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Like many other deities, Indra is also called by many names - मरुत्वान् ॥ Marutvaan, Maghavaan, Paakashasana, Vriddhasravaaha, Sunaaseera, Puroohuta, Purandara, शक्र Shakra, Shatamanyu, Sutrama, Vritraha, मेघवाहन Meghavaahana, Vajri, Gotrabhit, Namuchisudhana, Surapati, Sachipati and others.  

Like many other deities, Indra is also called by many names - मरुत्वान् ॥ Marutvaan, Maghavaan, Paakashasana, Vriddhasravaaha, Sunaaseera, Puroohuta, Purandara, शक्र Shakra, Shatamanyu, Sutrama, Vritraha, मेघवाहन Meghavaahana, Vajri, Gotrabhit, Namuchisudhana, Surapati, Sachipati and others.  

Indra is derived from the dhatu (root) "इदि" meaning "परमैश्वर्य्ये " (wealthy).   

Indra is derived from the dhatu (root) "इन्द" meaning "परमैश्वर्य्ये " (wealthy).   

[[Nirukti]] : Maharshi Yaska in his Nirukti (10.8) explains the meaning of Indra as follows

[[Nirukti]] : Maharshi Yaska in his Nirukti (10.8) explains the meaning of Indra as follows

1. इरां दृणातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dr̥ṇātīti vā ॥  

1. इरां दृणातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dr̥ṇātīti vā ॥  

2. इरां ददातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadātīti vā ॥  

2. इरां ददातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadātīti vā ॥

3. इरां दधातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadhātīti vā ॥  

3. इरां दधातीति वा ॥ irāṁ dadhātīti vā ॥

4. इरां दारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dārayatīti vā ॥  

4. इरां दारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dārayatīti vā ॥

5. इरां धारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dhārayatīti vā ॥  

5. इरां धारयतीति वा ॥ irāṁ dhārayatīti vā ॥

6. इन्दवे द्रवतीति वा ॥ indave dravatīti vā ॥  

6. इन्दवे द्रवतीति वा ॥ indave dravatīti vā ॥

7. इन्दौ रमत इति वा ॥ indau ramata iti vā ॥  

7. इन्दौ रमत इति वा ॥ indau ramata iti vā ॥

8. इन्धे भूतानीति वा ॥ indhe bhūtānīti vā ॥  

8. इन्धे भूतानीति वा ॥ indhe bhūtānīti vā ॥

9. तद्यदेनं प्राणैः समैन्धंस्तदिन्द्रस्येन्द्रत्वम् ॥ tadyadenaṁ prāṇaiḥ samaindhaṁstadindrasyendratvam ॥  

9. तद्यदेनं प्राणैः समैन्धंस्तदिन्द्रस्येन्द्रत्वम् ॥ tadyadenaṁ prāṇaiḥ samaindhaṁstadindrasyendratvam ॥  

13. इन्दञ्छत्रूणां दारयिता वा द्रावयिता वा अादरयिता च यज्वनाम् ॥ indañchatrūṇāṁ dārayitā vā drāvayitā vā aādarayitā ca yajvanām ॥  

13. इन्दञ्छत्रूणां दारयिता वा द्रावयिता वा अादरयिता च यज्वनाम् ॥ indañchatrūṇāṁ dārayitā vā drāvayitā vā aādarayitā ca yajvanām ॥  

According to Shabdakalpadhruma इरा has different meanings including Bhumi and Jalam or water. It means one who pierces the clouds and supplies water for the growth of plants. In another sense the word Indra means one who makes prithvi (earth) pierce and make crops grow thus providing grains. Megha or clouds are the secret place for nourishment of the plants. Thus Indra is the power which can cut through the clouds and provide rain for the sake of loka kalyana, for the loka sangraha. 

According to Shabdakalpadhruma इरा has different meanings two of the relevant ones here are Prithvi or Bhumi (earth) and Jalam (water). Meaning of Indra is thus, one who pierces the clouds and supplies water for the growth of plants. In another sense one who makes prithvi (earth) pierce and make crops grow thus providing grains. Megha or clouds are the secret place for nourishment of the plants. Thus Indra is the power which can cut through the clouds and provide rain for the sake of loka kalyana, for the loka sangraha. 

Dha root word means to supply or nourish. Because Indra pours rain water in the form of plants and he provides food.  For grains to grow in the form of plants, the earth has to be very favorable, when bhumi devi becomes coarse and hard, agriculture is not possible. A farmer tills the land with the plough piercing the land, Indra establishes the dharma “iram utpadayatum karshaka mukhe kena bhumi vidarayati iti indrayaha” 

Dha root word means to supply or nourish. Because Indra pours rain water in the form of plants and he provides food.  For grains to grow in the form of plants, the earth has to be very favorable, when bhumi devi becomes coarse and hard, agriculture is not possible. A farmer tills the land with the plough piercing the land, Indra establishes the dharma “iram utpadayatum karshaka mukhe kena bhumi vidarayati iti indrayaha”