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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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 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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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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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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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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187 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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138 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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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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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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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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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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734 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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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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243 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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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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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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136 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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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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249 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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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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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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467 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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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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190 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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253 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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219 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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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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52 views
Bali born as ass
Bali, son of Virochana, was pushed to underworld by Vamana. My understanding was he rules there with Vishnu serving as his door keeper.
In Mahabharata, a story narrated where Bali was born as ass. ...
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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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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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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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456 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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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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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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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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Gautama and Ahalya: she didn't turn into stone?
Popular Ramayana story describes Rama touching Ahalya, in stone form, and rescuing her.
But in Mahabharata, the story is completely different. Gautama asks his son to kill his wife and goes away. His ...
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How to worship Indra?
How to worship Indra and what is the proper way to worship him, can he only be worshipped through yagna or shamanic ways are allowed ?
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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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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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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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136 views
Who is the woman who saw 98 Indras?
Madal is an ancient Indian practice where a lovesick person rejected by their beloved would go around riding on a fake horse made of palmyra stems badmouthing their beloved, in an effort to embarass ...
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How many forts of Shambara did Indra really destroy?
Why do these verses of Rigveda contradict each other on the number of Shambara's forts destroyed by Indra? How to reconcile these differences?
90 forts.
Rig Veda 1.130.7 “For Pūru thou hast shattered,...
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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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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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141 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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422 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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330 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 ...
