Questions tagged [indra]
The king of the Devas or gods and the lord of Svargaloka or heaven in Hinduism. He is the god of rain and thunderstorms.
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questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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What is the story of Brahma forgetting his knowledge after teaching Indra?
The Rahasyatraya Sara is a work by the Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan, concerning the meaning of the Rahasya Traya or three secrets of the Sri Vaishnava sect (of which I'm a member). (One of ...
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Why do the Krodhavasas take away the merits of people with dogs?
When Indra comes to take Yuddhisthira to Swarga, the latter refuses to go without the dog who has been accompanying him all this while:
"Yudhishthira said, ‘O thou of a 1,000 eyes. O thou that art ...
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What is the story of Prahlada being slain by Indra?
In Mahabharata, Santi Parva, SECTION XCVIII, it is said by Indra himself that he has slain Prahlada.
Having slain in battle Jambha, Vritra, Vala, Paka, Satamaya, Virochana, the irresistible Namuchi,...
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779 views
What is the story of Indra being turned into an elephant by Saraswati?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the Varadaraja Perumal Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. It's such an important temple that Sri Vaishnavas refer to it simply as "Perumal Koil" or "the ...
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664 views
What are the weapons created by Sage Dadhichi's bone?
I have heard a story that many weapons including Indra's Vajra was created with Sage Dadhichi's bone.
Was only one weapon (Vajra) created? If no, then I want to know exactly which weapons are created?...
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175 views
Who gave Vajra or thunderbolt to Indra - Dadhichi or Usana?
In puranas Dadhichi is primarily known for sacrificing his life so the Devas, or benevolent celestial beings, could make the weapon called "Vajra" from his bones. After being driven out from Svarga, ...
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114 views
What scriptures describe the Rishi Shalihotra cutting the wings off of horses?
The Ashva Shastra is a work of unknown authorship about the nature and proper care of horses. Now this chapter of the Ashva Shastra says that there used to be winged horses, but then Indra asked the ...
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123 views
Who was Rishi Etesha and why was he racing with Surya?
I had earlier asked a question on Indra taking away a wheel from Surya's chariot and from the answer by Pushkar it turned out that he had done that to help his friend Rishi Etesha:
There was ...
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107 views
What was the name of the Sage in the story narrated by Sita?
Sita narrated an old episode about a Sage(Rishi) to Sri Rama, in the Dandaka forest.The narration is as under:-
Once upon a time, oh, dexterous one, there was a pious and true worded hermit in some ...
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333 views
What is the story of Indra, Kutsa & the Gandharva?
Rigveda Book 8 Hymn 1 mentions the following:
11 When Sūra wounded Etaśa, with Vāta's rolling winged car.
Indra bore Kutsa Ārjuneya off, and mocked Gandharva. the unconquered One.
12 He ...
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Where do the Vedas say that a single Vajapeya Yagna will make you the next Indra?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here), ...
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74 views
What is the story of Samaveda Shakas destroyed by Indra?
While reading one research thesis from Shodhaganga, I've noticed following line at the information about Shakas on Samaveda.
According to Śaunaka there were 1000 śākhās, but they were ...
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622 views
Who are the parents of Indra and Brahma mentioned by Basava?
The term "Shaivite" is overused nowadays. For instance, Iyer Brahmins are often called Shaivites, but they're actually followers of Adi Shankaracharya's Smartha sect (which I discuss here and here) ...
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229 views
Is there a relation between Gadhi, the Kaushik incarnation of Indra and Ahalya?
Indra, in the Subramanaya invocation is referred to as both Kaushik, one who calls him Gautama as well as the lover of Ahalya (Shatpatha Brahman relevant chapter). While the part about Gautam and ...
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276 views
Reason for friendship between Indra and Takshaka
Takshaka and Indra are friends as per Mahabharata Khandava Vana burning episode. Is there any specific reason for their friendship?
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1answer
663 views
What are the details of the story of Indra giving the Crest-jewel(chudamani) to king Janka?
The son of the wind-god,Hanuman, apprised Sri Rama(avatar of god Vishnu) about the discovery of Sita(avatar of goddess Lakshmi),on returning to Kishkindha (from Lanka).Then Hanuman delivered to Sri ...
