7

The Shatpatha Brahmana states that Vritra was created by Tvastar to avenge the killing of Trisiras by Indra. However, many verses in RV call Tvastar the creator of Vajra for example Rigved 1.32.1 says:

1 I WILL declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder. He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents. 2 He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heavenly bolt of thunder Tvaṣṭar fashioned. Like lowing kine in rapid flow descending the waters glided downward to the ocean.

My question is, why did Tvastar, create the only weapon that could destroy his own son?

Improve this question
4
  • 1
    Rig veda book 1 hymn 84 verse 13 also mentions rishi dadhichi preprared thunder bolt and purans and mahabharat also agre this,you can see in sacred texts.i am new here I don't know how to copy and paste link here.
    – Karmanya Nanda
    Jul 29, 2017 at 9:20
  • 2
    @karmanya Dadhichi gave his bones for the Vajra but it was Tvashtar who fashioned it
    – Dr. Vineet Aggarwal
    Jul 29, 2017 at 12:04
  • But why indra had killed trisiras?
    – user17603
    Aug 16, 2019 at 5:57
  • 1
    @aniketkumarsingh because he was being a sort of a double agent for the Asuras. Check this question for details - hinduism.stackexchange.com/questions/7497/…
    – Dr. Vineet Aggarwal
    Aug 16, 2019 at 16:29

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

The reason Lord Tvastar created vajra for Indra is discribed here in tattireya samhita of yajur veda kanda 2.

4.12

Tvastr, his son slain, offered Soma excluding Indra. Indra desired an invitation to the rite, but he did not invite him, (saying), 'Thou hast slain my son.' He made a disturbance of the sacrifice, and forcibly drank the Soma. The remains of it Tvastr cast upon the Ahavaniya (fire), saying, 'Hail! wax great, Indra's foe. While (the fire) was flaming upwards to strike, just then of itself it stayed; whether so much was before 1, or so much was over the fire, be sprang up alive and came into union with Agni and Soma. He grew on all sides an arrow(shot), he enveloped these worlds. Because he enveloped these worlds, therefore is Vrtra, Vrtra. Indra feared him, and Tvastr too;  Tvastr dipped his bolt for him;the bolt was fervour; he could not restrain it.

This hymn discribes Onces Tvastar deva offered soma to devas but he excluded Indra deva cause he had slain his son Visvarupa,But still Indra entered the sacrifice and drank the soma and then Tvastar created vritra but he became so strong that not only Indra his father Tvastar even become afraid of him!so he created Thunderbolt For Indra deva to kill Vritra.

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Thank you Karmanya yes it certainly seems plausible. Tvashtar created a monster to avenge his son's death but realized that he did not know how to control it hence created the means to its destruction as well.
    – Dr. Vineet Aggarwal
    Nov 8, 2017 at 5:25
  • 1
    @Dr. Vineet Aggarwal yeah you are right,I was reading tattireya samhita and I found this answer.I only use to think that only brahmanas mention Indra killing of vishvarupa but Veda samhitas also mention this!
    – Karmanya Nanda
    Nov 8, 2017 at 5:43

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .