Birth of Indra according to the Rig Veda:

All four Vedas praise Indra as Deva saṁrāṭ or Monarch of the Devas. Indra was born from Aditi, the mother of all Devas and Ādityas. Aditi was the cosmic mother and was worshipped as the Goddess of Earth. Her name expresses the infinite expanse of the Universe. Though Aditi was usually not associated with a male consort, Ṛg Veda mentions Indra's father as Dyaus, the very personification of mighty heavens and endless expanse of sky.

The birth of Indra is described in Ṛg Veda. It is said that Aditi was suffering from severe pangs of starvation when she was bearing Indra in her womb.

Powerful asuras had conquered the heavens, and had imprisoned all water bearing clouds, leaving the earth barren. None of the Devas could be victorious over these asuras and Aditi was lamenting about her condition. Śyena also known as Garuḍa gave her a pitcher of soma which was extracted by a hundred noble beings known as Śatadhanyas to relieve her from distress.

While residing in the womb itself Indra absorbed the essence of soma and grew mighty as days passed by. Indra's fondness towards soma was developed from his embryo state and increased over the time as it's described in his later adventures. As he found the atmosphere in his mother's womb to be favorable and pleasant, Indra decided to stay longer than a usual child. The time is exactly described in Ṛg Veda as 1000 months -

" sahsra māso jabhāra śaradaśca pūrvihi ".

Indra decided to take birth in an unusual way. As all other devas were born from Aditi's yoni, Indra decided to take birth from her side, thus becoming an Ayonija. As Indra refused to be born in the conventional way, it is said he stayed there within his mothers womb for such a long time. In his refusal, Indra didn't position himself in a head down manner, ready to take birth, Aditi also kept him within her womb thinking that the child is not properly developed. However as Indra's tejas grew day by day she couldn't hold him within any longer.

Concluding that his mother's womb is unworthy to hold his glory anymore, Indra decides to take birth from her side. He exits his mother in a transverse way -

" tiraścata parśvan nirgamāni ".

Seeing him coming out of his mother, head first is giving her immense pain and is practically killing her, Indra decided to come out of her by emerging with his hind part first -

" jaghanva asujat".

It is said that the fluid contained in his mother Aditi's womb, flooded the world after his birth, giving birth to the river called Kusāvā. As soon as Indra emerged from his mother's womb, he stood holding the Vajra, which was designed by Tvaṣtṛ and handed over to him while he was within the womb. Tvaṣtṛ is also described as the one who gave proper shape to Indra̍s embryo.

As soon as Indra was born he was offered soma -

" yajjāto apiboha somam ".

As he drank soma his power increased, his form expanding piercing the skies. In thundering voice he asked his mother, who his enemy is and who made her suffer. -

" ā bunda vṛtrahā dade jātaḥ pṛcchad vi mātaraṁ, ka ugrāha ke hi sṛnvire ".

Aditi also know as Śavasi, answered Indra as -

" pratitvā śavasi vadad, girāvapso na yodhiśat yas te śatrutvam ācake "/ "

the enemy of yours, oh hero, is roaring in the hills".

Then begins the battle between Indra and Vyamsa, the asura who killed his father. Vyamsa attacked new born Indra aggressively, but Indra, smashed the head of that asura, and drank large quantities of soma to grow in to an enormous form. Then he attacked asura Vṛtra with his Vajra and released all the water that was held captive by him.

Aditi, ecstatic by Indra̍s victory praises him and called him Maghavan.

To appease the victorious Deva saṁrāṭ, Brāhmaṇas offered Soma in the Soma Yajñas. He is invoked to come on his ratha driven by ucchaishrava horses and listen to the mantras and enjoy the soma rasa.

We invoke thee O! Supreme ! the mighty warrior, lover of soma, "soma priya", who drank three pitchers of soma-

"trikatrudaks".

"tvaṁ deveṣu prathamaṁ āvāmahe".

🙏 Jayatu Indra 🙏

🙏 Namo Narasimha 🙏