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224 views
How are trees sharing Indra's guilt?
As given in puranic stories, Indra shared His guilt of killing a Brahmana among Women, Trees, Water and Earth.
The below verse tells the guilt shared by trees:
तुर्यं छेदविरोहेण वरेण जगृहुर्द्रुमा...
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134 views
What is the story of Indra putting everyone to sleep?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya,...
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115 views
What is the story of the Asura Dhanvi attaining the position of Indra?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school. But there are five other Astika or orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy: Purva Mimamsa, Samkhya,...
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246 views
Who were the witches whom Indra crushed to death?
Rigved Verse 1.133 mentions this curious story:
WITH sacrifice I purge both earth and heaven: I burn up great she-fiends who serve not Indra, Where throttled by thy hand the foes were ...
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157 views
Where is the Vedic verse that says Indra has never fought for a single day?
This chapter of the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda describes how Brahma created the Devas and Asuras from his breath. After he created both, he realized that the Asuras were evil, so he ...
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What is the story of Indra relearning the Vedas from Vishwamitra?
This chapter of the Shatapatha Brahmana of the Yajur Veda describes the Subrahmanya hymn, which despite its name has no connection to Shiva's son. It's a hymn recited in the beginning of Yagnas in ...
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134 views
Who is the woman Rushama who had a footrace around the world with Indra?
In this excerpt from the Panchavimsha Brahmana of the Sama Veda, aka the Tandya Mahabrahmana, a certain Yagna which can only performed in Kurukshetra is described. The Panchavimsha Brahmana mentions ...
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457 views
Is Brihaspati the one who helped Indra's incarnation Indra Vaikuntha?
Most people only know about incarnations of Vishnu, and perhaps incarnations of Brahma (which I discuss here) and incarnations of Shiva. But Indra has also taken incarnations, for instance as ...
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88 views
What were the reasons for adding “ôm” at end in Subrahmanyôm?
In this answer it was explained the meaning of Subrahmanya as "su—brahmaṇya very kind or dear to Brāhmans".
In the Subrahmanya litany, it was mentioned as Subrahmanyôm (3:3:4:17 of Satapatha ...
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185 views
Do scriptures mention Indra's age when he destroyed Shambhara?
While reading the Atharva Veda I came across this interesting hymn to Indra that mentions:
He who discovered in the fortieth autumn Sambara dwelling in
the midst of mountains:
Who slew the ...
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252 views
Why doesn't Purva Mimamsa accept that someone grasped Indra's hand?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
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214 views
What is the story of Indra living in disguise in the Ashram of Giriprastha?
In this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira is in grief because of the year in hiding the Pandavas are about to start. So the sage Dhaumya cheers him up by reminding him that ...
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358 views
Were Vali and Sri Rama of same age?
As per Sargas 15-17 of Srimad Ramayana, after Lord Vishnu agreed to take birth as a son of King Dasaratha, Lord Brahma ordered as follows:
(The Gods become progenitors of Vanara heroes at the dictate ...
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74 views
How exactly is the Indra-Ahalyā affair narrated in Ṣaḍviṃṡa Brāhmaṇa?
This answer claims the Ṣaḍviṃṡa Brāhmaṇa attached to Sāmaveda also mentions the Indra-Ahalyā affair.
But how exactly is the story narrated in Ṣaḍviṃṡa Brāhmaṇa?
Is it any different from the version ...
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202 views
Who were Varasikha and Abhyavartin Cayamana?
In Rig Veda (RV.6.27.4 & 5) it is described that Indra killed people of Varasikha and drove away VRcis in the aid of Abhyavartin Cayamana. Ralph T.H Griffith's translation follows :-
4 This one ...
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Indra and Vritra – The Tale of the Vajrayudha
The legend is as follows:
Indra, the King of the Devas, was once driven out of Devaloka by an asura named Vritra. This asura was the recipient of a boon which made him invulnerable to any known ...
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418 views
Story where Puloman was killed by Indrani's future husband Indra?
As per wiki/Shachi:
Puloman, an Asura who was killed by Indrani's future husband, Indra.
But as per UTTARA KANDA of Valmiki Ramayana, Puloman (or Puloma) saves Jayanta (Indra's son) in Ravana/...
