A-AS Level (CIE) Hinduism: Specimen Questions with Answers 17 - 17 of 51
Question 17
Explanation
- Indra is considered as god in Hinduism. That’s why both Puranas and Vedas always depicts him as Devendra (the god among Devas) . He controls the-lightning and thunder, Vayu Dev-who manage the wind, Varun Dev-who manages the rain, Agni Dev-who manages fire, Surya Dev-the sun god.
People worship him for the overhaul prosperity in life. While performing Yagna (sacrifice) or puja, the major part of the offerings goes to the lord Indra.
While concluding the Sri Rudram, a part of Taittariya Upanisha in Yajurveda-there is a very long sloka. It says that-whatever we offers to many gods during Rudrabhisheka, Indra deserves half of it’s portion. The sloka goes like this-“Agnischa Indrascha me, somascha ma Indrascha me. . “
He is the god father of Arjuna in Mahabharata. He rides on the famous white elephant called-Airavata. His weapon is called Vajrayudha that made up of diamond like Skelton of the great sage-Dadichi.
Rig Veda mentions Indra very much. Vedic people believed that, the worshiping of Indra will leads to the fame, prosperity, timely rain and grant harvest, comforts, protection and so on.
In Rig Veda, Indra is also known as Purandara; meaning-the destroyer of cities. Because, he destroyed cities of Asura (demons) in a war.
It is Indra who requested lord Vishnu to stop Mahabali and to place him in any other world that is called Patalaloka. So to grant Indra’s wish, lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana-one among ten avatars (incarnation) of lord Vishnu.
It is said that Indra is not a person but, a position. So, whoever holds that position known as Indra/Devendra. Only Indra and other Devas deserves the nector (Amrit) that got from the churning of the milky ocean by using Vasuki snake as a rope. And on behalf of Indra, lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini to get back the nectar that which snatched away by Asura.
Due to all the good virtues, we can see that gods, goddesses, sages and human beings worships, praises and performing puja by dedicating to the king of Devas-Indra.
These all are the roles and importance of Indra in Hinduism.