Who is Indra ?

वज्रस्य भर्ता भुवनस्य गोप्ता

बृत्रस्य हन्ता नमुचेर्निहन्ता ।

कृष्णे वसानो वसने महात्मा

सत्यानृते यो विविनक्ति लोके ॥

यो वाजिनं गर्भमपां पुराणं

वैश्वानरं वाहनमभ्युपैति ।

नमोऽस्तु तस्मै जगदीश्वराय

लोकत्रयेशाय पुरंदराय ॥

vajrasya bhartā bhuvanasya goptā

vṛtrasya hantā namucernihantā |

krṣṇe vasāno vasane mahātmā

satyānṛte yo vivinakti loke ||

yo vājinaṁ garbha mapāṁ purāṇaṁ

vaiśvānaraṁ vāhanamabhyupaiti |

namo ̍stu tasmai jagadīśvarāya

lokatrayeśāya puraṁdarāya ||

All Ṛg Vedic mantras on Indra speak of the autonomous sway of Indra, in whose spiritual concept all other devas find their place. Indra has all the qualities that are found in other concepts of Godhood. In Indra abides all the concepts of "God". Indra is the one whose splendor spreads throughout the universe. He through the medium of māyā assumes different forms. He verily attacks all illusory phenomena with his own transcendental illusion. He finds the rays of light which are compared to precious cattle, from darkness of ignorance/ Vala's cave. He is against unproductive capitalism.

He frees the cattle from the clutches of Paṇis who steal and hide them. He attacks the rain cloud Vṛtra with his lightning, and brings the rain of knowledge down, that connects the spiritual existence/sky and physical existence/earth. He quietens the Śuṣṇa, with Śuṣṇas own illusion (Śuṣṇa is the shrinker who causes mind's capacity to shrink). He lets the river kanyās in the form of cattle gush freely from the mountains.

Indra is the role model for any Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya or Śūdra. As he is the Ṛṣi among all ṛṣis, scholar among all scholars, wealthiest of all and greatest servitor of sentient brings. As the first manasvi he is the role model for Brāhmaṇas. As the protector of Ṛta/the eternal law and order, he is the role model for all Kṣatriyas. As the friend and provider of food, creator of wealth he is the role model for Vaiśyas. As the provider of never failing help, never failing aid, he is the role model for Śūdras.

As the vivifier through the life essence of his rains that connect the spiritual and physical existence, we see soma in Indra. As he himself also is the wealthiest as he possesses the wealth of cattle of knowledge (Taittiriya Saṁhitā), also sows the seed by ploughing the infertile and un-ploughable (ahalya) earth of physical mind (hence he is called Kauśika/kuśika means plowshare).

In him Ṛṣis see the Savitṛ- "sowing sun", and Sūrya. He himself is the friend of all, he himself sees through Mitras eyes. As the omnipresent ruler of the universe he is Varuṇa himself. As the killer of hurdles and obstacles ans remover of darkness of darkness he is Agni himself. As the creator of worlds he himself is Tvaṣtṛ. His radiance is the all illuminating Viṣṇu, who measured all realms created by Indra. As the provider of wealth he is shrī a form assumed by Agni. In his infinite forms he is the Universal mother Aditi. As the giver of knowledge, sage of sages he is Bṛhaspati. He is the Vṛṣabha of great might, the splendor that pervades the entire universe.

Thus in Indra, is the concept of God, that contains in itself all other concepts of Godhood.

🙏 Jayatu Indra 🙏

🙏 Namo Narasimha 🙏