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200 views
Why was Indra afraid of Himalaya's devotion to Shiva?
Was there a reason Indra being afraid of Himalaya's devotion to Shiva ?
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237 views
Goddess Shree and the five Indras
Draupadi was also an avatar of Goddess Shree or Wealth who was the wife to five Indras in their mortal manifestation, that is, the five Pandavas. She was born many times for imprisoning the Indras. ...
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148 views
Why sin done by Indra is suffered by all Women?
As discussed here, the sin of Indra is suffered by women. But, why the sin done by someone is suffered by someone else? What I know is, we suffer the result of sinful action so that we can realize the ...
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58 views
Is Maya Dānava the first Dānava?
Maya is mentioned so often and without Dānava parents, it points to him being the first of the Dānava. Has anyone found scripture to say definitively?
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95 views
Which Indra was adulterous?
There was a comment posted here, which says:
Each day of Brahma has 14 Manvantars and each Manvantar has a different Indra. We are currently in the 7th Manvantar of the 51st day of Brahma and his ...
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2answers
284 views
How are Indra and Saraswati related, when the bijakshara Aim - (ऐं) related to both?
In spiritual realm bijaksharas have a vital place. Many mantras carry bIjaksharas, apart from the deity's name.
For example: chamunda mantra
“Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche”
In general Aim ...
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Was there ever an Aindra sect? Devotees of Indra who believed that only Indra and no other Deva is Brahman?
Many people today are saying that Indra is the supreme Brahman. This theory is primarily advocated by people who reject the Upanishads and believe that the Rig Veda Samhita is the only true Veda.
...
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101 views
How do gods decide when to incarnate and when to assume a human form bypassing the birthing process?
In both Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, we see Indra taking a human form during what appears to be emergency situations.
When Indra wants to rob Gautama off of his ascetic power he suddenly decides to take ...
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137 views
Why did Vishnu need to incarnate as the son of Jamadagni to defeat Sahastrarjuna? Why not just kill him himself (using his true form)?
The question is based on this quote from Mahabharata (Vana Parva Section 115)
And grown resistless by the virtue of a granted boon, he ever mounted
on that car, trampled upon gods and Yakshas and ...
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412 views
Origin of Vasavi Sakti
It is well known that Indra had gifted the Vasavi Sakti weapon to Karna in return of the Kavash and Kundal.
But, why is that weapon so powerful? What is the origin of Vasavi Sakti??
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148 views
Was Yajnesvara the only Indra in Svayambhuva Manvantara?
In Srimad Bhagavatam (the treasure from which so many questions arise!), the story of Maharaja Prthu is described in the Fourth Canto, Chapters 15 to 23. In Chapters 19 and 20 is described the story ...
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1answer
110 views
Is there any sukta in Rigveda containing 16 richas and starting with the word“Indra”?
There is a chapter called Rigvidhana in Agnipurana in which it is mentioned that if the aforementioned 16 Richas are chanted daily then one is blessed with intelligence, friends and fulfillment of ...
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1answer
301 views
Is there any link between Indra and Subrahmanya (Skanda)?
The following is from Rig Veda (VII.20.5)
वर्षा जजान वर्षणं रणाय तमु चिन नारी नर्यं ससूव |
पर यः सेनानीरध नर्भ्यो अस्तीनः सत्वा गवेषणः स धर्ष्णुः ||
A Bull begat the Bull for joy of ...
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56 views
Are there any Hindu stories involving non-artificial weather?
I find the characters in Hinduism rarely discuss the weather, which I find odd.
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60 views
Was the creation of Earth story has roots in the Rig Veda or somewhere else?
Harivamsha in the mahAbharata - bhaviShyaparva Chapter 34 describes as to how viShNu takes varAha avatAra to lift the Earth from Netherworld
There is a legend of creation in the Taittiriya Brahmana.
...
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34 views
Indra turning to female due to the curse of Trnabindu
Story of Indra turning into female, due to the curse, has been mentioned in the CHAPTER 63: Indra's rescue from the female sex of Narasimha purana.
Indra once abducted the Citrasena, the wife of ...
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47 views
In which book is the story where Indra became a hog or pig?
This story is here
But is this story in the Srimad Bhagavatam or Purana?
Thanks
