In Taitreya Samhita and Satapata Brahamana the fight between Indra and Vrttra, the cause and consequences of the battle, has been described.

The Rig veda mantras also describe the symbolism of the wars of Indra as follows.<blockquote>यदचरस्तन्वा वावृधानो बलानीन्द्र प्रब्रुवाणो जनेषु । मायेत्सा ते यानि युद्धान्याहुर्नाद्य शत्रुं ननु पुरा विवित्से ।।  (Rig Veda 10.54.2) </blockquote><blockquote>yadacarastanvā vāvr̥dhānō balānīndra prabruvāṇō janēṣu । māyētsā tē yāni yuddhānyāhurnādya śatruṁ nanu purā vivitsē ।। (Rig Veda 10.54.2)</blockquote>Meaning 2nd line: Hey Indra you don’t have a battle with anyone, and even so how can any enemy match you? All those who say you fought battles are nothing but maya (illusion) for you do not have any enemies in the past?

Sruti explains in many places

'''Discussion''' (Dr K L Narayanacharya's Veda Samskrita Parichaya): To consider that Vritra was in charge of one of the tribes before Aryans came to India and the fight between Vrtra and Indra — who is portrayed as the God of the Aryans viewing the entire episode from a modern historical perspective and concluding that Indra is a historical person - one should very well see these the import of the Rig Veda mantras.  

na tvam yuyuthse katham usche nahan narhate tete mitro maghavan kascanasti mayatsyani yuyudhyahuhu nadya shatrum na purayu yutsuhu Shatpata Brahman 12.1.6.10

Indra is most amazing power and energy assuming different kinds of forms for the sake of well-being of the universe, is an aspect mentioned in many places of the Vedas. Therefore the battle between Indra and Vritra is symbolically very significant and has to be seen from this perspective and not a historic view.

 

'''Discussion''' (Dr K L Narayanacharya's Veda Samskrita Parichaya): To consider that Vritra was in charge of one of the tribes before Aryans came to India and the fight between Vrtra and Indra — who is portrayed as the God of the Aryans viewing the entire episode from a modern historical perspective and concluding that Indra is a historical person - one should very well see these the import of these Rig Veda mantras.

 

Indra, the most amazing power and energy assuming different kinds of forms for the sake of well-being of the universe, is an aspect mentioned in many places of the Vedas. Therefore the battle between Indra and Vritra is symbolically very significant and has to be seen from this perspective and not from a historic viewpoint.

== Vrttrasura Vadha as in Taitreya Samhita ==

== Vrttrasura Vadha as in Taitreya Samhita ==

In '''Taitreya Samhita 2.4.1 (cant find the same description in this reference)'''  the story is mentioned in this way: Trashtra prajapathi had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the purohit of the devathas: Brihaspati, being angry, he left his priestly work and so the devathas invited Vishwarupa as their priest and Vishwarupa had some inclination towards the demons. Therefore without the devathas noticing, he would offer some of the oblations to the asuras, which was arranged by, devas.  

In '''Taitreya Samhita 2.4.1 (cant find the same description in this reference)'''  the story is mentioned in this way: Trashtra prajapathi had a son named Vishwarupa. Once the purohit of the devathas: Brihaspati, being angry, he left his priestly work and so the devathas invited Vishwarupa as their priest and Vishwarupa had some inclination towards the demons. Therefore without the devathas noticing, he would offer some of the oblations to the asuras, which was arranged by, devas.